Lincoln Nautilus VIN Decoder

Decode any Lincoln Nautilus VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 143 real Nautilus VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 2019–2026 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

A Lincoln Nautilus VIN opens with 2LM (Canada). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often B (78%); a 2026 Nautilus carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 23 recall campaigns and 231 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Lincoln Nautilus VIN

Here is a real 2026 Lincoln Nautilus VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMI5LM
4–8 · VDSPJ9J4
9 · Check3
10 · YearT
11 · PlantJ
12–17 · Serial031333

VIN 5LMPJ9J43TJ031333 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Lincoln Nautilus 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

Where Lincoln Nautilus VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 143 Lincoln Nautilus VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Lincoln Nautilus assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
2LMCanada—7451.7%
5LMUnited States—6948.3%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · ForCar decoded VINs

Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.

Model-year codes for the Lincoln Nautilus

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Lincoln Nautilus has not yet outlived: its 8 years still map one-to-one. All 8 model years of the Lincoln Nautilus, 2019 to 2026, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Lincoln Nautilus VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
2026T—
2025S—
2024R—
2023P—
2022N—
2021M—
2020L—
2019K—
ROWS 8·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Lincoln Nautilus VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 143 VINs the Lincoln Nautilus uses 7 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Lincoln Nautilus VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyP (100%)1 distinct
5 — seriesJ (100%)1 distinct
8 — engine9 (29%) · 4 (28%) · P (22%) · A (20%) · T (1%)5 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Lincoln Nautilus VIN gets you

Behind a Lincoln Nautilus VIN: 231 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Lincoln Nautilus data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns23 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints231 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy24 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Crash-test ratings7 rated model yearsNHTSA
Model years covered8 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Lincoln Nautilus

A Lincoln Nautilus VIN normally opens with 2LM; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Lincoln Nautilus 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 Lincoln Nautilus VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 23 recall campaigns and 231 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Lincoln Nautilus.

What year is my Nautilus by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2026 Nautilus carries T, a 2025 Nautilus carries S, a 2024 Nautilus carries R.

Where was my Nautilus built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 231 dated Lincoln Nautilus VINs it reads B 78%, J 22%.

What does position 4 mean on a Lincoln Nautilus VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 143 Lincoln Nautilus VINs here, P is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 143 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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