Ford Fiesta VIN Decoder: History, Generations and VIN Lookup Guide

Every modern Ford Fiesta carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and decoding it is the quickest way to confirm what a given supermini really is before you trust a listing. The VIN reveals the model year, the plant it came from, the engine fitted at the factory, the body style and the safety equipment. On a used Fiesta this matters most for confirming the exact engine, separating a standard car from a genuine ST, and verifying the model year and market a seller claims.

This page covers the Fiesta from 2002 to 2023. Run any Fiesta VIN through the decoder above to read it in seconds, and use the guide below to understand the number and what to check.

How a Ford Fiesta VIN is put together

The 17 characters follow a global standard, so each position carries fixed meaning. The first three are the World Manufacturer Identifier, and because the Fiesta was built in several countries it can begin in different ways. European cars built in Germany usually start with WF0, the Ford-Werke identifier, while cars built for North America in Mexico start with 3FA. Characters four through eight describe the body, restraint system and engine, which is where a 1.0 EcoBoost is separated from a diesel or an ST. The ninth character is a check digit, the tenth is the model year, the eleventh is the plant, and the final six are the unique build sequence.

You will find the VIN at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the door jamb label, and in the registration paperwork.

Generations from 2002 to 2023

The Fiesta has been one of Europe’s best-selling small cars for decades. The 2002 to 2008 car modernised the range, the 2008 model became a global success and was also sold in North America, and the final generation from 2017 refined the formula with efficient turbocharged engines before production ended in 2023.

Ford Fiesta engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a check confirms the engine the car was built with, which is exactly what you want when a listing is vague about the unit or fuel type.

Ford Fiesta by model year

The Fiesta follows the standard VIN year letters, so position ten quickly confirms the year a seller claims for the common recent cars.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Fiesta is generally dependable, but a few items are worth attention. Confirm a specific car against the relevant recall database by its VIN.

A VIN check together with a careful inspection is the best way to avoid a Fiesta with a costly hidden fault, especially on the automatic and ST versions.

Buying a used Ford Fiesta

Decode the VIN first and confirm the model year, engine and plant match the advertisement, then run that number through the relevant recall database. Decide between petrol, diesel and the hot ST, confirm the engine through the VIN rather than the badge, and prioritise a complete service history. On the small turbo engines in particular, evidence of proper cooling and oil maintenance is reassuring.

Common questions

Buyers often ask how to tell a genuine Fiesta ST from a styled standard car, and the answer is in the engine and series codes of the VIN backed up by documentation. People also ask why some Fiesta VINs start with 3 rather than W, and the reason is that the car was built in Mexico for North America rather than in Europe. The standard 17-character decoding applies across the Fiesta range from 2002 onward.

When you are ready, enter your Ford Fiesta VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and configuration before you buy.

Ford F-150 VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide (1997 to 2024)

Every Ford F-150 carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and decoding it is the quickest way to confirm what a given truck really is before you trust a listing. The VIN reveals the model year, the plant it came from, the engine fitted at the factory, the cab and bed configuration and the safety equipment. On America’s best-selling truck this matters most for confirming the engine, separating a base V6 from an EcoBoost or a 5.0 V8, checking whether a truck is a genuine Raptor, and verifying the year a seller claims. This page covers the modern F-150 from 1997 to 2024. Run any F-150 VIN through the decoder above to read it in seconds, and use the guide below to understand the number and what to check.

How a Ford F-150 VIN is put together

The 17 characters follow a global standard, so each position carries fixed meaning. The first three are the World Manufacturer Identifier. F-150 trucks begin with 1FT, marking a Ford truck built in the United States, mainly at Dearborn, Michigan and Kansas City, Missouri. Characters four through eight describe the cab style, the bed, the restraint system and the engine, which is where a 2.7 EcoBoost is separated from a 3.5 EcoBoost or a 5.0 V8. The ninth character is a check digit, the tenth is the model year, the eleventh is the plant, and the final six are the unique build sequence.

You will find the VIN at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the certification label in the driver’s door jamb, and in the registration paperwork.

Ford F-150 VIN position by position

Every F-150 from this era uses the seventeen character VIN, so they all read the same way. Work through it in order and you can settle the year, the cab, the drive type and the engine before you trust a single line of the advert.

