Identification Codes
Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) Codes
The Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) is a 17-digit combination of letters and numbers. The VIN is stamped on a metal tab riveted on the instrument panel, top upper left of the dash. The VIN is also found on the Vehicle Certification(VC) label.
If the VIN plate requires replacement, authorized dealers must contact their respective regional office.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) |
| 2 | Restraint system type |
| 3 | Vehicle line and series type |
| 4 | Engine type |
| 5 | Check digit |
| 6 | Model year |
| 7 | Assembly plant |
| 8 | Production sequence number |
| 9 | Spring code |
| 10 | Powertrain calibration information |
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
The first 3 VIN positions are the WMI.
- 1FM - Ford Motor Company, USA, Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV).
Restraint System Type
The fourth Vehicle VIN position identifies the vehicle restraint system used.
- 5 - Active safety belts, all positions, driver and front passenger air bags and side impact air bags - all positions.
Vehicle Line and Series Type
VIN positions 5 through 7 identifies the vehicle line, series and body type.
- K7B - Explorer, Front Wheel Drive (FWD)
- K7D - Explorer, FWD, XLT
- K7F - Explorer, FWD, Limited
- K8A - Explorer, All-Wheel Drive (AWD), Police package
- K8B - Explorer, AWD
- K8D - Explorer, AWD, XLT
- K8F - Explorer, AWD, Limited
- K8G - Explorer, AWD, Sport version
Engine Type
The eighth VIN position is the engine type (displacement and number of cylinders).
- 8 - 3.5L, V6, Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT)
- 9 - 2.0L, four-cylinder Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDI)
- R - 3.7L, V6, Ti-VCT
- T - 3.5L, V6, GTDI
More specific engine information can be found on the engine tag. Refer to ENGINE - 2.0L GTDI , ENGINE - 3.5L TI-VCT or ENGINE - 3.5L GTDI .
Check Digit
The ninth VIN position is a government-assigned, computer-generated check digit.
Model Year
The tenth VIN position is the model year code.
- F - 2015
Assembly Plant
The eleventh VIN position is the assembly plant code.
- G - Chicago Assembly, Chicago, IL.
Build Sequence
VIN positions 12 through 17 are an alphanumeric code for the vehicle build sequence. This is also the vehicle serial and warranty number. These 6 characters are also found on the engine block and transmission.
- A00001-F99999 - Ford Motor Company
Vehicle Certification(VC) Codes
Vehicle Certification(VC) Label Locator
The upper portion of the Vehicle Certification(VC) label contains the manufacturer's name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement and the Vehicle Identification Number(VIN). It also includes Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR). The VC label is located on the driver shell or door jamb.
If a vehicle requires replacement of the VC label and is 4 years old or less, an authorized dealer must submit the VIN to their respective regional office. The regional office will submit a web form to the assembly plant for the replacement label. Once the label has been printed, a representative from the regional office will deliver the label to the dealer and witness installation on the vehicle. If a vehicle is more than 4 years old and requires a replacement label, the dealer must submit a request to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Exterior paint code |
| 2 | Region code |
| 3 | District Special Order (DSO) code |
| 4 | Interior trim code |
| 5 | Tape/paint stripe code |
| 6 | Radio code |
| 7 | Axle code |
| 8 | Transmission code |
| 9 | Spring code |
| 10 | Powertrain calibration information |
Exterior Paint
Paint codes may be listed as a 2-part code. The first 2 characters Identify primary body color. The second 2 characters Identify 2-tone or accent color.
Primary Body Color
- BT - Dark Side
- BU - Medium Brown Metallic
- E3 - Arizona Beige (police only)
- H5 - Caribou
- H9 - Bronze Fire (tri-coat)
- HG - Smokestone
- J1 - Kodiak Brown Metallic
- J4 - Deep Impact Blue
- J7 - Magnetic
- JL - Dark Toreador Red
- KR - Norcea Blue Pearl
- LK - Dark Blue Solid
- LM - Royal Blue Solid
- LN - Light Blue Metallic
- LS - Light Ice Blue Metallic
- MM - Ultra Blue #2
- RR - Ruby Red (tri-coat)
- TN - Silver Gray Metallic
- UA - Ebony
- UG - White Platinum (tri-coat)
- UH - Tuxedo Black Metallic
- UJ - Sterling Gray Metallic
- UX - Ingot Silver Metallic
- YG - Medium Titanium
- YZ - Oxford White Solid
Accent Color
- YZ - Oxford White Solid
Interior Trim
Interior trim codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first character identifies the interior trim type. The second character identifies the interior trim color.
