Description and Operation - Identification Codes

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

VIN Plate

The VIN is a 17-character combination of letters and numbers. The VIN is stamped on a metal tab riveted to the instrument panel at the upper left corner of the instrument panel. The VIN is also shown on the VC label. If the VIN plate requires replacement, authorized dealers must contact their regional office.

Item	Description
1	WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier)
2	Restraint Type and GVW Code
3	Vehicle Line, Series, Body Type Code
4	Engine Type Code
5	Check Digit
6	Model Year Code
7	Assembly Plant Code
8	Sequential Production Number

World Manufacturer Identifier

The first 3 positions of the VIN are the WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier).

• 1FM - Ford Motor Company, USA, MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle)
• WF0 - Ford Motor Company, USA, MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) (PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle))

Restraint Type

The fourth position of the VIN is the vehicle restraint and GVW code.

• GVW 5,001-6,001-7,000 lb, active seat belts (all positions), driver and front passenger air bags, side-impact inflatable restraints (all positions), driver and front passenger armrest
• S - GVW 5,001-6,000 lb, active seat belts (all positions), driver and front passenger air bags, side-impact inflatable restraints (all positions), driver and front passenger armrest

Vehicle Line, Series and Body Type

Positions 5 through 7 identify the vehicle line, series and body type.

• K7B - Explorer, RWD, Base
• K7D - Explorer, RWD, XLT
• K7F - Explorer, RWD, Limited
• K8A - Explorer, 4WD, Police Package
• K8B - Explorer, 4WD, Base
• K8D - Explorer, 4WD, XLT
• K8F - Explorer, 4WD, Limited
• K8G - Explorer, 4WD, ST
• K8H - Explorer, 4WD, Platinum

Engine Type

The eighth position of the VIN identifies the engine type, displacement and number of cylinders.

• B - 3.3 L, DOHC (Dual Overhead Camshaft), TiVCT (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing), V6
• C - 3 L, GTDI (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection), V6
• H - 2.3 L, I4 (Inline 4-Cylinder), TiVCT (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing), 270 L hp
• W — 3.3 L, TiVCT (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing), V6, HEV
• Y — 3 L, Nano, GTDI (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection), V6, PHEV

Check Digit

The ninth position of the VIN is the government-assigned check digit, generated by computer.

• 0–9

Model Year

The tenth position of the VIN is the model year code.

• M - 2021

Assembly Plant

The eleventh position of the VIN is the assembly plant code.

• G — Chicago Assembly — Chicago, Illinois
• N — Chicago SHO Center — Chicago, Illinois

Sequential Production Number

The last 6 VIN positions are the numeric vehicle sequence code. This is also the vehicle serial number and warranty number. The serial number can also be found on the engine block, transmission and frame.

• A00001 - F99999

VIN Tags

VIN Tag Locator

The VC label contains the manufacturer name, month and year of manufacture, certification statement and VIN. It also includes gross vehicle weight rating and tire information. If the vehicle requires a VC label replacement and is 4 years old or less, the authorized dealer must provide the VIN to the appropriate regional office. The regional office will submit a web form to the assembly plant to replace the label. Once the label is printed, a representative from the regional office will deliver the label to the dealer and witness its installation on the vehicle. If the vehicle is more than 4 years old and requires a label replacement, the dealer must submit a request to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Item	Description
1	Exterior Paint Code
2	Region Code
3	DSO (District Special Order) Code
4	Wheelbase Code
5	Interior Trim Code
6	Stripe/Paint Stripe Code
7	Radio Code
8	Axle Code
9	Transmission Code
10	Spring Code
11	Powertrain Calibration Information

Paint Code

Paint codes may be shown as a two-part code. The first set of paint code characters/numbers identifies the primary body color of the vehicle. The second set of characters/numbers (if applicable) identifies the two-tone or accent body color. All paint codes refer to base/clear coat finish.

Body Exterior Color

• AB — Infinite Blue Metallic (Tinted Clear Coat)
• AZ — Stellar White/Oxford White
• B3 — Atlas Blue/Craftsman Blue
• BN — Silver Spruce
• BU — Medium Brown Metallic
• D1 — Stone Gray
• D4 — Rapid Red (Tinted Clear Coat)/Red Carpet (Three-Coat)
• E3 — Arizona Beige (Police Package Only)
• E4 — Bright Red
• HG — Smoke Stone
• J1 — Kodiak Brown
• JL — Dark Toreador Red Metallic
• JS — Iconic Silver/Silver Radiance
• KR - Norcea Blue Pearl Metallic
• LK — Dark Blue Solid
• LM — Royal Blue Solid
• LN — Light Blue Metallic
• M7 — Charred Gray/Ash Gray
• TN — Silver Gray Metallic
• UJ — Sterling Gray Metallic
• UM - Agate Black Metallic
• YG — Medium Titanium
• YZ — Oxford White Solid

Accent Color

• YZ — Oxford White Solid

Wheelbase

The following defines the vehicle wheelbase:

• 119 — 119 in (3023 mm) Wheelbase

Interior Trim Codes

Interior trim codes are shown as a two-character code. The first character identifies the seat style and material. The second character identifies the interior trim color.

