Coverage: Any 17-character Ford or Lincoln VIN; the original sticker is best for current and last model year
How to decode a Ford VIN
Every Ford and Lincoln since the 1981 model year has a 17-character VIN. Here’s our sample, 1FTFW3L5XSKD97239, a 2025 F-150 XLT:
| Characters | Example | What they mean on a Ford |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | 1FT | Built in the USA (1), by Ford (F), as a truck (T) |
| 4 | F | Weight class or restraint system, depending on the vehicle |
| 5 to 7 | W3L | Model line, series and body, in Ford’s own code |
| 8 | 5 | The engine: on this F-150, the 5.0L V8 |
| 9 | X | The check digit, which catches typos |
| 10 | S | The model year: 2025 |
| 11 | K | The plant: Kansas City Assembly |
| 12 to 17 | D97239 | This truck’s serial number |
The decoder reads all of this for you, using NHTSA’s vPIC database, the data Ford reports to the US government.
What the first three characters mean
| Start of VIN | What it is |
|---|---|
| 1FA | Ford car, built in the USA |
| 1FT | Ford truck, built in the USA (F-150, Super Duty, Ranger) |
| 1FM | Ford SUV or van, built in the USA (Bronco, Explorer, Expedition) |
| 3F… | Ford built in Mexico, such as a Maverick |
| 2F… | Ford built in Canada |
| 1LN, 5LM | Lincoln |
Ford plant codes
The 11th character tells you where the vehicle was built. Some of the most common:
| Code | Plant | Builds, for example |
|---|---|---|
| F | Dearborn Truck, Michigan | F-150 |
| K | Kansas City, Missouri | F-150, Transit |
| E | Kentucky Truck, Louisville | Super Duty, Expedition, Navigator |
| L | Michigan Assembly, Wayne | Bronco, Ranger |
| G | Chicago, Illinois | Explorer, Aviator |
| U | Louisville Assembly, Kentucky | Escape, Corsair |
| 5 | Flat Rock, Michigan | Mustang |
| D | Ohio Assembly, Avon Lake | E-Series, F-650 and F-750 |
What a Ford VIN won’t tell you
The VIN tells you what model you have, not how it was optioned. It won’t show:
- The equipment group, like 101A, 302A or 501A on an F-150
- Packages, such as FX4, Max Trailer Tow or the Technology Package
- The paint color and its code
- What it cost new, option by option
All of that is on the original window sticker. Ford keeps stickers for many recent VINs, and our free check tells you whether yours is one of them. See the Ford window sticker page for coverage, or the Ford build sheet page for how the options are listed.
Where to find the VIN on a Ford
- Windshield: the plate at the base, on the driver’s side
- Driver door jamb: the certification label, which also shows the paint code after EXT PNT
- Paperwork: the title, registration and insurance card
To check for open recalls on your exact vehicle, use NHTSA’s recall lookup or Ford’s owner site.
Last updated November 5, 2026.
