Repair and Diagnosis: Application and ID
Identification Codes
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Tag Locator
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, an authorized dealer must contact their respective regional office.
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
The first 3 VIN positions are the WMI.
- 1FM - Ford Motor Company, USA, Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) (Ford)
- 4M2 - Ford Motor Company, USA, MPV (Mercury)
Brake Type and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The fourth VIN position is the vehicle brake type and GVWR code, all vehicles use hydraulic brakes and driver and front passenger air bags.
- C - 4,001-5,000 lb GVWR, active safety belt (all positions), driver and front passenger air bags and side impact air curtains
Line, Series and Body Type
VIN positions 5 through 7 indicate the vehicle line, series and body type.
- N2K - Mariner, Hybrid - Front Wheel Drive (FWD)
- N3K - Mariner, Hybrid - All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
- N8B - Mariner, Luxury - FWD
- N8H - Mariner, Premier - FWD
- N9B - Mariner, Luxury - AWD
- N9H - Mariner, Premier - AWD
- U0C - Escape, XLS - FWD
- U0D - Escape, XLT - FWD
- U0E - Escape, Limited - FWD
- U4K - Escape, Hybrid - FWD
- U5K - Escape, Hybrid - AWD
- U9C - Escape, XLS - AWD
- U9D - Escape, XLT - AWD
- U9E - Escape, Limited - AWD
Engine Type
The eighth VIN position is the engine type (displacement and number of cylinders).
- G - 3.0L Modular, 6-cylinder, electronic fuel injection, DOHC
- 3 - ATK-CYC, 2.5L, 4-valve port fuel injection, in-line 4 cylinder, gas/electric (Hybrid)
- 7 - 2.5L, 4-valve, in-line 4 cylinder
Additional engine information can be obtained from the engine tag. Refer to Engine Engine.
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.
- B - 2011
Assembly Plant
The eleventh VIN position is the assembly plant code.
- K - Kansas City Assembly (Claycomo, Missouri)
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.
- A00001-F99999 - Ford
- J00001-L99999 - Mercury
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 VIN. It also includes Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The VC label is located on the left-hand door jamb. The serial number can also be found on the engine block, transmission and frame.
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.
Exterior Paint
Exterior paint codes may be listed as a 2-part code. The first set of characters identify the primary body color. The second set of characters (if applicable) identify the vehicle accent or 2-tone body color. All colors are base coat/clear coat.
Exterior Color Codes
- JV - Sangria Red
- SQ - Green Orchid
- SZ - Strobe
- UH - Tuxedo Black Metallic
- UJ - Sterling Gray Metallic
- UN - Steel Blue
- UP - Gold Leaf
- UX - Ingot Silver Metallic
- WS - White Suede
- YZ - Oxford White
Wheelbase
The following identifies the vehicle wheelbase.
- 103 - 2,616 mm (103 in) wheelbase
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
- 1 - Base cloth seats - Escape
- 4 - High series cloth seats - Mariner
- 5 - Imola leather seats - Escape
- 7 - Alcantara leather seats - Mariner
- 8 - SOHO leather seats - Mariner
- W - Volta cloth seats - Escape
Interior Trim Color
- 9 - Charcoal
- C - Camel
- S - Stone
Tape/Paint Stripe
Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply.
Radio Type
The following lists available radio types and associated codes:
- M - AM/FM stereo with CD changer and clock
- N - AM/FM stereo with CD changer and navigation system
- Y - Premium AM/FM stereo with CD changer and clock
- Z - Electronic AM/FM stereo with CD player and clock
Axle Type
The following lists the available axle ratios and associated codes:
- 30 - 3.04 axle ratio
- 35 - 3.51 axle ratio
- 41 - 4.13 axle ratio
Additional axle information can be obtained from the axle tag. Refer to Driveline System - General Information Description and Operation.
Transmission Type
The following lists the available transmissions and associated codes:
- H - Continuously Variable Transaxle (CVT) automatic, power split electronic (Hybrid)
- 3 - 5-speed manual
- 6 - 6-speed automatic
Additional transmission information can be obtained from the transmission tag. Refer to Automatic Transaxle/Transmission - 6F35 Identification Tags, Automatic Transaxle/Transmission - Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT) Description and Operation or Manual Transaxle/Transmission and Clutch - General Information Manual Transaxle and Clutch.
Spring Code
Spring codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first 2 characters identify the RH and LH front springs. The third and fourth characters identify the RH and LH rear springs.
Front Springs
- JJ - 9L84-5310-J (coil)
- KK - 9L84-5310-K (coil)
- LL - 9L84-5310-L (coil)
- MM - 9L84-5310-M (coil)
- VV - 9M64-5310-B (coil)
- 44 - 9L84-5310-H (coil)
Rear Springs
- DD - 9L84-5726-D (leaf)
- EE - 9L84-5726-E (leaf)
- FF - 9L84-5726-F (leaf)
- GG - 9M64-5726-D (leaf)
- HH - 9M64-5726-C (leaf)
Powertrain Calibration Information
NOTE: Powertrain calibration information is limited to a maximum of 5 characters per line on the Vehicle Certification (VC) label. Because of this, calibration identification consisting of more than 5 characters will wrap to the second line on the VC label.
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
Model Year
- 1 - 2001
- 2 - 2002
- 3 - 2003
- 4 - 2004
- 5 - 2005
- 6 - 2006
- 7 - 2007
- 8 - 2008
- 9 - 2009
- A - 2010
- B - 2011
Vehicle Line
- M7 - Escape/Mariner
Transmission
- 1 - Automatic transmission
- 2 - Manual 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 2-valve engine versus using the number 4 to denote a 4-valve engine, offers an easily identifiable difference.
Fleet Code
- 0 - Certification (US 4K, final sale in export markets)
- 1 - Heavy duty gas engine/Dyno
- 2 - Fast-Automobile Manufacturers' Association, US
- 3 - Alternative durability protocol, US
- 4 - Not assigned
- 5 - Not assigned
- 6 - EVAP
- 7 - Mileage accumulation aging endurance durability
- 8 - On-Board Diagnostic (OBD)
- 9 - Not assigned
Certification Region
- 5 - US 50 states
- A - US federal, including altitude, may include Canada and/or Mexico
- B - US California, includes US 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 - Rest Of World (ROW)
- Y - Military
- Z - Israel
Revision Level (not printed on label)
- 91-99 - Hardware calibration levels
- 01-04 - Preliminary levels
- 00 - Job 1 production (initial calibration)
- 05-09 - Pre-job 1 revisions to calibrations
- 10-89 - Post-job 1 revisions to calibrations
- 0B - Durability test level
- BD - OBD intermediate level (pre-05)