Has anyone ever experienced anything like this?

Here is the VIN # as stamped on the little steel plate beneath the windshield on my truck:

1FTDW2X18VNC*****

Now, if you punch that number into the CarFax database or if say, your dealer tries to bring your truck up on his computer, it won't work because that VIN # is invalid.

According to my Haynes Repair Manual, the 8th digit should be the "Engine Code Designator" and should be one of the following:

2.... = 4.2L V6
W.... = 4.6L (Romeo) V8
6.... = 4.6L (Windsor) V8
L.... = 5.4L V8

If you count it out on the plate affixed to my vehicle, the 8th digit of my VIN is a 1, so that can't be right.

Now, the bar code label affixed to the front of my Owners Manual (and my Title, Registration, Insurance card, etc...) all list the number differently... here are the two numbers one on top of the other so you can see the difference:

1FTDW2X18VNC***** ...... on the truck
1FTDX18W2VNC***** ...... on everything else.

Notice that the "W2" combination changes position from before the "X18" combination to after the "X18" combination.

I called Ford Customer Service two days ago, the Gentleman on the phone was very polite and attemted to be helpful... he said I was indeed correct that the VIN affixed to my vehicle was invalid, he also said he had never heard of anything like this before. I was put on hold while he checked with the "research department" (whatever that is) but was eventually told that because I had purchased the vehicle "used" from a private individual that Ford could not assume any liability for this error, that they suspected some type of fraud was committed. He referred me to my local dealer and said he would look further into the matter and call back the following day, though he never did.

There is absolutely no evidence of tampering on the VIN plate, the rivets are intact and the Ford "watermark" background is present. I purchased the vehicle from the original owner and all of the DMV records are complete and accurate as is the report from CarFax... I have no reason to suspect anything other than somebody at Ford making a simple mistake!

I'm concerned that this could pose some potential problems in the future, say for instance, if my vehicle is ever stolen, or if I attempt to sell the vehicle, or possibly even if I just get pulled over by the police for a minor traffic infraction.

I intend to follow up on this and will keep you posted but in the meantime, if anyone has ever had a problem like this or if you have any advice or comments on this, please let me know.

Sorry for the long post.
Thanks in advance,
T



------------------
'97 F-150 4X4
4.6, automatic
3 door extended cab
short bed
Teal on Black
B&M ShiftPlus+ installed
Fog lights W/O headlights
tedoca@erols.com

 

I hope it works out with no problems. I can feel for you, I've been there.

There was a mix-up at the hospital and I was raised by circus performers.

 

Here's how the VIN on Ford light trucks breaks down:

SAMPLE VIN ONLY:
1) 1 - Nation of Origin (USA)
2) F - Make (Ford)
3) T - Vehicle type (truck)
4) D - GVWR & Brake type (5k-6k lbs, hyd)
5) X - Model Code (F150 SC 4X4 Styleside)
6) 1 - " " " "
7) 8 - " " " "
8) W - Engine 4.6 (could also be a 6)
9) 2 - Check digit
10) V - Model Year (V=1997)
11) N - Assembly plant (Norfolk)
12-17) Sequential production number

------------------
'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4,
bodyside mouldings, Snuglid hard tonneau, airbox and fresh air mods.
Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar). Gibson Supertruck. Ford 2-piece bra. Catch-All floor mats. Image tail light covers. B-Quiet sound dampener in rear of cab. **** pile rug protecting spare tire (Raoul made me enter this)
No door cracks yet at 13K!!!

 

My build city has a 'B'. Without going out to look in truck where is that?

------------------
2000 Lariat 4x4 Supercab ORP
Black Clearcoat
Flowmaster 50 series SUV using original tailpipe
K&N Filter
CamLocker Aluminum Toolbox
Tinted Windows
Vent Visors

A.R.E. 'Z' series bed cap

1999 HD Softtail Custom
Cobalt Blue
Lowered and Chromed

1995 Long Haired Chihuahua (Best security system on the market)

<A HREF="http://www.harleyrider.webprovider.com/index.htm
" TARGET=_blank>http://www.harleyrider.webprovider.com/index.htm
</A>

 

You should be able to go to the DMV and check up the history of your truck. If the truck was originally registered with your faulty VIN, then chances are there was never any fraud.

Find out what dealer first sold the truck and compare the VIN.

 

Thanks everyone,
I've already run the DMV history, the truck has been registered from day one with the "correct" VIN, unfortunately the "correct" VIN is not the one affixed to the vehicle.

------------------
'97 F-150 4X4
4.6, automatic
3 door extended cab
short bed
Teal on Black
B&M ShiftPlus+ installed
Fog lights W/O headlights
tedoca@erols.com

 

If someone posts all of the potential values for each placeholder, I may be able to put together a quick and dirty decoder. How about it?

Steve

P.S. - It'll really help me hone my programming skills.