Ford F-150 model year codes (position 10)

The tenth character is the quickest way to date an F-150. These are the codes for the trucks that make up most of the used market.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford F-150

Read the VIN through the base of the windshield on the driver side and check it against the label in the driver door jamb, which also lists the weight ratings and the axle code. On a truck that has worked hard or been modified, make sure the number is intact and matches the paperwork before you buy.

Reading an F-150 VIN in practice

Take a truck whose VIN starts with 1FT and shows J in position ten. That marks it as a United States built Ford truck from the 2018 model year. The descriptor characters then tell you the cab and drive type, position eight identifies whether it left the line with a V8, an EcoBoost or the hybrid, and the final digits are the truck’s own serial number.

Generations from 1997 to 2024

The F-150 has led the full-size truck market for decades. The 1997 redesign brought a more aerodynamic shape, the 2015 truck switched to a lightweight aluminum body, and the 2021 generation added a hybrid powertrain and modern technology while keeping the V8 and turbocharged options.

Ford F-150 engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a check confirms the engine the truck was built with, which is exactly what you want on a model offered with so many powertrains.

Ford F-150 by model year

The F-150 follows the standard VIN year letters, so position ten quickly confirms the year a seller claims.

Reliability and the things worth checking

Reliability varies by engine and by how hard the truck has worked. Always confirm a specific vehicle against the NHTSA recall database by its VIN.

Because the F-150 is so often used for towing and work, a VIN history check combined with a careful physical inspection counts for a lot here.

Ford F-150 recalls

Below are notable safety recalls recorded for the Ford F-150 by the American road safety regulator, the NHTSA. The F-150 is built in huge numbers, so it has many recalls over the years. This is a reference list, not a check of your individual truck. A recall applies only to certain build dates and VIN ranges, so a model year here does not mean every truck of that year is affected.

Recall data is published by the NHTSA and changes over time, so treat this as background rather than a substitute for the official record for your VIN.

Check a specific VIN for open recalls: use the official NHTSA recalls lookup or the Ford recall page. Both are free and show whether the work has already been done.

Buying a used Ford F-150

Decode the VIN first and confirm the model year, engine, cab and bed match the advertisement, then run that number through the NHTSA recall search. Decide which engine fits your needs, since the V6, the EcoBoost units, the 5.0 V8 and the PowerBoost hybrid behave very differently, and confirm a Raptor is genuine through the VIN rather than the badges. On work trucks, prioritise a complete service history and a sound frame. When you are ready, enter your Ford F-150 VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and configuration before you buy.

Ford EcoSport VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide (2013 to 2024)

Every Ford EcoSport carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and decoding it is the quickest way to confirm what a given small SUV really is before you trust a listing. The VIN reveals the model year, the country and plant it came from, the engine fitted at the factory, the body and the safety equipment. On the EcoSport this matters most for confirming the engine, telling a turbocharged EcoBoost from a normal petrol or diesel, and verifying the model year a seller claims. This page covers the second-generation Ford EcoSport, sold worldwide from 2013 to 2024. Run any EcoSport VIN through the decoder above to read it in seconds, and use the guide below to understand the number and what to check.

How a Ford EcoSport VIN is put together

The 17 characters follow a global standard, so each position carries fixed meaning. The first three are the World Manufacturer Identifier, and because the EcoSport was built in several countries, including India, Romania and Brazil, this code is the key to its origin. Characters four through eight describe the body, the restraint system and the engine, which is where a 1.0 EcoBoost is separated from a normal petrol or a diesel. The ninth character is a check digit, the tenth is the model year, the eleventh is the plant, and the final six are the unique build sequence.

You will find the VIN at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the door jamb label, and in the registration paperwork.

Ford EcoSport VIN position by position

The second generation EcoSport was a global car built in several countries, so the VIN matters as much for confirming where it was made as for the year. It uses the standard seventeen character layout, and reading it in order settles the origin, the year and the engine.

Ford EcoSport model year codes (position 10)

For the second generation the tenth character reads as follows.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford EcoSport

Read the VIN through the base of the windscreen on the driver side and check it against the plate or label in the door area. Because these were sold across many markets and some reached other countries as imports, matching the number on the car to the documents is especially worth doing.

Reading an EcoSport VIN in practice

Take a VIN that starts with MAJ and shows J in position ten. That already tells you it is an Indian built Ford from the 2018 model year. The descriptor characters then show the engine and trim, and the closing six digits are the car’s own serial number.

