A Buick LeSabre VIN opens with 1G4 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often H (52%); a 2005 LeSabre carries 5 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 28 recall campaigns and 2,951 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick LeSabre VIN
Here is a real 2005 Buick LeSabre VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G4HR54K55U127033 — 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 LeSabre VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 21 Buick LeSabre 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G4 | United States | — | 21 |
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 LeSabre
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick LeSabre has not yet outlived: its 25 years still map one-to-one. All 25 model years of the Buick LeSabre, 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 LeSabre VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 21 VINs the Buick LeSabre uses 6 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | H (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | P (62%) · R (38%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | K (86%) · L (10%) · 1 (5%) | 3 distinct |
What a decoded Buick LeSabre VIN gets you
Behind a Buick LeSabre VIN: 2,951 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 28 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 2,951 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 25 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick LeSabre
A Buick LeSabre VIN normally opens with 1G4; 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 LeSabre VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 28 recall campaigns and 2,951 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick LeSabre.
What year is my LeSabre by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2005 LeSabre carries 5, a 2004 LeSabre carries 4, a 2003 LeSabre carries 3.
Where was my LeSabre built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 2,902 dated Buick LeSabre VINs it reads H 52%, U 27%, 4 20%, 8 0% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Buick LeSabre VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 21 Buick LeSabre VINs here, H is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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