Ford Truck VIN Decoder [What Is It and How to Decode?]

The VIN is essentially the DNA of your Ford truck, carrying vital information about it, such as where and when it was built. Certain circumstances may require you to retrieve that information, which is why you will need a Ford Truck VIN Decoder as a reference.

Decoding the VIN of your Ford vehicle can be useful in several situations. In case your truck gets stolen, you can use the information on the VIN to track it down. Also, if it gets into an accident, the damage record will allow you to recall it and ensure its warranty.

Read on to learn more about the Ford Truck VIN Decoder and how to decode it.

Ford Truck VIN Decoder

Ford Truck VIN Decoder

Knowing how to decode your Ford vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) comes in handy. If your vehicle gets stolen, its VIN can help you track it down. And in case it gets into an accident, its VIN can help you retrieve the record of the damage.

What Is a Ford Truck VIN Number?

Consists of 15 Characters

The Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, is a set of digits consisting of 17 characters that carry specific information about the particular vehicle that it is placed on.

Useful Information from VIN

This information includes the following:

  • Place and date when the vehicle was made,
  • Manufacturer,
  • Vehicle and engine type,
  • Gross vehicle weight, and
  • Other important details.

Car Manufacturers Are Required to Mark Vehicles with a VIN

All car manufacturers are obliged to mark their vehicles with a specific VIN format implemented by the ISO Institute. It will help you choose the right type of vehicle by learning all the relevant details.

When you purchase your truck, its VIN is given to the state, insurance company, and auto loan company. This makes it easy to track it down when it is stolen, ensure a warranty if damaged in an accident, and look for the parts needed to repair it.

Helpful When Buying Used Cars

If someone wants to buy your truck, checking the VIN online will let them know if it was stolen, damaged, or modified illegally.

What Is a Ford VIN Build Sheet?

The build sheet is a printout that lists all of the parts which comprise your Ford vehicle. It can be helpful when you want to repair or upgrade a component in your Ford. You may be able to access a Ford build sheet using your VIN.

BMW VIN Decoder

More on Ford Truck VIN Decoder

Online Service That Enables a User to Verify the Truck’s Validity

A Ford Truck VIN Decoder is an online service that enables a user to verify the validity of a truck. It helps you get detailed information and history on almost any VIN. At the same time, it allows the user to get a Ford VIN build sheet.

Locate the VIN on the Dashboard

To decode a Ford truck VIN, find your VIN on the dashboard. You will find it punched onto a small metal plate attached to the dash on the driver’s side near the windshield.

To see it, stand outside the truck and look down at the dash through the windshield. Make sure that nothing is obscuring your view.

Note All the VIN’s Characters

Take note of all of the characters of your VINs. A typical Ford Truck VIN will look like this: 2FDKF18S1WHC45351.

Ford Window Sticker Lookup by VIN

Decoding the Ford Truck VIN

ford truck vin decoder build sheet

Let’s break down the 17 characters of a VIN and what they stand for.

The VIN includes the following information:

  1. Country of Origin
  2. Manufacturer
  3. Type of Vehicle
  4. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
  5. Line, Series and Body Type
  6. Engine Type
  7. Check Digit
  8. Model Year
  9. Assembly Plant
  10. Production Sequence Number

Let’s discuss each one of them:

1. Country of Origin

The first digit of the VIN refers to the Country of Origin. It represents the place where the truck was manufactured. For the American market, there are five main numbers, each designating the truck’s specific country of origin:

  • 1 refers to the United States of America
  • 2 refers to Canada
  • 3 refers to Mexico
  • 6 refers to Australia
  • 9 refers to Brazil

2. Manufacturer

The second character refers to the Manufacturer. In the case of Ford vehicles, the second character of the VIN will include the letter “F.”

3. Type of Vehicle

The letter on the third position of the VIN indicates the type of vehicle. A Ford truck will be represented by the letter “T.” The different vehicle types and their corresponding letters are as follows:

  • C refers to Basic (stripped) Chassis
  • D refers to Incomplete Vehicle
  • M refers to Multipurpose Vehicle
  • T refers to Truck

4. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

The VIN’s fourth character represents the truck’s gross vehicle weight rating. The letters corresponding to a designated weight rating are the following:

  • A = Up to 3,000 lbs. 
  • B = 3,001 – 4,000 lbs.
  • C = 4,001 – 5,000 lbs.
  • D = 5,001 – 6,000 lbs.
  • E = 6,001 – 7,000 lbs.
  • F = 7,001 – 8,000 lbs.
  • G = 8,001 – 8,500 lbs.
  • H = 8,501 – 9,000 lbs.
  • J = 9,001 – 10,000 lbs.
  • K = 10,000 – 14,000 lbs.
  • L = 14,001 – 16,000 lbs.
  • M = 16,001 – 19,500 lbs.

