A Buick Reatta VIN opens with 1G4 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, reads B; a 1991 Reatta carries M in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 6 recall campaigns and 41 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick Reatta VIN
Here is a real 1991 Buick Reatta VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G4EC13L8MB900949 — 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 Reatta VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 5 Buick Reatta 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 | — | 5 |
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 Reatta
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Reatta has not yet outlived: its 4 years still map one-to-one. All 4 model years of the Buick Reatta, 1988 to 1991, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
| 1989 | K | — |
| 1988 | J | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Buick Reatta VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 5 VINs the Buick Reatta uses 4 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | E (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | C (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | C (80%) · L (20%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Buick Reatta VIN gets you
Behind a Buick Reatta VIN: 41 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 6 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 41 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 4 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick Reatta
A Buick Reatta 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 Reatta VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 6 recall campaigns and 41 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Reatta.
What year is my Reatta by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1991 Reatta carries M, a 1990 Reatta carries L, a 1989 Reatta carries K.
Where was my Reatta built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 41 dated Buick Reatta VINs it reads B 100%.
What does position 4 mean on a Buick Reatta VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 5 Buick Reatta VINs here, E is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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