VIN LOCATION
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is located on the left side of the dash panel at the base of the windshield. The VIN chart explains the code characters.
VIN CODE ID EXPLANATION
Numbers preceding the explanations in the legend below refer to the sequence of characters as listed on VIN identification label. See VIN example below.
1 - Manufacturer
- 1 : Ford Motor Co., United States.
- 2 : Ford Motor Co., Ltd., Canada
2 - Make
- F : Ford
- M : Mercury
3 - Type
- A : Ford Passenger
- E : Mercury Passenger
- D : Ford Incomplete Vehicle
- H : Mercury Incomplete Vehicle
4 - Restraint System
- B : Active Belts
- P : Passive Belts (Front)
- C : Active Belts + Drivers Air Bag
- L : Active Belts + Passenger/Driver Air Bags
5 - Vehicle Line
- P : Passenger Car (All)
6-7 - Body Type (1986-87)
- 29 : Taurus 4-Door Sedan
- 30 : Taurus 4-Door Station Wagon
- 87 : Sable 4-Door Sedan
- 88 : Sable 4-Door Station Wagon
6-7 - Body Type (1988-89)
- 29 : Taurus 4-Door Sedan
- 30 : Taurus 4-Door Sedan
- 50 : Taurus & Sable 4-Door Sedan
- 51 : Taurus 4-Door Sedan
- 52 : Taurus 4-Door Sedan
- 53 : Taurus & Sable 4-Door Sedan
- 54 : Taurus 4-Door Sedan (SHO)
- 55 : Taurus & Sable 4-Door Station Wagon
- 56 : Taurus 4-Door Station Wagon
- 57 : Taurus 4-Door Station Wagon
- 58 : Taurus & Sable 4-Door Station Wagon
8 - Engine Type
- D : 2.5L 4-Cylinder HSC (Taurus)
- U : 3.0L V6 EFI
- 4 : 3.8L V6 SEFI
- Y : 3.0L V6 SEFI DOHC (SHO)
9 - VIN Check Digit
- 2 : All Models
10 - Vehicle Model Year
- G : 1986
- H : 1987
- J : 1988
- K : 1989
11 - Assembly Plant
- A : Atlanta, Georgia
- B : Oakville, Canada
- F : Dearborn, Michigan
- G : Chicago, Illinois
- H : Lorain, Ohio
- K : Kansas City, Kansas
- T : Edison, New Jersey
- W : Wayne, Michigan
- X : St. Thomas
- Y : Wixom
12-17 - Production Sequence
- 100,001-599,999 : Ford Vehicles
- 600,001-999,999 : Mercury Vehicles