Most Ford Probe VINs open with 1FM (the United States, 1994–1996), 1FA (the United States, 1993) or 1ME (the United States, 1997). Position 11, the plant, shows 4 codes, most often 5 (96%); a 1997 Probe carries V in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 13 recall campaigns and 922 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Ford Probe VIN
Here is a real 1994 Ford Probe VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1ZVLT22B2R5146962 — 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 Probe VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Ford Probe VINs on record carry 3 different prefixes. The main one is 1FM (the United States, 1994–1996), then 1FA (the United States, 1993–1993):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FA | 1993–1993 | United States | Passenger Car | |
| 1FM | 1994–1996 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| 1ME | 1997–1997 | United States | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Ford Probe it is not one number either — assembly moved between 4 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1989–1997 | 885 | |
| 1 | 1989–1996 | 19 | |
| S | 1990–1997 | 5 | |
| L | 1990–1994 | 3 |
Counted from 5 dated Ford Probe VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Ford Probe
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Ford Probe has not yet outlived: its 10 years still map one-to-one. All 10 model years of the Ford Probe, 1988 to 1997, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Ford Probe VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 2 VINs the Ford Probe uses 3 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | L (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | T (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | B (100%) | 1 distinct |
What a decoded Ford Probe VIN gets you
Behind a Ford Probe VIN: 922 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 13 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 922 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 23 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 10 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Ford Probe
A Ford Probe VIN normally opens with 1ZV; 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 Probe VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 13 recall campaigns and 922 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Ford Probe.
Why does my Probe VIN start differently from another Probe?
Because the Ford Probe was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Ford Probe VINs on record we see 3 of them: 1FA (1993–1993), 1FM (1994–1996), 1ME (1997–1997). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Probe by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1997 Probe carries V, a 1996 Probe carries T, a 1995 Probe carries S.
Where was my Probe built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 919 dated Ford Probe VINs it reads 5 96%, 1 2%, S 1%, L 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Ford Probe VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 2 Ford Probe VINs here, L is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Ford Probe check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 1FM, 1FA or 1ME. 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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