Ford VIN Numbers: How to Decode Any Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury VIN
Ford Motor Company uses a consistent VIN structure across its brands. This guide covers every Ford WMI code, plant code, and how to interpret the VDS.
Ford Motor Company has been manufacturing vehicles in the United States since 1903, and its VIN structure reflects a well-documented, stable encoding scheme. Whether you're decoding a new F-150, a vintage Mustang, or a Lincoln Navigator, the same framework applies.
Ford's WMI Codes
Ford's major WMI codes include:
- 1FA — Ford passenger cars, United States
- 1FT — Ford trucks, United States
- 1FM — Ford MPVs/SUVs, United States
- 2FA — Ford passenger cars, Canada
- 3FA — Ford passenger cars, Mexico
- 1LN — Lincoln vehicles, United States
Browse all Ford codes on the Ford manufacturer page.
Ford Plant Codes
Key Ford assembly plant codes at position 11:
- F — Dearborn Truck Plant, MI (F-150)
- K — Kansas City Assembly, MO (F-150, Transit)
- G — Chicago Assembly, IL (Explorer, Aviator)
- R — Flat Rock, MI (Mustang)
- P — Hermosillo, Mexico (Fusion, Maverick)
Ford's VDS Encoding
Ford uses positions 4–8 to encode restraint system, body style, engine, and series. The encoding is different for cars, trucks, and SUVs. Position 5 in a Ford truck VIN typically identifies the cab configuration (Regular Cab, SuperCab, SuperCrew). Position 8 often encodes the engine.
Decoding Older Ford VINs
Ford VINs from before the 1981 standardization used a different, shorter format. If you're working with a pre-1981 Ford, the VIN may have fewer than 17 characters and follows Ford's proprietary encoding scheme rather than the NHTSA standard. Our decoder focuses on post-1980 standardized VINs.
Electric Ford Models
The Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E use the same WMI codes as their conventional counterparts — 1FT for the Lightning truck and 3FA or similar for the Mach-E depending on plant. The fuel type is encoded in the VDS and returned explicitly by the NHTSA vPIC lookup.