Most Ford Bronco VINs open with 1FM (the United States, 1981–2024). Position 11, the plant, shows 4 codes, most often L (95%); a 2026 Bronco carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 68 recall campaigns and 1,406 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Ford Bronco VIN
Here is a real 2026 Ford Bronco VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1FMEE9BPXTLA92724 — 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 VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Ford Bronco VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is 1FM (the United States, 1981–2024), then 1FT (the United States, 1995–1995):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FM | 1981–2024 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| 1FT | 1995–1995 | United States | Truck |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Ford Bronco it is not one number either — assembly moved between 4 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| L | 1981–2024 | 1,329 | |
| U | 1984–1996 | 56 | |
| 9 | 1989–2021 | 5 | |
| A | 1985–1994 | 3 |
Counted from 1,380 dated Ford Bronco VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Ford Bronco
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which for the Ford Bronco has already happened — 1996 and 2026 share the character T. All 22 model years of the Ford Bronco, 1981 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | 1996 |
| 2025 | S | 1995 |
| 2024 | R | 1994 |
| 2023 | P | 1993 |
| 2022 | N | 1992 |
| 2021 | M | 1991 |
| 1996 | T | 2026 |
| 1995 | S | 2025 |
| 1994 | R | 2024 |
| 1993 | P | 2023 |
| 1992 | N | 2022 |
| 1991 | M | 2021 |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
| 1983 | D | — |
| 1982 | C | — |
| 1981 | B | — |
To tell the two apart on a car or light truck, look at position 7: a number for 1980–2009 models, a letter from 2010 on.
Body and engine characters we see on Ford Bronco VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 407 VINs the Ford Bronco uses 9 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | E (61%) · D (39%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | E (95%) · U (5%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | P (53%) · H (37%) · R (8%) · N (2%) · G (0%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Ford Bronco VIN gets you
Behind a Ford Bronco VIN: 1,406 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 68 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,406 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 16 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 22 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Ford Bronco
A Ford Bronco 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 VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 68 recall campaigns and 1,406 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Ford Bronco.
Why does my Bronco VIN start differently from another Bronco?
Because the Ford Bronco was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Ford Bronco VINs on record we see 2 of them: 1FM (1981–2024), 1FT (1995–1995). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Bronco by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Bronco carries T, a 2025 Bronco carries S, a 2024 Bronco carries R. A 1996 and a 2026 share T; position 7 tells them apart, a number for 1980–2009 and a letter from 2010 on.
Where was my Bronco built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,401 dated Ford Bronco VINs it reads L 95%, U 4%, 9 0%, A 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Ford Bronco VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 407 Ford Bronco VINs here, E is the most common character in position 4, on 61% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Ford Bronco 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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