Free 1998 Ford F-250 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Ford F-250 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Ford F-250 VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, providing insight into where and by whom it was made. For the 1998 Ford F-250, the WMI indicates it could be either 1FT, signifying it was produced by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, or 2FT for those units manufactured by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. These identifiers are the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which serves as a unique fingerprint for each vehicle, conveying important details about the truck’s origin, type, and model year. Specifically, the 1998 Ford F-250’s WMI highlights its classification as a truck and ties it to its manufacturing roots either in the U.S. or Canada, offering valuable information for identification, registration, and historical research.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Ford F-250

WMI: 1FT

• Model Years Covered: 1981-2024
• Example VIN: 1FTPF28W6WKB55392
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

WMI: 2FT

• Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-1999
• Example VIN: 2FTPX28W9WCA90488
• 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 1998 Ford F-250 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 1998 Ford F-250:

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 1998 Ford F-250 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 1998 Ford F-250 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Ford F-250 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Ford F-250 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Ford F-250

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Ford F-250’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Ford F-250’s VIN below:

What info can a 1998 Ford F-250 VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN may reveal the vehicles model year, possibly being the year 1998, which could offer insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN can provide information on the vehicle type and body class, such as a Truck with a Pickup body, offering insights into the vehicle’s general shape, purpose, and capacity.
• Engine Specifications: Engine details, such as displacement (possibly 4.6 Liters or 4600 CC), configuration (potentially V-Shaped), and number of cylinders (potentially 8), can be included in the VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
• Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle may be Gasoline, indicating its energy source and potentially its fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Safety Features: The VIN may indicate the presence of safety equipment like front airbags for both driver and passenger, and curtain airbags located in the 1st row, highlighting the vehicle’s commitment to safety.
• Drive Type: It can be indicated as 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, potentially revealing the vehicle’s drivetrain configuration which could affect traction, handling, and off-road capability.
• Manufacturing Information: Details, such as the engine manufacturer (possibly Ford), plant city (possibly Norfolk), and country (potentially United States), may be included in the VIN, potentially providing clues about the vehicle’s origin and the quality standards it might adhere to.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Ford F-250

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