 

I put this together, based on information that I found in several threads:

https://www.f150online.com/resources/vin.cfm

Might I ask a stupid question, does the VIN actually tell us what type of vehicle it is? (ie. F150)


Steve

 

In that case, I'd definitely think about getting your money back. Contact somebody who knows about these things to see if you can protect yourself since this is something that you should have noticed when you first bought the truck.

 

Steve, you're just too slick!

My GVWR was unknown but, the rest was right on.

Just for grins, I tried my wife's Windstar.
Your program knew it was made in Canada and that it was a Ford.

The third position was 'M'. Minivan?

I think it would helpful if Steve knew the third position of the Expedition/Explorer/Ranger.

Anyone?

 

Steve:
Yes, the VIN will tell you the exact type of F-150 that you have, including whether it's a supercab, reg cab, a 4X2 or 4X4, the factory-installed engine, build location, etc. About the only thing it doesn't tell are the special option packages and the color. My VIN book is at work so I can't get more specific than this right now.

------------------
'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4,
bodyside mouldings, Snuglid hard tonneau, airbox and fresh air mods.
Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar). Gibson Supertruck. Ford 2-piece bra. Catch-All floor mats. Image tail light covers. B-Quiet sound dampener in rear of cab. **** pile rug protecting spare tire (Raoul made me enter this)
No door cracks yet at 13K!!!

 

Very nice Steve! Did you write that in Visual Basic?

------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with super engine cooling/auxiliary transmission cooling HD package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil, build 7/2000

 

You might want to contact your local Police Department and talk to the vehicle theft unit. They should be able to look for the hidden VIN's and make sure you don't have a stolen vehicle or a salvaged vehicle rebuilt with stolen parts. But looking at the way the vin was stamped, I would say it was just a factory screw up. A good car thief would never make up a false vin plate like that. The worse that could happen is you get traffic stopped and the Officer sees the problem and impounds the vehicle untill it is checked out.

Good luck.

 

Sequential Production Number A91001

Does this say what number in the line my truck was?

------------------
'97 XLT Clearcoat Red 4x2
17 inch Wheels,Stepside, K&N,bedliner, 32 inch tires, flowmasters, deep tint, big Ford oval on back window, 5 spd, platinum plugs, CB, hidden hitch, ford emblem hitch cover and a little wal-mart smiley face on the antenna wearing a coboy hat :-)

http://www.my-f150.com/waldo0506

 

Waldo0506, I guess it's something like, see below.

Steve, I gues 'M' isn't minivan afterall.

I stole this of an Explorer site (and drug it home to you):

1st digit = Coutry of Origin:
1=USA
2= Canada

2nd digit = Manufacturer:
F=Ford

3rd digit = Type of Vehicle:
C=Basic chassis
D=incomplete vehicle
M=Multipurpose vehicle
T=Truck.

4th digit = Gross vehicle weight rating and brake system
A=up to 3000
B=3001-4000
C=4001-5000
D=5001-6000
E=6001-7000
F=7001-8000
G=8001-8500
H=8500-9000
J=9001-10000
All are in pounds.

5th digit = Model Line:
R=Ranger
U=Bronco II and Elplorer.

6th and 7th = chassis and body type
10 = 4x2 regular cab pickup
11 = 4x4 regular cab pickup
14 = 4x2 supercab pickup
14 = 4x4 supercab pickup
12 = 4x2 standard Bronco II
14 = 4x4 standard Bronco II
22 = 4x2 standard 2door Explorer
24 = 4x4 standard 2door Explorer
32 = standard 4x2 4 door Explorer
34 = standard 4x4 4door Explorer.

8th digit = Engine:
C = 2.0L 4 cyl
P = 2.2L 4 cyl
A = 2.3L 4 cyl
E = 2.3L 4 cyl
S = 2.8L 4 cyl
T = 2.9L 6 cyl
U = 3.0L 6 cyl
X = 4.0L 6 cyl

9th digit = Check digit

10th digit = =Model year
D = 1983
E = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994

11th digit = Assembly Plant
C = Ontario, Canada
H = Lorain, OH
K = Claycomo, MO
L = Wayne, MI
N = Norfolk, VA
P = St. Paul, MN
T = Edison, NJ
U = Louisville, KY
Z = Hazlewook, MD

Sigits 12 - 17 are the serial number. I belive it is a "counter" for the vehicles coming off of the assembly line.

So, with this I know my vehicle was built in the USA, by Ford, as a multi purpose vehicle, it weigs between 5001 and 6000 pounds, is an Explorer or Bronco II, and know it is a 4x4 standard 4 door Explorer, has a 4.0L 6 cyl engine, built in 1994, in Louisville, KY, and was the C10442th vehicle to come off the line. c converts to 3 so it was really 310442th one off the line.

Axle codes come off the door sticker.
43 = Regular 3.08
41 = Regular 3.27
45 = Regular 3.55
04 = Limited Slip 3.73