Lincoln VIN Decoder & VIN Check — Models, Recalls, Specs, MPG & Safety
“Built for the Human Race”
Lincoln is the luxury vehicle division of Ford Motor Company, headquartered alongside its parent in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland and his son Wilfred — the same Henry Leland who founded Cadillac in 1902 — Lincoln was acquired by Ford in 1922 for $8 million. Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, took over the brand and turned it into Ford's answer to Cadillac.
Lincoln has been the official preferred carriage of US presidents since the 1939 Lincoln K-Series limousine, and 11 presidential limousines from FDR through Joe Biden have been Lincoln-based. The Continental nameplate, in service from 1939 to 2020, defined American luxury sedans for much of the 20th century. The modern lineup centers on the Navigator full-size SUV, the Aviator and Nautilus mid-size SUVs, and the entry Corsair.
Ford trades on the New York Stock Exchange under F. Recall data for every Lincoln VIN is reported to NHTSA, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS crash-test scores and J.D. Power studies provide independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any Lincoln VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
Lincoln at a glance
- Founded
- 1917
- Founders
- Henry M. Leland, Wilfred Leland
- Headquarters
- Dearborn, Michigan, USA
- Parent
- Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F)
- Acquired by Ford
- 1922 ($8M)
- Named after
- Abraham Lincoln (Henry Leland's preference)
- Presidential limos
- 11 from FDR to Biden
- Top-tier trim
- Lincoln Black Label
- Basic warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty
- 6 years / 70,000 miles
Decode any Lincoln VIN
Enter a 17-character VIN below to retrieve the trim, factory options, original window-sticker MSRP and any open NHTSA recall affecting that specific vehicle. ForCar.org pulls the same dataset that Lincoln dealers use to notify owners of safety recalls.
VIN Decoder
Signature Lincoln technology
Lincoln heritage
Henry Leland left GM and Cadillac in 1917 to form the Lincoln Motor Company to build Liberty aircraft engines for World War I. After the war Lincoln pivoted to luxury cars but financial struggles forced sale to Ford in 1922. Edsel Ford modernized Lincoln's styling, and the 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr Continental Cabriolet — designed for Edsel's personal use — established the design vocabulary of post-war American luxury. The 1961 Continental, with its rear-hinged suicide doors, defined the brand for the next decade.
Market position
Lincoln competes in the US luxury SUV and crossover segments against Cadillac, Acura, Lexus and Genesis, with a smaller passenger-car presence than competitors after retiring the Continental and MKZ in 2020. The brand's positioning around quiet flight and effortless luxury distinguishes it from German rivals' sport-luxury orientation. Lincoln Black Label is the brand's top-tier trim with concierge service, exclusive interior themes and complimentary detail visits.
New-vehicle warranty
LINCOLN VIN Decoder — Free VIN Check Video Guide
Watch our quick LINCOLN VIN decoder walkthrough. Learn how to decode any LINCOLN VIN number to get full vehicle history, recall alerts, specifications, fuel economy (MPG), safety ratings, and known problems — completely free on ForCar.org.
All Lincoln models (17)
Frequently asked questions
When was Lincoln founded and by whom?
Lincoln was founded in 1917 by Henry Leland, Wilfred Leland and is headquartered in Dearborn, USA.
Where is the VIN on a Lincoln vehicle?
The 17-character VIN appears in four standard locations: dashboard at the windshield base (driver side), driver-side door jamb sticker, the engine bay (firewall or engine block stamping), and the vehicle's title, registration and insurance documents.
How many Lincoln models can ForCar.org decode?
ForCar.org indexes 17 Lincoln nameplates. Any 17-character Lincoln VIN is decoded against the NHTSA dataset to return trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
What is the Lincoln warranty?
Basic: 4 years / 50,000 miles. Powertrain: 6 years / 70,000 miles.
How to check Lincoln recalls by VIN?
Enter your VIN in the decoder above. ForCar.org queries NHTSA's open-recall dataset for that specific VIN and returns any safety recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that affect your vehicle.
Disambiguation: This page covers the Lincoln Motor Company, Ford's luxury division — not Abraham Lincoln (after whom the brand is named) or Lincoln, Nebraska.
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