1988 Ford F-150 VIN Decoder & Lookup

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Ford F-150 VIN
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Ford F-150
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Ford F-150 VIN
Character 9 is the "check digit" in a 1988 Ford F-150 VIN.
10th Character in the 1988 Ford F-150 VIN — Year Code
11th Character in the 1988 Ford F-150 VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Ford F-150 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Ford F-150
How to find a 1988 Ford F-150's VIN?
What info can a 1988 Ford F-150 VIN reveal?
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Ford F-150

How to decode a 1988 Ford F-150 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Ford F-150 VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer, which forms the first portion of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). In the case of the 1988 Ford F-150, the WMI indicates the vehicle’s origin, manufacturer, and type. For trucks manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States, the WMI is “1FT,” denoting that it was produced by Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. Conversely, Canadian-manufactured models of the same truck for the given time frame carry the WMI “2FT,” signifying Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., based in Oakville, Ontario. This system allows for easy identification and tracing of vehicles back to their manufacturer and respective countries.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Ford F-150

WMI: 1FT

Model Years Covered: 1981-2024
Example VIN: 1FTDF15N0JNA49648
Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
Vehicle Type: Truck
City: Dearborn
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

WMI: 2FT

Model Years Covered: 1981-2003
Example VIN: 2FTDF15Y3JCB43796
Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
Vehicle Type: Truck
City: Oakville
State or Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Ford F-150 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 F-150:

Known VDS for a 1988 Ford F-150
DF15N	EX14H	EF15H	EF15N	DF15Y	DF15H	EF14H	EF14N	EX14N	EF14Y
EX15N	EF15Y	EX15H

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 F-150 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 F-150 VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
J	1988

11th Character in the 1988 Ford F-150 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Ford F-150 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
C	Oakville	Ontario	Canada	Ontario Truck	2FTDF15Y3JCB43796
K	Kansas City	Missouri	United States		1FTEX14H1JKA77666
L	Wayne	Michigan	United States	Michigan Truck	1FTEF14N2JLA63987
N	Norfolk	Virginia	United States		1FTDF15N0JNA49648
P	St. Paul	Minnesota	United States		1FTEF15N1JPB15388

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Ford F-150

The final 6 characters in a 1988 Ford F-150’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 1988 Ford F-150’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Ford F-150 is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford F-150. The VIN should be visible through the windshield on a small placard.
Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Ford F-150. There may be a VIN sticker or plate where the door latches when closed.
Inspect the frame of the vehicle. On some Ford F-150 trucks, the VIN can be found on the chassis beneath the hood.
Review your Ford F-150’s engine block, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
Check your vehicle’s official and legal documentation, such as the title, registration, or insurance papers, which should list the VIN for your Ford F-150.

What info can a 1988 Ford F-150 VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, indicating the year of production.
Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN signifies the vehicle as a Truck with a Pickup body class, offering insights into the vehicle’s general design and purpose.
Engine Specifications: The VIN provides details about the engine, including the manufacturer, configuration, and displacement, offering specifics about its powerplant.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, shedding light on the energy source it utilizes for operation.
Drive Type: The VIN designates the vehicle as having a 4x2 drive type, which helps in understanding the drivetrain layout.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN indicates where the vehicle was assembled, providing geographical production history.
Safety Features: The VIN specifies that the vehicle is equipped with manual seat belts, hinting at the basic safety features incorporated.

Don’t have your 1988 Ford F-150’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Ford F-150

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Pickup
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Cab Type	Regular
Displacement (CC)	4916.119200
Displacement (CI)	300
Displacement (L)	4.9
Drive Type	4x2
Engine Brake (hp) From	145
Engine Brake (hp) To	150
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	Ford
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Model	F-150
Model Year	1988
Other Engine Info	Fuel Injection Type: Electronic Fuel Injection
Plant City	Oakville
Plant Company Name	Ontario Truck
Plant Country	Canada
Plant State	Ontario
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Vehicle Descriptor	2FTDF15Y*JC
Vehicle Type	Truck
Sample_VIN	2FTDF15Y3JCB43796