About the Ford EcoSport

The EcoSport is Ford’s subcompact SUV, based on the Fiesta platform and sold across many markets including Europe, India, Brazil and North America. The 2013 to 2024 generation modernised the model with turbocharged EcoBoost engines and SUV styling in a small, affordable package, with a distinctive side-hinged tailgate on many versions.

Ford EcoSport engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a check confirms the engine the SUV was built with, which is exactly what you want when a listing is vague about the unit or fuel type.

Ford EcoSport by model year

The EcoSport follows the standard VIN year letters, so position ten quickly confirms the year a seller claims.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The EcoSport is generally dependable, but confirm a specific car against the relevant recall database by its VIN.

A VIN history check together with a careful inspection is the best way to choose a good EcoSport.

Buying a used Ford EcoSport

Decode the VIN first and confirm the model year, engine and origin match the advertisement, then run that number through the relevant recall database. Decide between the turbocharged EcoBoost, the normal petrol and the diesel, confirm the engine through the VIN rather than the badge, and prioritise a complete service history. When you are ready, enter your Ford EcoSport VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and configuration before you buy.

Ford Econoline VIN Decoder: E-Series Vans (1992 to 2021) VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Econoline carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and decoding it is the quickest way to confirm what a given van really is before you trust a listing. The VIN reveals the model year, the plant it came from, the engine fitted at the factory, the series and the safety equipment. On the Econoline, also known as the E-Series, this matters most for confirming the engine, telling a gas V8 from a diesel, and identifying the series and weight rating a seller claims. This page covers the fourth-generation Ford Econoline and E-Series from 1992 to 2021. Run any Econoline VIN through the decoder above to read it in seconds, and use the guide below to understand the number and what to check.

How a Ford Econoline VIN is put together

The 17 characters follow a global standard, so each position carries fixed meaning. The Econoline was built in the United States, so its VIN begins with a Ford truck or commercial code such as 1FT, 1FB or 1FD, marking a Ford built in the United States. Characters four through eight describe the body, the series and weight rating, the restraint system and the engine. The ninth character is a check digit, the tenth is the model year, the eleventh is the plant, and the final six are the unique build sequence.

You will find the VIN at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the door jamb label, and in the registration paperwork.

Ford Econoline VIN position by position

The modern Econoline, also sold as the E-Series, uses the seventeen character VIN. Reading it in order tells you the series, the year and the engine, which matters on a van that came in cargo, passenger and cutaway forms with a wide choice of engines.

Ford Econoline model year codes (position 10)

For the modern vans the tenth character reads as follows.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Econoline

Read the VIN through the base of the windshield on the driver side and check it against the door jamb label, which also lists the weight ratings that matter on a work van. Many of these vans led hard commercial lives, so make sure the number is intact and matches the paperwork before you buy.

Reading an Econoline VIN in practice

Take a van whose VIN starts with 1FT and shows 6 in position ten. That marks it as a United States built Ford van from the 2006 model year. The series characters then tell you whether it is an E150, E250 or E350, position eight identifies the engine, and the final digits are the van’s own serial number.

About the Ford Econoline and E-Series

The Econoline, later branded the E-Series, was Ford’s full-size van and a fixture of American commercial fleets for decades. The 1992 to 2021 era covers the long-running fourth generation, offered as cargo and passenger vans and, in its later years, mainly as a cutaway and chassis cab for motorhomes, ambulances and box trucks after the Transit took over the van role.

Ford Econoline engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a check confirms the engine the van was built with, which is important for parts and for telling gas from diesel.

Ford Econoline by model year

The Econoline follows the standard VIN year characters, so position ten quickly confirms the year a seller claims.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Econoline is durable but usually worked hard in commercial or motorhome service, so confirm a specific van against the NHTSA recall database by its VIN.

A VIN history check together with a careful inspection is essential on a commercial van that may have led a hard life.

Ford Econoline recalls

Below are notable safety recalls recorded for the Ford Econoline, also sold as the E-series, by the American road safety regulator, the NHTSA. This is a reference list, not a check of your individual van, and a recall applies only to certain build dates and VIN ranges.

Many E-series vans are converted by outside companies into shuttles, campers, wheelchair vans and propane vehicles, and those conversions carry their own separate recalls from the converter. Because of that a VIN check is the reliable way to see the full list for a specific van. Recall data is published by the NHTSA and changes over time, so treat this as background rather than a substitute for the official record for your VIN.