5. Line, Series, and Body Type

The following three characters refer to the line, series, and body type of your truck:

  • E11 = Econoline – Club Wagon 
  • E31 = Econoline – Club Wagon – Heavy Duty 
  • S31 = Econoline – Club Wagon – Super Club Wagon 
  • E14 = Econoline – E-150 – Cargo Van 
  • E24 = Econoline – E-250 – Cargo Van 
  • E27 = Econoline – E-250 – Commercial Cutaway 
  • E29 = Econoline – E-250 – Commercial Basic 
  • E30 = Econoline – E-350 – RV Cutaway 
  • E34 = Econoline – E-350 – Cargo Van 
  • E37 = Econoline – E-350 – Commercial Cutaway 
  • E39 = Econoline, – E-350 – Commercial Basic 
  • S24 = Econoline, – E-250 – Super Van 
  • S34 = Econoline, – E-350 – Super Van 
  • E40 = E-Super Duty – RV Cutaway 
  • E47 = E-Super Duty – Commercial Cutaway 
  • F07 = F-150 – Flare side – 4×2 
  • X07 = F-150 Super Cab – Flare side – 4×2 
  • F08 = F-150 – Flare side – 4×4 
  • X08 = F-150 Super Cab – Flare side – 4×4 
  • F17 = F-150 – Style side – 4×2 
  • X17 = F-150 Super Cab – Style side – 4×2 
  • F18 = F-150 – Style side – 4×4 
  • X18 = F-150 Super Cab – Style side – 4×4 
  • F27 = F-250 – Style side – 4×2 
  • X27 = F-250 Super Cab – Style side – 4×2 
  • F28 = F-250 – Style side – 4×4 
  • X28 = F-250 Super Cab – Style side – 4×4 
  • U12 = Bronco II – 4×2 
  • U14 = Bronco II – 4×4 
  • U22 = Explorer – 2 door – 4×2 
  • U32 = Explorer – 4 door – 4×2 
  • U24 = Explorer – 2 door – 4×4 
  • U34 = Explorer – 4 door – 4×4 
  • U35 = Explorer – 4 door, – AWD 
  • U52 = Mountaineer – 4door – 4×2 
  • U54 = Mountaineer – 4 door – 4×4 
  • U55 = Mountaineer – 4 door – AWD 
  • R10 = Ranger – 4×2 
  • R11 = Ranger – 4×4 
  • R14 = Ranger – 4×2 – 2 door Super Cab 
  • R15 = Ranger – 4×4 – 2 door Super Cab 
  • R18 = Ranger – 4×2 – 4 door Super Cab 
  • R19 = Ranger – 4×4 – 4 door Super Cab

Again, Ford truck VIN decoder – why you should decode your Ford truck’s VIN? Decoding your Ford vehicle’s VIN will come in handy if it gets stolen or if you get into an accident.

6. Engine Type

ford truck vin decoder 11-digit

In the eighth place is a letter or number representing the type of engine initially installed in your truck.

Here are the details for your reference:

  • A = 2.3-Liter 4-Cylinder (Ranger 1997 and older) 
  • B = 2.5-Liter 4-Cylinder Diesel (Ranger) 
  • C = 2.5-Liter 4-Cylinder (Ranger)(2.0 on older Rangers) 
  • E = 2.3-Liter 4-Cylinder Diesel (Mitsubishi) 
  • E = 4.0-Liter 6-Cylinder – SOHC (Explorer, Mountaineer) 
  • F = 7.3-Liter 8-Cylinder Diesel (Econoline) 
  • L = 5.4-Liter 8-Cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) 
  • M = 5.4-Liter 8-Cylinder Natural Gas (Econoline, F-150, F-250) 
  • P = 2.2-Liter 4-Cylinder Diesel (Ranger) 
  • P = 5.0-Liter 8-Cylinder (Explorer/Mountaineer) 
  • S = 2.8-Liter 6-Cylinder (Ranger) 
  • S = 6.8-Liter 10-Cylinder (Econoline) 
  • T = 2.9-Liter 6-Cylinder (Ranger) 
  • U = 3.0-Liter 6-Cylinder (Ranger) 
  • W = 4.6-Liter 8-Cylinder (F-150, F-250) 
  • X = 4.0-Liter 6-Cylinder (Explorer, Ranger)
  •  Z = 5.4-Liter 8-Cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) 
  • 2 = 4.2-Liter 6-Cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) 
  • 6 = 4.6-Liter 8-Cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250)

7. Check Digit

The ninth character is the check digit, which is not relevant to a Ford truck and may be skipped. Nonetheless, the values of a check digit are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or X.

