Free 1988 Ford Escort VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 Ford Escort VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Ford Escort VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and provides specific information about it. The WMI for a 1988 Ford Escort, designated as “1FA,” reveals that the vehicle was made by Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. These initial digits are part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), serving to detail the manufacturer’s identity, the vehicle type, and the country of assembly. In the case of this Ford Escort, the “1FA” indicates it is a passenger car produced by Ford in the U.S. Understanding the WMI is crucial for registering a vehicle, tracking its history, and identifying specifications or recalls.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Ford Escort

WMI: 1FA

• Model Years Covered: 1984, 1986, 1988-1999
• Example VIN: 1FAPP9596JW387048
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Ford Escort VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1988 Ford Escort:

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1988 Ford Escort VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 1988 Ford Escort VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 Ford Escort VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Ford Escort Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Ford Escort

The final 6 characters in a 1988 Ford Escort’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Ford Escort’s VIN below:

What info can a 1988 Ford Escort VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting that it may be from the 1988 model year, offering insights into its age and potential market value.
• Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN might indicate that the vehicle is a Passenger Car with a body class of Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, giving detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Details: Key engine specifications such as a 1.9-liter displacement, Inline configuration, and a horsepower starting from 90 can possibly be revealed. The engine might be manufactured by Ford.
• Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is reported to be Gasoline, which could provide insight into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Production Details: Manufacturing details often include the production country, city, and state, such as the United States, Edison, New Jersey, respectively.
• Restraint and Safety Features: Information like the presence of manual and automatic seat belts, along with other restraint systems like Passive Belts (front)/ Active Belts (rear), can generally be identified.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): It typically categorizes the vehicle within Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less), indicating its weight classification and potential usage.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Ford Escort