Check a specific VIN for open recalls: use the official NHTSA recalls lookup or the Ford recall page. Both are free and show whether the work has already been done.

Buying a used Ford Econoline

Decode the VIN first and confirm the model year, series, weight rating and engine match the advertisement, then run that number through the NHTSA recall search. Confirm whether the van is gas or diesel and which series it is, since this affects capacity and running costs, and prioritise a documented service history on a hard-working vehicle. When you are ready, enter your Ford Econoline VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and configuration before you buy.

Ford Econovan VIN Decoder: History and Identification Guide (1987 to 2006)

Every Ford Econovan carries an identification number that tells you what a given van really is, which is useful when buying, servicing or verifying one of these practical workhorses. Because the Econovan was a rebadged Mazda built in Japan, its number reflects Japanese manufacture, and decoding it helps confirm the model year, engine and configuration.

This page covers the Ford Econovan from 1987 to 2006. Run a VIN through the decoder above, and use the guide below to understand the number and what to check.

How a Ford Econovan VIN is put together

The Econovan was built by Mazda in Japan, so its identification reflects Japanese manufacture rather than a Ford United States code. On the 17-character era cars the first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier showing Japanese origin, the descriptor section records the body and engine, the tenth character is the model year and the eleventh is the plant. The number confirms whether a van is petrol or diesel and which body it uses.

You will find the number on the body plate in the engine bay or cab, on the door area, and in the registration documents.

About the Ford Econovan

The Econovan was Ford’s compact van for Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia, a rebadged version of the Mazda Bongo and E-Series van. It was a simple, durable cargo and people mover offered with petrol and diesel engines and in short and long-wheelbase forms, popular with tradespeople and small businesses.

Ford Econovan engines and specifications

Confirming the engine against the van’s identification helps when sourcing parts for these Mazda-based vehicles.

Ford Econovan by configuration

The number and badging help confirm the body and drivetrain on a used Econovan.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Econovan is simple and tough, but as an older commercial van its condition matters most.

A careful inspection for rust and a healthy drivetrain is the best way to choose a sound Econovan.

Buying a used Ford Econovan

Confirm the year, engine and body against the van’s identification number and paperwork. On this simple, hard-working van, a rust-free body and a well-maintained engine matter far more than specification.

When you are ready, enter your Ford Econovan details in the decoder above and compare them with the van and its documents.

Ford Custom (1965 to 1981) VIN Decoder: History, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Custom carries an identification number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a seller’s description. From 1965 the Custom and Custom 500 were the value full-size Fords sitting below the Galaxie and LTD, sold as plain, durable sedans that were popular with families and fleets, and the Custom 500 continued in Canada into the early 1980s. The number confirms the model year, the engine the car left the line with and the plant that built it. You can run a Custom number through the decoder at the top of this page, and the guide below explains the format, walks through the eras, and points out what matters most when you check one.

How a Ford Custom VIN is put together

Most of these cars predate the 17 character VIN that Ford adopted in 1981, so they carry a shorter identification number found on the data plate and stamped on the body, where the first character is the model year, another is the assembly plant, and further characters give the body and engine codes. The very last Canadian built cars from 1981 use the modern 17 character VIN beginning with a Ford code. The engine code is the part that matters most, because it separates a six from a small-block or big-block V8. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Custom number.

On a car this old, matching the number on the data plate with the title and any other stampings is the first check worth doing.

How a Ford Custom is identified

This Custom spans the change to the modern VIN. A car from the 1981 model year carries the seventeen character VIN, which begins with 1FA on a United States built Ford passenger car and gives the model year in the tenth character. The earlier cars, up to 1980, predate that system and instead are identified by an older Ford number, a shorter code stamped on the car and set out on the door data plate, where the first character is the model year.

What the old Ford number tells you

On the pre 1981 cars the stamped number and the data plate together record the model year, the plant, the body style and the engine. Because there was no single national standard yet, the exact code letters change from year to year, so restorers translate each field against a year specific Ford chart rather than reading it straight through like a modern VIN.

Where to find the number on a Ford Custom

On the 1981 cars the VIN reads through the windshield at the base of the glass on the driver side and repeats on the door jamb label. On the earlier cars look for the data plate on the door or door pillar and the stamped number on the body. On any car of this age, the plate, the stamped number and the paperwork all need to agree before you buy.

