Vehicle Identification Codes

IDENTIFICATION CODES

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a seventeen-digit combination of letters and numbers. The VIN is stamped to a metal tab riveted to the instrument panel top, upper left of the dash. The VIN number is also found on the Vehicle Certification (VC) label.

World Manufacturer Identifier:

Vehicle Identification Number
The first three vehicle identification number (VIN) positions are the world manufacturer code.
^ 1FA - Ford Motor Company, USA, passenger car
^ 1ME - Mercury, USA, passenger car

Restraint Type:

The fourth VIN position is the vehicle restraint type code.
^ F - Active safety belts - all positions, driver and front passenger second generation air bags
^ B - Active safety belts - all positions, driver and front passenger second generation air bags with driver and front passenger side impact air bags

Vehicle Line, Series and Body Type:

Positions 5 through 7 indicate vehicle line, series and body type.
^ P52 - Taurus LX, four-door
^ P53 - Taurus SE, 2V, four-door
^ P54 - Taurus SE, 4V, four-door
^ P55 -Taurus Special Value group, four-door
^ P56 - Taurus SE-Comfort, four-door
^ P58 - Taurus SE, station wagon
^ P59 - Taurus SE-Comfort, station wagon
^ M50 - Sable GS, four-door
^ M53 - Sable LS, four-door
^ M55 - Sable Ls-Premium, four-door M58 - Sable GS, station wagon
^ M59 - Sable Ls- Premium, station wagon







The eighth VIN position is the engine displacement and number of cylinders.
^ U - 3.0L, EFI, six-cylinder
^ S - 3.0L, EFI, DOHC, six-cylinder
^ 2 - 3.0L, six-cylinder, flex-fuel

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.
^ 1-2001

Assembly Plant:

The eleventh YIN position is the assembly plant code.
^ A - Atlanta (Hapeville, Georgia)
^ G - Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)
^ S - Pilot Plant (Allen Park, Michigan)

Production Sequence Number:

The last six VIN positions are an alphanumeric code for the vehicle build sequence. This is also the vehicle serial and warranty number.
^ 100001-599999 - Taurus
^ 600001-999999 - Sable