A Buick Skylark VIN opens with 1G4 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 6 codes, most often C (81%); a 1998 Skylark carries W in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 33 recall campaigns and 393 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick Skylark VIN
Here is a real 1997 Buick Skylark VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G4NJ52T0VC455312 — 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 Skylark VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 1 Buick Skylark 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 | — | 1 |
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 Skylark
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Skylark has not yet outlived: its 18 years still map one-to-one. All 18 model years of the Buick Skylark, 1981 to 1998, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Skylark VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 1 VINs the Buick Skylark uses 3 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | N (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | J (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 8 — engine | T (100%) | 1 distinct |
What a decoded Buick Skylark VIN gets you
Behind a Buick Skylark VIN: 393 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 33 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 393 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 18 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick Skylark
A Buick Skylark 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 Skylark VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 33 recall campaigns and 393 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Skylark.
What year is my Skylark by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1998 Skylark carries W, a 1997 Skylark carries V, a 1996 Skylark carries T.
Where was my Skylark built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 385 dated Buick Skylark VINs it reads C 81%, M 13%, W 3%, 2 1% and 2 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Buick Skylark VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 1 Buick Skylark VINs here, N is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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