8. Model Year

The tenth character in a VIN indicates the model year. Trucks manufactured in 1980 are represented by the letter “A.” Each succeeding year is represented by the following letters (excluding “I,” “O,” “Q,” and “U”) up to “Y.”

After which, numbers are used starting from 1 until 9. The cycle then begins anew with letters being used once again:

  • A = 1980 
  • B = 1981 
  • C = 1982 
  • D = 1983 
  • E = 1984 
  • F = 1985 
  • G = 1986 
  • H = 1987 
  • J = 1988 
  • K = 1989 
  • L = 1990 
  • M = 1991 
  • N = 1992 
  • P = 1993 
  • R = 1994 
  • S = 1995 
  • T = 1996 
  • V = 1997 
  • W = 1998 
  • X = 1999 
  • Y = 2000 
  • 1 = 2001 
  • 2 = 2002 
  • 3 = 2003 
  • 4 = 2004 
  • 5 = 2005 
  • 6 = 2006 
  • 7 = 2007 
  • 8 = 2008 
  • 9 = 2009 
  • A = 2010 
  • B = 2011 
  • C = 2012
  • D = 2013
  • E – 2014
  • F = 2015
  • G = 2016
  • H = 2017
  • J = 2018
  • K = 2019
  • L = 2020
  • M = 2021
  • N = 2022

9. Assembly Plant

The eleventh character represents the location of the assembly plant:

  • B = Oakville: Oakville, Ontario
  • C = Chennai Assembly Plant, India
  • D = Ohio Assembly: Avon Lake, Ohio
  • E = Kentucky Truck: Louisville, Kentucky
  • F = Dearborn: Dearborn, Michigan
  • G = Chicago: Chicago, Illinois
  • H = Multimatic: Ontario, Canada
  • K = Kansas City: Claycomo, Missouri
  • L = Michigan Assembly: Wayne, Michigan
  • M = Cuautitlan: Cuautitlan, Mexico
  • R = Hermosillo: Hermosillo, Mexico
  • 0 = Detroit Empowerment Zone: Detroit, Michigan
  • 5 = Flat Rock Assembly Plant (A AI): Flat Rock, Michigan
  • 1 = Valencia Assembly Plant: Valencia, Spain
  • U = Lousiville Assembly Plant: Louisville, Kentucky
  • 4 = Saarlouis Assembly Plant: Saarlouis, Germany

10. Production Sequence Number

The last six characters in a VIN indicate the sequential number of your truck. It starts with a letter or number representing the Ford division that manufactured the vehicle. Then, the last five digits stand for the vehicle’s number in the production sequence:

  • A0001 to G99999 = Ford Division
  • J0001 to L99999 = Lincoln Division
  • 00001 to 999999 = Ford Transit Connect and EcoSport

Sample Ford VIN Decoded

Based on the information above, the sample VIN 2FDKF18S1WHC45351 decoded means Ford manufactured your truck in Canada. It is incomplete because it doesn’t attach a container or primary load-carrying device.

Its gross vehicle weight rating ranges between 10,000 to 14,000 lbs. It is an F-150 line, Style Side series with a 4×4 body type, and has either a 2.8-Liter 6-Cylinder (Ranger) or 6.8-Liter 10-Cylinder (Econoline) engine type.

The check digit is 1, which means that it is a 1998 model, assembled at the Multimatic plant in Ontario and is the 45,351st truck from the Ford division.

Conclusion – Ford Truck VIN Decoder

To reiterate, knowing how to decode your Ford vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is advantageous. If your vehicle gets stolen, its VIN can help you track it down. If it gets into an accident, its VIN can help you retrieve the damage record.

There are several benefits in referring to a Ford Truck VIN Decoder. This includes informing you of the features of a specific truck that you intend to buy.

It helps you decide if it is the right one for you. The VIN is a vehicle’s social security number. Decoding makes your truck easy to identify for security, insurance, and repair purposes.

Decoding the VIN of your Ford vehicle can be useful in many situations. If your truck is stolen, you can use the info on the VIN to find it.

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