Ford E-100 VIN Decoder

Decode any Ford E-100 VIN free — model year, assembly plant, engine and body codes, then recalls and owner complaints for the same car.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 59 models · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

a 1983 E-100 carries D in position 10.

How to read a Ford E-100 VIN

Every Ford E-100 VIN follows the same 17-character layout:

FIG.01·Ford E-100 VIN structure
PositionSectionWhat it tells you
1–3WMIWorld Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type.
4–8VDSVehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series.
9Check digitA calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN.
10Model yearOne character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z.
11PlantThe assembly plant that built the car.
12–17SerialSequential production number of this exact vehicle.
ROWS 6·SOURCE ISO 3779 / NHTSA vPIC

Model-year codes for the Ford E-100

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Ford E-100 has not yet outlived: its 3 years still map one-to-one. All 3 model years of the Ford E-100, 1981 to 1983, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Ford E-100 VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
1983D—
1982C—
1981B—
ROWS 3·SOURCE ISO 3779

What a decoded Ford E-100 VIN gets you

What a decoded VIN opens up:

FIG.05·Ford E-100 data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns2 campaignsNHTSA
Model years covered3 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Ford E-100

Four places on a Ford E-100 carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.

FIG.06·Ford E-100 VIN locations
WhereHow to see itWhy it matters
Dashboard, driver sideThrough the windshield, bottom cornerEasiest to check before you touch anything
Driver door jambOpen the door, sticker on the pillarAlso lists tire pressures and build date
Under the hoodFirewall or strut tower plateSurvives a windshield replacement
Title and insurancePaper documentsMust match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel
ROWS 4·SOURCE ForCar
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Frequently asked questions

Is this Ford E-100 VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 2 recall campaigns NHTSA holds on the Ford E-100.

What year is my E-100 by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 1983 E-100 carries D, a 1982 E-100 carries C, a 1981 E-100 carries B.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 0 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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