How to decode a Buick LeSabre VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Buick LeSabre VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI, is a distinct three-character prefix included in every vehicle identification number (VIN) that signifies the manufacturer and, to some extent, the vehicle’s country of origin. For the Buick LeSabre, the WMI is typically ‘1G4,’ where ‘1G’ indicates that the car was manufactured by General Motors in the United States, and the ‘4’ designates the specific brand under GM, which is Buick. This identifier is an essential part of the VIN, as it helps in confirming the authenticity of the vehicle and provides a starting point for decoding the rest of the VIN. The WMI is essential for any research on a vehicle’s history, as it ensures that the car in question is indeed a Buick LeSabre and provides insight into where the manufacturing took place.

List of WMI Codes for a Buick LeSabre

WMI: 1G4

Model Years Covered: 1982-2005
Example VIN: 1G4AP69Y5CX143996
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Buick LeSabre VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a Buick LeSabre:

Known VDS for a Buick LeSabre
AP69Y	AP37Y	AR35Y	AN69Y	BP69Y	BP37Y	BR35Y	HR373	HR543	HP143
HP513	HR54C	HP14C	HP54C	BR81Y	BR84Y	HP53L	HR53L	HP52L	HR52L
HR52K	HP52K	HR54K	HP54K

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Buick LeSabre VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the Buick LeSabre VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
5	2005 Buick LeSabre
4	2004 Buick LeSabre
3	2003 Buick LeSabre
2	2002 Buick LeSabre
1	2001 Buick LeSabre
Y	2000 Buick LeSabre
X	1999 Buick LeSabre
W	1998 Buick LeSabre
V	1997 Buick LeSabre
T	1996 Buick LeSabre
S	1995 Buick LeSabre
R	1994 Buick LeSabre
P	1993 Buick LeSabre
N	1992 Buick LeSabre
M	1991 Buick LeSabre
L	1990 Buick LeSabre
K	1989 Buick LeSabre
J	1988 Buick LeSabre
H	1987 Buick LeSabre
G	1986 Buick LeSabre
F	1985 Buick LeSabre
E	1984 Buick LeSabre
D	1983 Buick LeSabre
C	1982 Buick LeSabre

11th Character in the Buick LeSabre VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Buick LeSabre Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
4	Orion	Michigan	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G4HP54K0Y4111347
5	Bowling Green	Kentucky	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G4HR54K055U28349
A	Lakewood Heights	Georgia	United States	Lakewood Assembly	1G4BR81Y2JA406547
H	Flint	Michigan	United States		1G4AP69Y2CH511657
U	Hamtramck	Michigan	United States	Na-Gm Corp	1G4HR54K0YU103727
X	Kansas City	Kansas	United States	Fairfax Assembly	1G4AP69Y5CX143996

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Buick LeSabre

The final 6 characters in a Buick LeSabre’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a Buick LeSabre’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your Buick LeSabre is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Buick LeSabre, which is usually visible through the bottom corner of the windshield.
Examine the driver’s side doorjamb, where the VIN can typically be found on a sticker or plate where the door latches shut.
Check your Buick LeSabre’s vehicle registration documents, which should have the VIN listed.
Inspect insurance cards or policies for your Buick LeSabre, as they often include the VIN.
Look in the engine bay; the VIN can sometimes be stamped on the engine firewall.
Open the trunk and inspect the area where the spare tire is located; the VIN might be found there on some Buick LeSabre models.
Review your Buick LeSabre’s owner’s manual or service book, which should have a record of the VIN.

What info can a Buick LeSabre VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can indicate the model year of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN may reveal the body class and the number of doors, offering insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Manufacturer Name: The VIN can specify the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Engine Configuration: The VIN may provide details about the engine configuration, which could be V-shaped or other configurations.
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type: The VIN may indicate the type of fuel delivery or fuel injection system used in the vehicle.
Safety Features: The VIN can provide information about standard safety features of the model, such as front air bag locations for the 1st row.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Buick LeSabre

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3800.0
Displacement (CI)	231.89022755998
Displacement (L)	3.8
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	GMPTG Flint
Engine Model	L36
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Model	LeSabre
Model Year	2004
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick
Plant City	Orion
Plant Company Name	NA-GM Corp
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Michigan
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Custom
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Valve Train Design	Overhead Valve (OHV)
Vehicle Descriptor	1G4HP54K*44
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	1G4HP54K044105932