Most Ford Granada VINs open with 1FA (the United States, 1982). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often G (50%); a 1982 Granada carries C in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 4 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Ford Granada VIN
Every Ford Granada VIN follows the same 17-character layout:
| 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 Granada VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Ford Granada we have on record, all from 1982, opens with the same three characters, 1FA:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FA | 1982–1982 | United States | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Ford Granada it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1981–1981 | 1 | |
| A | 1982–1982 | 1 |
Counted from 1 dated Ford Granada VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Ford Granada
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Ford Granada has not yet outlived: its 2 years still map one-to-one. All 2 model years of the Ford Granada, 1981 to 1982, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | C | — |
| 1981 | B | — |
What a decoded Ford Granada VIN gets you
Behind a Ford Granada VIN: 2 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 4 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 2 filed | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 2 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Ford Granada
Four places on a Ford Granada carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.
| 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 Granada VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 4 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Ford Granada.
What year is my Granada by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1982 Granada carries C, a 1981 Granada carries B.
Where was my Granada built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 2 dated Ford Granada VINs it reads G 50%, A 50%.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Ford Granada check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 1FA. 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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