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How to tell what year a Ford Escape is?

The quickest way to determine the year of a Ford Escape is to read its VIN: the 10th character encodes the model year. You can confirm this with a door‑jamb build date sticker, the vehicle’s title or registration, or by using a VIN-decoding tool or dealer lookup.

Where to find the VIN and build date

To identify the year, start with the vehicle’s VIN and any official build date information that may be posted on the car. The Ford Escape uses a 17-character VIN, and the year is encoded in the 10th character. In addition to the VIN, a few other sources can help verify the year, especially if the VIN is damaged or missing.

Key sources of year information are listed below.

VIN on the dashboard, visible through the windshield on the driver’s side

VIN on the driver’s door‑jamb placard (the “VIN sticker”)

Vehicle title and registration documents

Insurance card or documents that show the vehicle identification number

Using these sources will usually yield the correct year once you map the VIN code to a calendar year.

Decoding the model year from the VIN

The model year is encoded in the 10th character of the 17‑character VIN. Ford, like most manufacturers, uses a year code that cycles every 30 years and omits certain letters (I, O, Q, U, Z) to avoid confusion. Because the code can apply to more than one year within the cycle, you should cross‑check with other information (like the build date) to confirm the exact year for that specific Escape.

Common year code references help you get close, but you should verify with corroborating data. The year code for the 10th position can be one of the following, repeating every 30 years:

A = 1980 or 2010

B = 1981 or 2011

C = 1982 or 2012

D = 1983 or 2013

E = 1984 or 2014

F = 1985 or 2015

G = 1986 or 2016

H = 1987 or 2017

J = 1988 or 2018

K = 1989 or 2019

L = 1990 or 2020

M = 1991 or 2021

N = 1992 or 2022

P = 1993 or 2023

R = 1994 or 2024

S = 1995 or 2025

T = 1996 or 2026

V = 1997 or 2027

W = 1998 or 2028

X = 1999 or 2029

Y = 2000 or 2030

1 = 2001 or 2031

2 = 2002 or 2032

3 = 2003 or 2033

4 = 2004 or 2034

5 = 2005 or 2035

6 = 2006 or 2036

7 = 2007 or 2037

8 = 2008 or 2038

9 = 2009 or 2039

Worked example

Suppose the 10th character of a Ford Escape VIN is “L.” That could indicate 1990 or 2020, depending on the generation and build date. To determine which year applies, cross‑check the door‑jamb build date sticker and the vehicle’s registration. If those indicate 2020, then the Escape is a 2020 model year; if they point to 1990, you’re looking at a much older Escape (in practice, a 1990 model would be from a different Ford family, as the Escape nameplate debuted in the early 2000s). The key is to use multiple data points rather than relying on the 10th character alone.

Other reliable ways to verify the year

Beyond the VIN, several practical checks can confirm the year, especially when VIN data is incomplete or conflicting. These methods are quick and commonly used by buyers, sellers, and inspectors.

Door‑jamb plate/build date sticker: This label often lists the month/year the vehicle was built, along with a range of other production data.

Vehicle title and registration: Official records that show the model year as recorded by the seller or owner.

Dealer VIN lookup or online VIN decoders: Entering the VIN into Ford’s official site or trusted third‑party decoders can provide a year, trim, and factory options.

Physical cues and features by generation: Occasionally, distinctive styling details, lights, or interior features align with a specific generation and model year range; use this only as a supplementary clue after verifying the VIN.

Combining VIN decoding with build date data minimizes confusion, especially for earlier model years, imported vehicles, or cars with ambiguous documentation.

Summary

To determine a Ford Escape’s year, start with the VIN and read the 10th character, which is the model year code. Remember that the code repeats every 30 years and skips some letters, so cross‑check with the door‑jamb build date, title/registration, or an official VIN decoder to confirm the exact year. If in doubt, a dealership can verify the year using the VIN and the vehicle’s build data.