A short history, generation by generation

From 1965 the Custom and Custom 500 were the entry full-size Fords, sharing their bodies and engines with the Galaxie and LTD but with plainer trim, which made them favourites as taxis, police cars and no nonsense family transport. The cars grew and restyled through the late 1960s and early 1970s with the full range of six and V8 engines, and after the line was dropped in the United States the Custom 500 carried on in Canada until the early 1980s. The table below sums up the eras.

Ford Custom engines and specifications

Because the engine code is part of the number, a proper check confirms the engine the car was born with. The figures below cover the main engines, with power as a range because output changed across the years and the way it was measured changed too.

Ford Custom by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several years to the era and engine. Cars before 1981 use the year digit, while the last Canadian cars use the 17 character VIN.

Reliability and the things worth checking

These are simple, robust cars by modern standards, but every survivor is old now, so condition and originality matter far more than mechanical complexity. The most common points to check are summarized below.

Buying a used Ford Custom

When you find one worth pursuing, read the number first and make sure the model year, engine and body line up with the seller’s description and the title. Check whether the car had a hard fleet life, confirm the engine through the data plate, and inspect the frame and floors for corrosion. When you are ready, enter your Ford Custom number in the decoder above, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford Crown Victoria VIN Decoder: Second Generation (1998 to 2011) VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Crown Victoria carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and decoding it is the quickest way to confirm what a given car really is before you trust a listing. The VIN reveals the model year, the plant it came from, the engine fitted at the factory, the body and the safety equipment. On the Crown Victoria this matters most for confirming the model year, separating a civilian car from a Police Interceptor or fleet model, and verifying what a seller claims. This page covers the second-generation Ford Crown Victoria, sold from 1998 to 2011. Run any Crown Victoria VIN through the decoder above to read it in seconds, and use the guide below to understand the number and what to check.

How a Ford Crown Victoria VIN is put together

The 17 characters follow a global standard, so each position carries fixed meaning. The Crown Victoria was built at St. Thomas in Ontario, Canada, so its VIN typically begins with 2FA, marking a Ford passenger car built in Canada. Characters four through eight describe the body, the restraint system and the engine, which is the 4.6 V8, and they also separate the Police Interceptor from civilian models. The ninth character is a check digit, the tenth is the model year, the eleventh is the plant, and the final six are the unique build sequence.

You will find the VIN at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the door jamb label, and in the registration paperwork.

Ford Crown Victoria VIN position by position

Every second generation Crown Victoria uses the seventeen character format. Reading it one position at a time confirms the year, the series and the engine before you rely on any advert or listing.

Ford Crown Victoria series codes (positions 5 to 7)

Positions five to seven are the most useful part of a Crown Victoria VIN, because they tell a plain sedan apart from a fleet or police car. This is the first thing to check when a seller claims a car is a genuine Police Interceptor.

Ford Crown Victoria engine code (position 8)

The Crown Victoria used one engine family across its whole life, the 4.6 litre SOHC V8, so position eight mainly tells you which factory built the engine rather than which size it is. Both codes below are the same 4.6 litre V8.

Ford Crown Victoria model year codes (position 10)

The tenth character gives the model year. For the second generation the codes run as follows.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Crown Victoria

On a Crown Victoria the VIN is easiest to read through the windshield, on a plate at the base of the glass on the driver side. It is repeated on a label in the driver door jamb, which also carries the tyre and paint information. On police and fleet cars always confirm the two match, because retired interceptors are sometimes rebadged as ordinary sedans.

Reading a Crown Victoria VIN in practice

Take a sample VIN of 2FAFP71W23X123456. The 2FA start confirms a Ford of Canada car, P71 in positions five to seven marks it as a Police Interceptor, W in position eight is the 4.6 litre V8, the 3 in position ten makes it a 2003 model, and X in position eleven places its build at St. Thomas in Ontario. The final digits are the individual serial number. That single line identifies it as a 2003 Police Interceptor with the 4.6 litre V8 before you have seen a single photo.

The second-generation Crown Victoria

The second-generation Crown Victoria continued on the rear-wheel-drive Panther platform and became the definitive American taxi and police car of its era. It arrived for 1998 with a redesigned body, was widely sold to fleets as the Police Interceptor, and ran all the way to 2011, by which point civilian sales had largely given way to fleet and export orders.

Ford Crown Victoria engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a check confirms the engine and whether the car is a Police Interceptor, which matters for value and parts.

