How to decode a 2004 Buick Rendezvous VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2004 Buick Rendezvous VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique sequence of characters assigned to car manufacturers to identify the country of origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type. In the case of the 2004 Buick Rendezvous, the WMI is “3G5,” indicating that the vehicle was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This code is an essential part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and is critical for identifying the vehicle’s manufacturer and providing information about the vehicle type, in this instance, a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV). The WMI forms the first 3 characters of the VIN, guiding regulatory agencies, companies, and individuals in vehicle registration, titling, and tracking.

List of WMI Codes for a 2004 Buick Rendezvous

WMI: 3G5

Model Years Covered: 2002-2007
Example VIN: 3G5DB03E04S500913
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2004 Buick Rendezvous 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 2004 Buick Rendezvous:

Known VDS for a 2004 Buick Rendezvous
DB03E	DB037	DA03E

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 2004 Buick Rendezvous 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 2004 Buick Rendezvous VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
4	2004

11th Character in the 2004 Buick Rendezvous VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2004 Buick Rendezvous Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
S	Ramos Arizpe	Coahuila	Mexico		3G5DB03E04S500913

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2004 Buick Rendezvous

The final 6 characters in a 2004 Buick Rendezvous’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Buick Rendezvous’s VIN below:

How to find a 2004 Buick Rendezvous’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2004 Buick Rendezvous is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2004 Buick Rendezvous. You can usually see the VIN through the lower corner of the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door and check on the door post (where the door latches when it is closed). Your Rendezvous should have a sticker or plate with the VIN.
Inspect the engine block, where the engine VIN is sometimes stamped. This may require some cleaning to read it properly on your Buick Rendezvous.
Look in the rear compartment of your vehicle. The VIN might be located on the underside of the spare tire cover of your 2004 Buick Rendezvous.
Examine the vehicle’s firewall; sometimes the VIN is stamped here in the engine compartment.
Review your vehicle registration documents or insurance card. The VIN for your Buick Rendezvous will be listed on these documents.

What info can a 2004 Buick Rendezvous VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2004, highlighting the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN suggests that it is categorized as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) featuring 4 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Drive Type: From the VIN, it appears to have a 4WD/4-wheel drive, which can help in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
Engine Type and Performance: The VIN indicates it has a 3.6L V-Shaped engine with a displacement of 3600.0 CC and a 6-cylinder engine with Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI), emphasizing the vehicle’s performance characteristics and fuel delivery system.
Fuel Type: The VIN reveals that the vehicle uses gasoline as its fuel type, providing essential information for assessing fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Safety and Design Features: The VIN suggests features such as the engine’s Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) and the vehicle’s hydraulic brake system, showcasing advanced safety and engine design features that could be discerned from a VIN.
Manufacturing Location and Details: The VIN indicates the vehicle was assembled in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico, offering insights into the global manufacturing landscape of vehicles, and the engine’s notable information like ‘Alum, 60 Degrees’ angle provide insight into its construction and engineering background.

Don’t have your 2004 Buick Rendezvous’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2004 Buick Rendezvous

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Brake System Type	Hydraulic
Cooling Type	Water
Displacement (CC)	3600.0
Displacement (CI)	219.68547874103
Displacement (L)	3.6
Doors	4
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	GM
Engine Model	LY7
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Model	Rendezvous
Model Year	2004
Other Engine Info	Alum, 60 Degrees
Plant City	Ramos Arizpe
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Mexico
Plant State	Coahuila
Series	SRV
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	3G5DB037*4S
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	3G5DB03704S572518