Free 1997 Ford Taurus VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1997 Ford Taurus VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Ford Taurus VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, forming the initial characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). For example, the Ford Taurus manufactured in 1997 has a WMI of 1FA, indicating it was produced by Ford Motor Company. This vehicle falls into the passenger car category and was built in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. Through the WMI, one can discern essential details about the vehicle’s origins, tying it specifically to Ford’s manufacturing facilities. Such identifiers offer an insightful glance into the vehicle’s lineage, bolstering understanding and traceability of autos globally.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Ford Taurus

WMI: 1FA

• Model Years Covered: 1987-2019
• Example VIN: 1FALP51U3VA144401
• 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 1997 Ford Taurus 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 1997 Ford Taurus:

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 1997 Ford Taurus 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 1997 Ford Taurus VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1997 Ford Taurus VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Ford Taurus Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Ford Taurus

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Ford Taurus’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Ford Taurus’s VIN below:

What info can a 1997 Ford Taurus VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, potentially indicating a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and capacity.
• Engine Type: The VIN may provide extensive details about the engine, covering specifics such as a V-Shaped configuration, a displacement of 3.0 liters, and a horsepower starting from 200, indicating the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
• Fuel Efficiency: The VIN can indicate the primary fuel type the vehicle uses, which in this case is Gasoline, providing valuable information on fuel consumption and environmental impact.
• Safety Features: Safety features, including the type of airbags and their locations, like the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) front airbags, and other restraint systems like seat belts, are often encoded within the VIN, showcasing the safety measures equipped in the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Details: The manufacturing location, including the plant city (Chicago), state (Illinois), and country (United States), can be discovered, shedding light on where the vehicle was produced.
• Vehicle Type and Series: The VIN often contains information on the vehicle type, clearly indicating whether it’s a Passenger Car, and may include the series, such as LX for this specific Ford Taurus, helping to further differentiate it within its model line.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Ford Taurus