Interior Trim Type

• 7 — Cloth Trim A
• 8 — Cloth Trim B
• 9 — Police C Cloth Trim with Vinyl (Police Package)
• C — Leather B with Heated/Cooled and 10-Way Power Driver/Passenger Seats
• D — Leather C with Heated/Cooled and 10-Way Power Driver/Passenger Seats
• F — Police D Cloth Trim (Police Package)
• S — Activex Cloth Trim with Vinyl

Interior Trim Color Codes

• 6 — Ebony
• A — Light Sandstone
• H — All Ebony Black
• H - Sandstone
• Y — Light Slate

Stripe/Paint Stripe Codes

Stripe and paint stripe codes do not apply.

Radio Codes

The following list shows the available radio codes:

• 7 — Premium Plus AM/FM Stereo (China)
• J — Premium Plus AM/FM Stereo
• L — Mid AM/FM Stereo with BVC (Police Package)
• R — Non-Branded AM/FM Stereo, Ice Package 1
• S — Non-Branded AM/FM Stereo, SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service), Ice Package 2
• U — Premium Plus AM/FM Stereo, SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service) without DIV
• V — Branded AM/FM Stereo, Ice Package 5
• W — Branded AM/FM Stereo, SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service), Ice Package 6
• X — Branded AM/FM Stereo, Ice Package 7 (China and Myanmar)

Axle Type

The available axle ratios and corresponding codes are listed below:

• 3A — 3.31 Axle Ratio
• 3B — 3.58 Axle Ratio
• 3C — 3.73 Axle Ratio

Transmission Codes

Available transmissions:

• B — Modified Hybrid Transmission (A10R80) — MHT
• T — 10-Speed Automatic (10R60)
• U — 10-Speed Automatic (10R80)

Spring Codes

Spring codes are listed as a two-part code. The first 2 characters indicate the right and left front springs. The third and fourth characters indicate the right and left rear springs.

Front Springs

• Base part number - 5310

Rear Springs

• Base part number - 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 do not appear, but they can be obtained using a scan tool with the latest software version.

Item	Description
1	Model year (the year the calibration strategy was first introduced).
2	Vehicle Line
3	Transmission Code
4	Unique calibrations (denote different hardware for similar vehicles), for example: tires or axle ratios
5	Fleet code (describes the fleet to which the vehicle belongs), for example: 6 - EVAP
6	Certification region (lead region where multiple regions are included in one calibration), example: A - US Federal
7	Revision level (will advance as changes are made), not printed on the label, but can be obtained with a scan tool

Model Year

• M - 2021

Vehicle Code

• TB — Ford Explorer

Transmission Code

• 2 - Automatic Transmission

Unique Calibration

Emissions / Corporate Average Fuel Economy / CO2 Compliance Department is responsible for assigning these calibration numbers. Unique identifiers are assigned to cover similar vehicles in order to distinguish between tires, drivetrain configurations, axle ratios, and other calibration-relevant factors. These 2 characters are selected by the analyst to provide identifiable information unique to each calibration. For example, using the number 2 to designate a 2-valve engine versus using the number 4 to designate a 4-valve engine provides an easily identifiable difference.

Fleet Coding

• 0 – Certification (4K in USA, final sale in export markets)
• 1 - Heavy Duty Gas Engine/Dynamometer
• 2 - Quick Vehicle Manufacturers Association, USA
• 3 - Alternative Durability Protocol, USA
• 4 - Not Assigned
• 5 - Not Assigned
• 6 - Evaporator
• 7 - Mileage Accumulation, Aging, Endurance, Durability
• 8 - DB
• 9 - Not Assigned

Certification Region

• 5 — 50 US States
• A — US Federal, including high altitude; may include Canada and/or Mexico.
• B — US California Standard, including Green States.
• C - Canada
• D - China
• E - European Community - Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom (UK)
• F — EEC (European Economic Community) — E-plus Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Yugoslavia
• G - GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE (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 regions)
• V - Vietnam
• X — ROW (Rest of World)
• Y - Military
• Z - Israel

Revision Level (not shown on label)

• 91-99 - Equipment and Certification Levels
• 01-04 - Preliminary Levels
• 00 - Production Job 1 (initial certification)
• 05-09 - Preliminary Calibration Changes Before Job 1
• 10-89 - Calibration Versions After Job 1
• 0B - Durability Test Level
• BD - OBD Mid Level (up to 05)