A Buick Century VIN opens with 2G4 (Canada). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often 1 (71%); a 2005 Century carries 5 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 37 recall campaigns and 1,348 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick Century VIN
Here is a real 2005 Buick Century VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 2G4WS52J951101004 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Where Buick Century VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 11 Buick Century VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:
| WMI | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on file | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G4 | Canada | — | 9 | |
| 1G4 | United States | — | 2 |
Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.
Model-year codes for the Buick Century
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Century has not yet outlived: its 25 years still map one-to-one. All 25 model years of the Buick Century, 1981 to 2005, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
| 1987 | H | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
| 1984 | E | — |
| 1983 | D | — |
| 1982 | C | — |
| 1981 | B | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Buick Century VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 11 VINs the Buick Century uses 9 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | W (82%) · A (18%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | S (82%) · H (18%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | J (55%) · M (18%) · E (9%) · R (9%) · 1 (9%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Buick Century VIN gets you
Behind a Buick Century VIN: 1,348 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 37 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,348 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 25 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick Century
A Buick Century VIN normally opens with 2G4; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Buick Century VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 37 recall campaigns and 1,348 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Century.
What year is my Century by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2005 Century carries 5, a 2004 Century carries 4, a 2003 Century carries 3.
Where was my Century built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,323 dated Buick Century VINs it reads 1 71%, 6 19%, S 3%, T 2% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Buick Century VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 11 Buick Century VINs here, W is the most common character in position 4, on 82% of them.
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