Ford Taurus X VIN Decoder

Decode any Ford Taurus X VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 4 real Taurus X VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 2008–2008 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

Most Ford Taurus X VINs open with 1FM (the United States, 2008–2009). Position 11, the plant, reads G; a 2009 Taurus X carries 9 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 1 recall campaign and 145 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Ford Taurus X VIN

Here is a real 2008 Ford Taurus X VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMI1FM
4–8 · VDSDK02W
9 · Check3
10 · Year8
11 · PlantG
12–17 · SerialA24014

VIN 1FMDK02W38GA24014 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Ford Taurus X 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

Ford Taurus X VIN prefixes, and when each one was used

Every Ford Taurus X we have on record, from 2008 to 2009, opens with the same three characters, 1FM:

FIG.02·Ford Taurus X VIN prefixes by year
VIN starts withYears seenBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on record
1FM2008–2009United StatesMultipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)143
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · NHTSA complaint VINs

Counted from 144 dated Ford Taurus X VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.

Model-year codes for the Ford Taurus X

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Ford Taurus X has not yet outlived: its 2 years still map one-to-one. All 2 model years of the Ford Taurus X, 2008 to 2009, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Ford Taurus X VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
20099—
20088—
ROWS 2·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Ford Taurus X VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 4 VINs the Ford Taurus X uses 3 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Ford Taurus X VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyD (100%)1 distinct
5 — seriesK (100%)1 distinct
8 — engineW (100%)1 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Ford Taurus X VIN gets you

Behind a Ford Taurus X VIN: 145 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Ford Taurus X data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns1 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints145 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy19 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered2 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Taurus X

A Ford Taurus X VIN normally opens with 1FM; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Ford Taurus X 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 Taurus X VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 1 recall campaign and 145 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Ford Taurus X.

What year is my Taurus X by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2009 Taurus X carries 9, a 2008 Taurus X carries 8.

Where was my Taurus X built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 145 dated Ford Taurus X VINs it reads G 99%.

What does position 4 mean on a Ford Taurus X VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 4 Ford Taurus X VINs here, D 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 Taurus X 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.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 4 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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