position 11, the plant, reads M. A 1987 Somerset carries H in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 1 recall campaign and 7 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Buick Somerset VIN
Every Buick Somerset VIN follows the same 17-character layout:
| 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. |
Model-year codes for the Buick Somerset
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Buick Somerset has not yet outlived: its 3 years still map one-to-one. All 3 model years of the Buick Somerset, 1985 to 1987, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | H | — |
| 1986 | G | — |
| 1985 | F | — |
What a decoded Buick Somerset VIN gets you
Behind a Buick Somerset VIN: 7 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 1 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 7 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 3 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Buick Somerset
Four places on a Buick Somerset carry it, and all four must read the same — a mismatch is where fraud shows itself first.
| 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 Somerset VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 1 recall campaign and 7 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Buick Somerset.
What year is my Somerset by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 1987 Somerset carries H, a 1986 Somerset carries G, a 1985 Somerset carries F.
Where was my Somerset built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 7 dated Buick Somerset VINs it reads M 100%.
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