Most Ford Festiva VINs open with KNJ (South Korea, 1988–1994). Position 11, the plant, reads 6; a 1994 Festiva carries R in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 3 recall campaigns and 116 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Ford Festiva VIN
Here is a real 1991 Ford Festiva VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN KNJPT05H0M6148539 — 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 Festiva VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Ford Festiva we have on record, from 1988 to 1994, opens with the same three characters, KNJ:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KNJ | 1988–1994 | South Korea | Passenger Car |
Counted from 114 dated Ford Festiva VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Ford Festiva
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Ford Festiva has not yet outlived: its 7 years still map one-to-one. All 7 model years of the Ford Festiva, 1988 to 1994, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Ford Festiva VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 3 VINs the Ford Festiva uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | B (67%) · P (33%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | T (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | K (67%) · H (33%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Ford Festiva VIN gets you
Behind a Ford Festiva VIN: 116 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 3 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 116 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 34 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 7 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Ford Festiva
A Ford Festiva VIN normally opens with KNJ; 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 Festiva VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 3 recall campaigns and 116 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Ford Festiva.
What year is my Festiva by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1994 Festiva carries R, a 1993 Festiva carries P, a 1992 Festiva carries N.
Where was my Festiva built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 116 dated Ford Festiva VINs it reads 6 99%.
What does position 4 mean on a Ford Festiva VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 3 Ford Festiva VINs here, B is the most common character in position 4, on 67% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Ford Festiva check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with KNJ. 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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