A Buick Lucerne VIN opens with 1G4 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often U (98%); a 2011 Lucerne carries B in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 6 recall campaigns and 824 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick Lucerne VIN
Here is a real 2011 Buick Lucerne VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G4HC5EM8BU115777 — 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 Lucerne VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 32 Buick Lucerne 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 | — | 32 |
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 Lucerne
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Lucerne has not yet outlived: its 6 years still map one-to-one. All 6 model years of the Buick Lucerne, 2006 to 2011, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Buick Lucerne VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 32 VINs the Buick Lucerne uses 12 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | H (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | D (59%) · C (16%) · A (6%) · P (3%) · R (3%) · E (3%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 2 (56%) · M (31%) · Y (6%) · 1 (3%) · 9 (3%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Buick Lucerne VIN gets you
Behind a Buick Lucerne VIN: 824 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 6 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 824 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 19 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 1 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 6 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick Lucerne
A Buick Lucerne 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 Lucerne VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 6 recall campaigns and 824 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Lucerne.
What year is my Lucerne by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2011 Lucerne carries B, a 2010 Lucerne carries A, a 2009 Lucerne carries 9.
Where was my Lucerne built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 821 dated Buick Lucerne VINs it reads U 98%, 1 1%, 0 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Buick Lucerne VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 32 Buick Lucerne VINs here, H is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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