Vehicle Certification (VC) Label

Vehicle Certification (VC) Label Locator:

Vehicle Certification Label:

The vehicle certification (VC) label contains the manufacturer name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement, and the VIN. It also includes gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR).

VEHICLE CERTIFICATION (VC) LABEL

Paint Codes - Ford Freestyle:

The first set of paint code numbers/letters listed indicate the vehicle primary body color. The second set of numbers/letters listed (if applicable) indicate a two-tone or accent body color. All colors are base coat/clear coat.
- CX - Dark Shadow Gray
- DV - Light Tundra/Titanium Green
- DX - Dark Blue Pearl
- FX - Merlot
- G2 - Redfire
- G3 - Pueblo Gold
- KR - Norcea Blue Pearl
- TS - Silver Frost
- UA - Ebony
- YZ - Oxford White

Wheelbase Codes:

- 113 - 113-inch wheelbase

Brake Codes:

- 2 - 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
- 3 - All-speed traction control
- 5 - 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) with all-speed traction control

Interior Trim - Ford Freestyle:

Interior trim codes are a 2-part code. The first character listed, identifies the interior trim type. The second character listed identifies the interior trim color.

Trim Codes
- B - Mainframe cloth seating
- D - Mainframe leather seating

Interior Trim Color
- 7 - Pebble Tan
- T - Shale Gray
- W - Charcoal Black

Tape/Paint Stripe - Ford Freestyle:

Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply.

Radio Type:

- 2 - Premium electronic AM/FM stereo with compact disc (CD) player and clock
- 6 - Premium electronic AM/FM stereo with 6-disc compact disc (CD) changer (MP3 capable) and clock

Axle Type:

- 3A - 5.19 ratio
- CD - 5.54 ratio

Transmission Type:

- A - CVT (continuous variable transmission)

Spring Code:

Spring codes list both front and rear spring codes. The first set of characters identifies the front springs. The second set of characters identify the rear springs.
- Front spring base part number - 5310
- Rear spring base part number - 5560

Powertrain Calibration Information:

Powertrain Calibration Information

NOTE: Powertrain calibration information is limited to a maximum of five characters per line on the Vehicle Certification Label. Because of this, calibration identification consisting of more than five characters will wrap to the second line on the VC label.

Powertrain calibration information is printed in the lower right corner of the Vehicle Certification Label. Only the base calibration information is printed. Revision levels will not appear, however, they can be found in On Line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS). For the current model year, Ford Motor Company is using three different protocols which describe powertrain base calibration. These protocols are designed to provide worldwide standardization for vehicle calibration. If the electronic calibration strategy has been used since 1998 and carried into the current model year, Protocol 1 will be used. Refer to Protocol 1. If the electronic calibration strategy has been used since 1999 and is carried into the current model year, Protocol 2 will be used. Refer to Protocol 2. For electronic calibration strategies introduced in 2000 or later model years, Protocol 3 will be used. Refer to Protocol 3.

Protocol 1:

Protocol 1

Protocol 2:

Protocol 2

Protocol 3:

Protocol 3
The following offers a more detailed explanation of the coding strategy used for Protocol 3.

Model Year
Model year code indicates the year in which the calibration code was introduced.
- 0 - 2000
- 1 - 2001
- 2 - 2002
- 3 - 2003
- 4 - 2004
- 5 - 2005

Vehicle Code
The vehicle code indicates the vehicle line to which the code applies.
- PB - Ford Five Hundred
- PG - Ford Freestyle/Mercury Montego

Transmission Code
The transmission code identifies the type of transmission used.
- 1 - Automatic transmission

Unique Calibration
The Emissions/CAFE/CO2 Compliance Department is responsible for assigning these calibration numbers. Unique identifications are assigned to cover similar vehicles to differentiate between tires, drive configurations, final drive ratios and other calibration-significant factors.

These two characters are chosen by the analyst to provide identifiable information unique to each calibration. For example, using the number 2 to denote a two-valve engine versus using the number 4 to identify a four-valve engine provides an easily identifiable difference.

Fleet Coding
Identifies the fleet to which the vehicle belongs.
- 0 - Certification (U.S. 4K, final sale in export markets)
- 1 - HDGE/Dyno
- 2 - Fast AMA U.S.
- 3 - ADP U.S.
- 4 - Not assigned
- 5 - Not assigned
- 6 - Evaporative emissions
- 7 - MACAA
- 8 - On-board diagnostics (OBD)
- 9 - Not assigned

Certification Region
When instances where multiple regions are included in one calibration, the lead region will be listed.
- 5 - U.S. fifty states
- A - U.S. federal, including altitude, may include Canada and/or Mexico
- B - U.S. California standard, includes U.S. green states
- C - Canada
- D - China
- E - European Community (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom)
- F - European Extended Community (E plus Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Yugoslavia)
- G - Gulf Cooperative Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE)
- H - Hong Kong
- J - Japan
- K - Korea
- L - Malaysia
- M - Mexico
- N - New Zealand
- P - Australia
- Q - South America (Brazil)
- S - Singapore
- T - Taiwan
- U - South America (unleaded fuel regions)
- V - Vietnam
- X - Rest of World (ROW)
- Y - Military
- Z - Israel

Revision Level (not printed on label)
- 91-99 - Hardware and certification levels
- 01-04 - Preliminary levels
- 00 - Job 1 production (initial certification)
- 05-09 - Pre-job 1 revisions to calibrations
- 10-89 - Post-job 1 revisions to calibrations
- 0B - Durability test level
- BD - On-board diagnostics (OBD) intermediate level (pre-05)