Ford Crown Victoria by model year

The Crown Victoria follows the standard VIN year characters, so position ten quickly confirms the year a seller claims.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Crown Victoria is famously durable, but many led hard fleet lives. Confirm a specific car against records by its VIN where possible.

A VIN check together with a careful inspection, especially for former police use and rust, is the best way to choose a good Crown Victoria.

Ford Crown Victoria recalls

The Crown Victoria has had a number of safety recalls, recorded by the American road safety regulator, the NHTSA, some of them specific to the Police Interceptor and fleet cars. The main campaigns are listed below. This is a reference list, not a check of your individual car. To see whether a specific VIN has an open, unrepaired recall, use the official lookups linked underneath.

Recall data is published by the NHTSA and changes over time as new campaigns are announced. This list is a summary of the main ones and is not a substitute for the official record. Always confirm the exact status for a specific car by its VIN.

Check a specific VIN for open recalls: use the official NHTSA recalls lookup or the Ford recall page, which show whether the recall work on that VIN has already been done.

Buying a used Ford Crown Victoria

Decode the VIN first and confirm the model year and whether the car is a Police Interceptor, then judge condition and history. A clean, lower-mileage civilian car with a documented history is worth far more than a retired fleet vehicle, so the VIN and service record matter a great deal here. When you are ready, enter your Ford Crown Victoria VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and configuration before you buy.

Ford Cougar VIN Decoder: History, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Cougar carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and decoding it is the quickest way to confirm what a given car really is before you trust a listing. The VIN reveals the model year, the plant it came from, the engine fitted at the factory, the body and the safety equipment. On the Cougar this matters most for confirming the engine, separating a four-cylinder from the V6, and verifying the model year a seller claims. This page covers the Ford Cougar sport coupe of 1998 to 2002. Run any Cougar VIN through the decoder above to read it in seconds, and use the guide below to understand the number and what to check.

How a Ford Cougar VIN is put together

The 17 characters follow a global standard, so each position carries fixed meaning. The Cougar was built at Flat Rock in Michigan, so its VIN reflects United States assembly and begins with a Ford or Auto Alliance manufacturer code. Characters four through eight describe the body, the restraint system and the engine, which is where the 2.0 four-cylinder is separated from the 2.5 V6. The ninth character is a check digit, the tenth is the model year, the eleventh is the plant, and the final six are the unique build sequence.

You will find the VIN at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the door jamb label, and in the registration paperwork. Note that the earlier and larger Mercury Cougar is a different vehicle covered separately.

Ford Cougar VIN position by position

This European Cougar was a sporty coupe based on the Mondeo, and although it was sold in Europe it was actually built in the United States and shipped across. It uses the seventeen character VIN, and reading it in order settles the origin, the year and the engine.

Ford Cougar model year codes (position 10)

The Cougar was sold for a few years, and the tenth character reads as follows.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Cougar

Read the VIN through the base of the windscreen on the driver side and check it against the plate or label in the door area. These were affordable coupes that have thinned out over the years, so a quick VIN read confirms the year and engine match the advert.

Reading a Cougar VIN in practice

Take a car whose VIN opens with 1FA and shows X in position ten. That places it as a United States built Ford from the 1999 model year. The descriptor section then shows whether it left the line as the four cylinder or the V6, and the closing six digits are the car’s own serial number.

About the Ford Cougar

The Ford Cougar was a front-wheel-drive sport coupe sold from 1998 to 2002, based on the Mondeo platform and built in the United States for both European and North American markets, where it was also sold as the Mercury Cougar. Its New Edge styling stood out, and it paired everyday Mondeo mechanicals with a sleek coupe body.

Ford Cougar engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a check confirms the engine the car was built with, which is exactly what you want when a listing is vague about four-cylinder versus V6.

Ford Cougar by model year

The Cougar follows the standard VIN year characters, so position ten quickly confirms the year a seller claims.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Cougar shares mechanicals with the Mondeo, so it is generally robust, but its age means condition matters. Confirm a specific car against records by its VIN where possible.

A VIN check together with a careful inspection for rust and a healthy drivetrain is the best way to choose a good Cougar.

Buying a used Ford Cougar

Decode the VIN first and confirm the model year and engine match the advertisement. The V6 is the desirable choice for performance, the four-cylinder is the economical option, and on either one a rust-free body, healthy cooling system and documented history matter most on a car of this age. When you are ready, enter your Ford Cougar VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and configuration before you buy.

