A Buick Rainier VIN opens with 5GA (the United States). Position 11, the plant, reads 2; a 2007 Rainier carries 7 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 10 recall campaigns and 323 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick Rainier VIN
Here is a real 2007 Buick Rainier VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 5GAET13M372233291 — 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 Rainier VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 2 Buick Rainier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5GA | 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 Rainier
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Rainier has not yet outlived: its 4 years still map one-to-one. All 4 model years of the Buick Rainier, 2004 to 2007, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Buick Rainier VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 2 VINs the Buick Rainier uses 3 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | E (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | T (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | M (100%) | 1 distinct |
What a decoded Buick Rainier VIN gets you
Behind a Buick Rainier VIN: 323 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 10 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 323 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 16 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 4 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick Rainier
A Buick Rainier VIN normally opens with 5GA; 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 Rainier VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 10 recall campaigns and 323 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Rainier.
What year is my Rainier by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2007 Rainier carries 7, a 2006 Rainier carries 6, a 2005 Rainier carries 5.
Where was my Rainier built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 323 dated Buick Rainier VINs it reads 2 99%.
What does position 4 mean on a Buick Rainier VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 2 Buick Rainier VINs here, E is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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