A Buick Park Avenue VIN opens with 1G4 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 4 codes, most often 4 (80%); a 2005 Park Avenue carries 5 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 15 recall campaigns and 856 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick Park Avenue VIN
Here is a real 2005 Buick Park Avenue VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G4CW54K854108673 — 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 Park Avenue VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 10 Buick Park Avenue 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 | — | 10 |
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 Park Avenue
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Park Avenue has not yet outlived: its 15 years still map one-to-one. All 15 model years of the Buick Park Avenue, 1991 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 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Buick Park Avenue VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 10 VINs the Buick Park Avenue uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | C (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | W (80%) · U (20%) | 2 distinct |
| 8 — engine | K (80%) · 1 (20%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Buick Park Avenue VIN gets you
Behind a Buick Park Avenue VIN: 856 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 15 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 856 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 15 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick Park Avenue
A Buick Park Avenue 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 Park Avenue VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 15 recall campaigns and 856 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Park Avenue.
What year is my Park Avenue by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2005 Park Avenue carries 5, a 2004 Park Avenue carries 4, a 2003 Park Avenue carries 3.
Where was my Park Avenue built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 851 dated Buick Park Avenue VINs it reads 4 80%, H 16%, 1 3%, U 0%.
What does position 4 mean on a Buick Park Avenue VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 10 Buick Park Avenue VINs here, C is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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