Ford Cortina VIN Decoder: History, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

The Ford Cortina carries an identification number that tells you what a given car really is, which is invaluable when buying, restoring or verifying one of Britain’s best-selling classics. Most Cortinas were built before the modern 17-character VIN standard, so they use shorter factory numbers read with year-specific references, while the very last cars may carry the standard 17-character format.

This page covers the classic Ford Cortina. Run a number through the decoder above, and use the guide below to understand how Cortina identification works and what to check on a classic.

How a Ford Cortina is identified

The Cortina was built mainly at Dagenham in the United Kingdom and at other European plants. Cars from the 1960s and 1970s use Ford’s older identification format rather than the 17-character VIN, with codes that record the model, body, engine and assembly details according to year-specific schemes. Only the final cars built around 1981 to 1982 fall into the modern 17-character era. For the older cars, a marque specialist or year-specific reference is the reliable way to read the number.

Generations of the Ford Cortina

The Cortina was Ford of Europe’s mainstream family car from 1962 to 1982 and topped the British sales charts for years. Across five generations it grew from a light, simple saloon into a larger, more comfortable car, and it spawned famous performance and sporting versions including the Lotus Cortina and various GT models.

Ford Cortina engines and specifications

Confirming the engine against the car’s documentation matters for value and originality on a classic Cortina.

Reliability and the things worth checking

On a classic Cortina, condition and originality matter far more than specification.

A careful inspection for rust and originality, supported by the car’s documentation, is essential on a classic of this age and following.

Buying a used Ford Cortina

Confirm the model, year and engine against the car’s identification number and paperwork. On the classic Cortina, a solid, rust-free body and a genuine, original drivetrain are everything, and the desirable Lotus and GT models in particular reward careful verification before you pay a premium.

When you are ready, enter your Ford Cortina details in the decoder above and compare them with the car and its documents.

Ford Tourneo Courier VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Tourneo Courier carries a 17 character Vehicle Identification Number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular vehicle really is before you trust a listing. The Tourneo Courier is Ford’s smallest passenger van derived MPV, based on the same compact underpinnings as the Fiesta, sold across Europe since 2014 with frugal petrol and diesel engines and now an electric version. The VIN settles the model year, the engine the vehicle left the line with and the plant that built it.

You can run any Tourneo Courier VIN through the decoder at the top of this page and read the result in a few seconds. The rest of this guide explains how the number is built, walks through the generations, and points out what to check when you look one over.

How a Ford Tourneo Courier VIN is put together

The 17 characters split into three blocks, and because the layout follows a global standard, the same position always carries the same kind of information.

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier, and the European built Tourneo Courier carries a Ford of Europe code such as WF0. Characters four through eight describe the vehicle, including the body and, most usefully, the engine, which is where an EcoBoost petrol is set apart from a TDCi diesel or the electric drive. The ninth character is a check digit that validates the whole number.

The last eight characters describe the individual vehicle, with position ten the model year, position eleven the plant and the final six the sequential build number. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Tourneo Courier VIN.

You will find the number behind the windscreen, on the plate in the door area and on the registration documents, and matching them is the first check worth doing.

A short history, generation by generation

The first Tourneo Courier arrived in 2014 as the seated, windowed version of the small Transit Courier van, giving buyers a tall, practical mini MPV on a low budget. It used small EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel engines and stayed in production for nearly a decade. The second generation of 2023 moved to a newer platform shared with the latest small Fords, grew in size and quality, and added a fully electric E-Tourneo Courier. The table below sums up the generations.

Ford Tourneo Courier engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a proper check confirms the engine the vehicle was born with. The figures below cover the main configurations, with power as a range because output changed across model years.

Ford Tourneo Courier by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several model years to their VIN year code, generation and engine options. The same model year letter logic runs across the production run.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Tourneo Courier is a simple, practical vehicle, so condition and history matter most, and you should always run the VIN through the relevant recall check. The most common points to check are summarized below.

Buying a used Ford Tourneo Courier

When you find one worth pursuing, decode the VIN first and make sure the model year, engine and body line up with the advertisement, then run the same number through the relevant recall check. Confirm a clean service history, and on the electric version check the battery state of health and charging behaviour.

When you are ready, enter your Ford Tourneo Courier VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the vehicle is genuinely what it claims to be.