Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Vehicle Certification (VC) Codes: Notes
The upper portion of the VC label contains the manufacturer's name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement and the VIN. It also includes gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The VC label is located on the left-hand door jamb.
If a vehicle requires replacement of the VC label and is 4 years old or less, an authorized dealer must submit the VIN to their respective regional office. The regional office will submit a web form to the assembly plant for the replacement label. Once the label has been printed, a representative from the regional office will deliver the label to the dealer and witness installation on the vehicle. If a vehicle is more than 4 years old and requires a replacement label, the dealer must submit a request to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Exterior paint code |
| 2 | Region code |
| 3 | Domestic special order |
| 4 | Interior trim code |
| 5 | Tape/paint stripe code |
| 6 | Radio code |
| 7 | Axle code |
| 8 | Transmission code |
| 9 | Spring code |
| 10 | Powertrain calibration information |
Exterior paint codes may be listed as a 2-part code. The first set of characters identify the primary body color. The second set of characters (if applicable) identify the vehicle accent or 2-tone body color. All colors are base coat/clear coat.
Exterior Color Codes
- D2 - Moss Green
- DI - Dark Ink Blue
- G2 - Redfire
- JP - Silver Birch Metallic
- ND - Dune Pearl
- NH - Light Sage Green
- UA - Ebony
- WS - White Suede
- ZY - Vapor Silver Pearl
Interior trim codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first character identifies the interior trim type. The second character identifies the interior trim color.
Interior Trim Type
- D - B cloth - Ford, Mercury
- E - C cloth - Ford, Mercury
- F - Ellipse/Fino cloth - Ford, Mercury
- H - Chicago/Fino cloth - Ford, Mercury
- K - Leather/Red Stitch - Mercury
- L - Leather - Lincoln
- M - Perforated leather - Lincoln
- N - Arrow/Fino cloth - Ford, Mercury
- Y - Ford leather - Ford
Interior Trim Color
- C - Camel Tan - Ford, Mercury
- L - Medium Light Stone - Ford, Mercury
- S - Sand - Lincoln
- T - Light Stone - Lincoln
- W - Charcoal Black - Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply.
- B - AM/FM stereo, in-dash 6-disc CD changer, MP3 and clock - Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
- F - AM/FM stereo, CD player and clock (4-speaker) - Ford
- P - AM/FM stereo, CD player, MP3 and clock (6-speaker) - Ford, Mercury
The axle ratios are:
- 33 - 3.33 - Lincoln
- 34 - 3.64 - Ford, Mercury
- 38 - 3.86 - Ford, Mercury
- 43 - 4.39 - Ford, Mercury
- 5 - Mazda G5M, 5-speed manual - Ford, Mercury
- B - Aisin, 6-speed automatic - Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
- C - Mazda FN-R5, 5-speed automatic - Ford, Mercury
Spring codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first 2 characters identify the front springs. Characters 3 and 4 identify the rear springs. Front spring base part number is 5310, rear spring base part number is 5560.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.