Most Ford Bronco II VINs open with 1FM (the United States, 1984–1990). Position 11, the plant, reads U; a 1990 Bronco II carries L in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 12 recall campaigns and 150 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Ford Bronco II VIN
Here is a real 1989 Ford Bronco II VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1FMCU14T5KUB54755 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Ford Bronco II VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Ford Bronco II we have on record, from 1984 to 1990, opens with the same three characters, 1FM:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FM | 1984–1990 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Counted from 144 dated Ford Bronco II VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Ford Bronco II
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Ford Bronco II has not yet outlived: its 8 years still map one-to-one. All 8 model years of the Ford Bronco II, 1983 to 1990, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
| 1983 | D | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Ford Bronco II VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 7 VINs the Ford Bronco II uses 6 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | C (71%) · B (29%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | U (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | S (57%) · T (29%) · 5 (14%) | 3 distinct |
What a decoded Ford Bronco II VIN gets you
Behind a Ford Bronco II VIN: 150 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 12 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 150 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 8 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Ford Bronco II
A Ford Bronco II VIN normally opens with 1FM; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Ford Bronco II VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 12 recall campaigns and 150 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Ford Bronco II.
What year is my Bronco II by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1990 Bronco II carries L, a 1989 Bronco II carries K, a 1988 Bronco II carries J.
Where was my Bronco II built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 149 dated Ford Bronco II VINs it reads U 95%.
What does position 4 mean on a Ford Bronco II VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 7 Ford Bronco II VINs here, C is the most common character in position 4, on 71% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Ford Bronco II check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 1FM. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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