Interior Trim Type
- 7 - Cloth trim A
- 8 - Cloth trim B
- 9 - Cloth trim C with vinyl, Police package
- B - Leather A with 10-way driver/6-way passenger power seats
- C - Leather B with 10-way driver/10-way passenger power seats
- D - Leather with suede (2-tone), 10-way driver/6-way passenger power seats
- F - Cloth trim D, Police package
Interior Trim Color
- L - Medium Light Stone
- M- Stone/Medium Light Stone
- N - Sienna/Charcoal Black
- Q- Charcoal Black/Pecan
- W- Charcoal Black
Tape/Paint Stripe
Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply.
Radio Type
- A - Premium Amplitude Modulation/Frequency Modulation (AM/FM) stereo with Compact Disc (CD) player (MP3 capable)
- M - Premium Plus AM/FM stereo with CD player (MP3 capable)
- Z - Electronic AM/FM stereo with CD player (MP3 capable) - Sony®
For additional Information, refer to REFER to Information and Entertainment Systems - Premium , REFER to Information and Entertainment Systems - Premium Plus or REFER to Information and Entertainment Systems - Sony Sound .
Axle Ratio Codes
The axle ratios are:
- 3E - 3.16 ratio
- 3F - 3.39 ratio
- 3G - 3.36 ratio
- 3H - 3.51 ratio
- 3J - 3.65 ratio
Transmission Type
- 6 - 6-speed automatic transmission (6F) mid-range
- C - 6-speed automatic transmission (6F55)
- J - 6-speed automatic transmission (6F)
Additional information may be obtained from the transmission tag, REFER to REFER to Automatic Transmission - 6F35 or REFER to Automatic Transmission - 6F50 6F55 .
Spring Code
Spring codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first 2 characters identify the front springs. Characters 3 and 4 identify the rear springs. Front spring base part number is 5310, rear spring base part number is 5560.
Powertrain Calibration Information
Powertrain calibration information is printed in the lower right corner of the VC label. Only base calibration information is printed. Revision levels will not appear, however, they can be obtained through a scan tool using the most current software revision.
Powertrain Calibration Information
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Model year (model year in which calibration strategy was first introduced) |
| 2 | Vehicle code |
| 3 | Transmission code |
| 4 | Unique calibration (designates different hardware to similar vehicles). Example: tires and drive ratios |
| 5 | Fleet code (describes fleet to which the vehicle belongs). Example: 6 - Evaporative Emission (EVAP) |
| 6 | Certification region (lead region where multiple regions are included in one calibration). Example: A - U.S. federal |
| 7 | Revision level (will advance as revisions occur). Not printed on label |
Model Year
- B - 2011
- C - 2012
- D - 2013
- E - 2014
- F - 2015
Vehicle Code
- UB - Ford Explorer
Transmission
- 1 - Automatic transmission
Unique Calibration
The Emissions/Corporate Average Fuel Economy/Carbon Dioxide Compliance Department is responsible for assigning these calibration numbers. Unique calibration identifications are assigned to cover similar vehicles to differentiate tires, drive configurations, final drive ratios and other calibration-significant factors.
These 2 characters are chosen by the analyst to provide identifiable information unique to each calibration. For example, using the number 2 to denote a two valves per engine cylinder (2V) engine versus using the number 4 to denote a four valves per engine cylinder (4V) engine, offers an easily identifiable difference.
Fleet Code
- 0 - Certification (U.S. 4K, final sale in export markets)
- 1 - Heavy duty gas engine/Dyno
- 2 - Fast-Automobile Manufacturers' Association, U.S.
- 3 - Alternative Durability Protocol, U.S.
- 4 - Not assigned
- 5 - Not assigned
- 6 - Evaporative Emission (EVAP)
- 7 - Mileage accumulation, aging endurance durability
- 8 - On-Board Diagnostic (OBD)
- 9 - Not assigned
Certification Region
- 5 - U.S. 50 states
- A - U.S. federal, including altitude, may include Canada and/or Mexico
- B - U.S. California, includes U.S. green states
- C - Canada
- D - China
- E - European Community (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom)
- F - Extended European Community (E-plus Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Yugoslavia)
- G - Gulf Cooperative Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates)
- H - Hong Kong
- J - Japan
- K - Korea
- L - Malaysia
- M - Mexico
- N - New Zealand
- P - Australia
- Q - South America (Brazil)
- S - Singapore
- T - Taiwan
- U - South America (unleaded fuel)
- V - Vietnam
- X - ROW intermediate level (pre-05)