Most Ford Escape VINs open with 1FM (the United States, 2001–2024). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often U (56%); a 2026 Escape carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 98 recall campaigns and 25,007 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Ford Escape VIN
Here is a real 2026 Ford Escape VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1FMCU9MN3TUA31697 — 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 Escape VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Ford Escape VINs on record carry 5 different prefixes. The main one is 1FM (the United States, 2001–2024), then 1FA (the United States, 2001–2020):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FM | 2001–2024 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| 1FA | 2001–2020 | United States | Passenger Car | |
| 1FT | 2001–2016 | United States | Truck | |
| 2FM | 2004–2011 | Canada | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| 1FC | 2008–2014 | United States | Incomplete Vehicle |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Ford Escape it is not one number either — assembly moved between 8 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| U | 2004–2024 | 13,976 | |
| K | 2001–2018 | 10,735 | |
| D | 2002–2014 | 123 | |
| A | 2001–2016 | 28 | |
| B | 2003–2014 | 24 | |
| 9 | 2001–2021 | 13 | |
| C | 2001–2014 | 12 | |
| 1 | 2001–2016 | 9 |
Counted from 24,919 dated Ford Escape VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Ford Escape
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Ford Escape has not yet outlived: its 26 years still map one-to-one. All 26 model years of the Ford Escape, 2001 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Ford Escape VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 716 VINs the Ford Escape uses 11 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | C (97%) · Y (2%) · D (0%) · V (0%) | 4 distinct |
| 5 — series | U (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 9 (20%) · D (17%) · Z (12%) · X (10%) · 6 (9%) · 7 (9%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Ford Escape VIN gets you
Behind a Ford Escape VIN: 25,007 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 98 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 25,007 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 28 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 16 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 26 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Ford Escape
A Ford Escape 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 Escape VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 98 recall campaigns and 25,007 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Ford Escape.
Why does my Escape VIN start differently from another Escape?
Because the Ford Escape was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Ford Escape VINs on record we see 5 of them: 1FM (2001–2024), 1FA (2001–2020), 1FT (2001–2016), 2FM (2004–2011), 1FC (2008–2014). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Escape by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Escape carries T, a 2025 Escape carries S, a 2024 Escape carries R.
Where was my Escape built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 24,920 dated Ford Escape VINs it reads U 56%, K 43%, D 0%, A 0% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Ford Escape VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 716 Ford Escape VINs here, C is the most common character in position 4, on 97% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Ford Escape 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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