How to tell Ford production date by VIN?

You can find a Ford's build date by checking the 11th and 12th characters of the 17-character VIN, which represent the build plant and month/year respectively. Alternatively, the exact build date is often listed on a sticker on the driver's side door jamb, or you can find a more detailed history by using the VIN on the Ford Parts website, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) VIN decoder, or through a service like Marti Auto Works for older vehicles.
How to find the build date using the VIN
This video explains how to decode vintage Ford date codes from the VIN: 59sMongrel MotorsportsYouTube · Jan 4, 2025

Locate the VIN: The 17-character VIN is on the driver's side dashboard, visible through the windshield, and often in other places like the engine bay or under the driver's seat.
Identify the build plant (11th character): The 11th character of the VIN indicates the plant where the vehicle was manufactured.
Decode the month and year (12th character): The 12th character is a code for the build month and year, which you may need to look up in a Ford VIN guide.

Other methods for finding the build date

Check the door jamb sticker: A sticker on the driver's side door jamb will show the exact build date (month/year).
Use the Ford Parts website: Enter your VIN on parts.ford.com to find the exact build date and other vehicle information.
Use the NHTSA VIN Decoder: Go to the NHTSA VIN decoder website and enter your VIN to find the build plant and other details in the results.
Order a Marti Report: For vehicles from 1967 to 2021, you can purchase a Marti Report from Marti Auto Works for a detailed report including the build date.

Does VIN tell you the built date?

Yes, you can determine the model year from a vehicle's VIN, as the 10th digit represents the year. However, the VIN typically does not show the exact manufacturing month, which is often found on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb. You can also use online VIN decoders to find the model year and other details, such as the assembly plant and other specs.
Using the VIN to find the model year

Locate the 10th digit of the 17-character VIN.
Use a VIN year chart to decode the 10th digit. The chart assigns a specific letter or number to each model year.
For example, a 'C' as the 10th digit usually signifies a 2012 model year.
Be aware that the character for a specific year changes every 10 years (e.g., 'A' can be 1980, 2010, or 2040).

Using the door jamb sticker

Open the driver's side door and look for a sticker in the door jamb.
This sticker often provides the production month and year, along with other information like weight and tire pressure.

Using a VIN decoder

Enter the full VIN into an online decoder, such as those offered by AutoZone, Carfax, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
These tools can provide a more detailed report, including the model year and sometimes even the exact build date.

What year of Ford Escape to stay away from?

Years to avoid for the Ford Escape include the 2005, 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2020-2022 models due to a high number of complaints and recalls for serious issues like engine failure, transmission problems, and steering loss. Other problematic years often cited are 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

This video explains why you should be careful when buying a used Ford Escape and which model years to avoid: 1mCar Lensy YouTube · Apr 23, 2025
Ford Escape years to avoid

2005: Prone to severe rust-related structural failures, leading to a risk of steering loss.
2008: High number of complaints for transmission and steering system issues.
2013 & 2014: Known for significant engine and transmission problems, with the 2013 model even seeing a risk of engine fires.
2016, 2017, and the 2020-2022 models: Have significant engine and transmission issues.
2020-2022: Suffer from engine and transmission problems, oil leaks, and infotainment glitches.
2021 & 2022: Mentioned as years to avoid, potentially due to continuing issues from the redesign generation.

General problems to watch for

Engine issues: Overheating, coolant leaks, and engine failure are common complaints, particularly in 1.6L EcoBoost engines from 2013-2019.
Transmission problems: High failure rates have been reported across several model years, including the 2008-2014 models.
Steering and electrical issues: Some years have had problems with power steering loss or other electrical glitches.
Structural problems: Rust, especially in the subframe, has been a significant issue on certain models.

How do I tell what year my Ford Escape is?

You can find the build date of your Ford vehicle on the door jamb label located on the driver's side front or rear door panel. It will be labeled as "DATE."

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.