How to decode a 1998 Buick Riviera VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Buick Riviera VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code of three letters or numbers assigned to every vehicle manufacturer to distinguish their brand, location, and type of vehicle they produce. For example, the 1998 Buick Riviera is identified by the WMI “1G4,” indicating it was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This WMI signifies that the vehicle is a passenger car and falls within a series of model years including 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, and 1995-1999, showcasing its aligned production within General Motors’ extensive history. Understanding the WMI is crucial for identifying crucial vehicle details directly from its unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Buick Riviera

WMI: 1G4

Model Years Covered: 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, 1995-1999
Example VIN: 1G4GD2210W4704958
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 1998 Buick Riviera 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 1998 Buick Riviera:

Known VDS for a 1998 Buick Riviera
GD221

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 1998 Buick Riviera 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 1998 Buick Riviera VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Buick Riviera VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Buick Riviera 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	1G4GD2210W4704958

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Buick Riviera

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Buick Riviera’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 1998 Buick Riviera’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Buick Riviera is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1998 Buick Riviera. The VIN is typically visible through the windshield on a metal plate affixed to the dashboard.
Open the driver’s door and examine the door post (where the door latches when it is closed). Your Buick Riviera’s VIN should be on a label or sticker in this area.
Check under the hood of your Riviera; there is usually a VIN plate or sticker located on the engine block or on the strut towers.
Inspect the rear wheel well. Sometimes the VIN can be found stamped above the tire.
Look in the trunk under the spare tire. Occasionally the VIN is located there in your Buick Riviera.
Refer to vehicle registration documents or the insurance policy, as they will also list the VIN of your 1998 Buick Riviera.

What info can a 1998 Buick Riviera VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class indicating that it is a Coupe with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s size and type.
Engine Type: Crucial engine specifications such as a 3.8L V-Shaped engine configuration with 6 cylinders and details about the engine’s manufacturer, FLT, can be decoded from the VIN.
Fuel Efficiency: The fuel delivery system is identified as Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), indicating the vehicle’s fuel efficiency mechanism.
Safety Features: Safety specifications such as the existence of front airbags in the 1st row (Driver and Passenger) and the type of seat belt (Manual) are mentioned, pointing towards the vehicle’s safety standards.
Manufacturing Location: The VIN decodes to reveal the manufacturing location, with the plant city being Orion, Michigan, United States, shedding light on its origin and potentially the quality of manufacturing standards followed.
Vehicle Specifications: Basic model information including unique identifiers like the Vehicle Descriptor and Sample_VIN, enables a deeper understanding of the vehicle specifics, useful for verification or registration purposes.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Buick Riviera

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Coupe
Displacement (CC)	3800.0
Displacement (CI)	231.89022755998
Displacement (L)	3.8
Doors	2
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	FLT
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Model	Riviera
Model Year	1998
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Pont, Olds, Buick
Plant City	Orion
Plant Company Name	NA-GM Corp
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Michigan
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Vehicle Descriptor	1G4GD221*W4
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1G4GD2210W4704958