Lincoln VIN Decoder: 4 Common WMI Codes
Decode any Lincoln VIN free: the first three characters (1LN, 5LM, 2LM, 3LN) identify the assigned manufacturer and vehicle type, position 10 encodes the model year and position 11 commonly identifies the assembly plant. Then check that vehicle's recalls and history separately.
Run the exact 17-character VIN, compare the physical vehicle, and keep each history category separate.
A Lincoln VIN check can identify a Lincoln sedan, crossover, SUV, or hybrid and may return body, engine, fuel, drive, and restraint data. It helps verify the advertised base vehicle, but exact luxury packages, subscription or connected features, maintenance, battery condition, and history need separate confirmation.
Buying a used Lincoln? Enter its VIN.
Confirm the Lincoln identity free. For a purchase decision, the optional history report can show returned title, mileage and auction records; coverage varies by VIN.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
No subscription. No charge to check the VIN. Report contents vary by vehicle; applicable tax is shown at checkout.
See what the paid report includes →Lincoln WMI codes (VIN positions 1–3)
The first three VIN characters identify the assigned manufacturer and vehicle type. These common World Manufacturer Identifier patterns were checked against NHTSA vPIC data, but a prefix alone does not prove final assembly country; confirm the complete VIN’s returned plant fields and vehicle-specific records.
| WMI | What it identifies |
|---|---|
| 1LN | Lincoln passenger cars built in the USA; NHTSA vPIC registers this code to Ford Motor Company |
| 5LM | Lincoln SUVs (multipurpose passenger vehicles) built in the USA by Ford Motor Company |
| 2LM | Lincoln SUVs built in Canada by Ford Motor Company of Canada |
| 3LN | Lincoln passenger cars built in Mexico (Ford Motor Company, Mexico) |
Where to find the VIN on a Lincoln
Lincolns carry the VIN on the driver's side dashboard plate visible through the windshield and on the certification label on the driver's door jamb. It also appears on the title, registration, and insurance card. Prefixes such as 1LN, 2LM and 3LN are manufacturer clues, but the first character alone does not prove the build country; confirm the plant for the full VIN.
Check Lincoln warranty coverage by VIN
Lincoln documents its New Vehicle Limited Warranty in the support section of lincoln.com: 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. Add your vehicle to a Lincoln Way account, or have any Lincoln retailer run the 17-digit VIN to see exactly what coverage remains.
The last Lincoln Continental was built on October 30, 2020 at Ford's Flat Rock Assembly Plant, and with the MKZ also ending that year, Lincoln entered 2021 selling only SUVs.
What to verify on a Lincoln
- Confirm engine, fuel, body, and drive where a nameplate includes multiple configurations.
- Verify luxury, towing, and technology packages through original documentation and installed equipment.
- For hybrids, identity data does not measure battery health.
- Use Lincoln and NHTSA recall tools for VIN-specific status.
Which Lincoln model year to avoid
Every Lincoln model with several years on record, ranked year against year on NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns. The comparison is within one model only — a year is called out when it stands clear of that model’s other years.
Lincoln recalls and reported problems by model year
Each page below reports the NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints on record for one Lincoln model year. Model-year data narrows where to look; only a VIN lookup tells you whether a specific vehicle still has open recall work.
Lincoln VIN and buyer checklist
- Match vehicle, title, and service-record VINs.
- Verify engine, propulsion, drive, body, and installed options.
- Request battery, connected-feature, towing, service, and collision documentation.
- Check recalls, title, mileage, theft, and mechanical condition.
What a Lincoln VIN check cannot prove
- A VIN alone does not prove accident, title-brand, theft, lien, ownership, service, or complete mileage history.
- Decoded equipment can be incomplete or broad; confirm trim, options, and installed hardware on the vehicle and its documents.
- A “no open recalls” result is time-specific and is not a mechanical inspection or a promise that every past recall was completed correctly.
Sources reviewed
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- NHTSA VIN DecoderU.S. government VIN identity and manufacturer-submitted vehicle data.
- NHTSA vPICNHTSA vehicle-product information and decoding resources.
- NHTSA RecallsVIN-specific open safety recall lookup and recall campaign details.
- Lincoln official websiteLincoln manufacturer resource
- 49 CFR Part 565 - Vehicle Identification Number requirementseCFR, U.S. Government Publishing Office
Lincoln VIN check questions
What can a Lincoln VIN tell me?
A valid 17-character Lincoln VIN can identify the vehicle and may return manufacturer-submitted attributes such as model year, model, body class, engine, drive type, or restraint details. Returned fields vary, so compare them with the vehicle and title instead of treating every blank as a defect.
Can a VIN check confirm the exact Lincoln trim and options?
Not always. NHTSA decoding can return useful factory identity data, but exact packages, optional equipment, and later modifications may require the original window sticker, build record, dealer documentation, or a physical inspection.
Does a Lincoln VIN check include recall information?
VIN identity and recall status are separate checks. Use NHTSA’s recall lookup and Lincoln’s official owner or recall resources, because recall status can change and some newly announced campaigns may not appear immediately.
What should I verify for this Lincoln?
Match vehicle, title, and service-record VINs. Verify engine, propulsion, drive, body, and installed options. Request battery, connected-feature, towing, service, and collision documentation. Check recalls, title, mileage, theft, and mechanical condition.
What does a Lincoln VIN starting with 5LM mean?
NHTSA vPIC registers 5LM to Ford Motor Company for Lincoln multipurpose passenger vehicles, including US-built SUV examples. Canadian-built SUVs have used 2LM, and Mexico-built cars 3LN. Confirm the assembly plant of a specific Lincoln from its complete VIN. This is a common registered or decoded pattern, not standalone proof of final assembly; confirm the specific vehicle’s complete NHTSA plant fields and manufacturer records.
How long is Lincoln's warranty?
Lincoln's New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and 6 years/70,000 miles on the powertrain. A Lincoln retailer or your Lincoln Way account can confirm remaining coverage for a specific VIN.