United States · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Buick VIN decoder
Buick is a General Motors brand, and every new Buick sold in the United States today is an SUV or crossover: the Enclave, Encore GX, Envision and Envista. The lineup is small, but GM builds it in three countries, so the first character of a recent Buick VIN varies more than you might expect.
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 20 model pages
- 170 recall campaigns
- 17,475 owner complaints
- model years 1995–2026
- 9 WMI codes in vPIC
- origin: United States
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Region | North America |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 1995–2026 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | 9 |
| Model pages | 20 |
| Other model names in NHTSA data | 3 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 170 |
| Owner complaints | 17,475 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 854 (4.9%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 756 (4.3%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 672 (3.8%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 13 (0.1%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
GM's VIN standard for model year 2026, filed with NHTSA, places the Enclave at Lansing Delta Township in Michigan, the Encore GX and Envista at GM Korea's Bupyeong plant in South Korea, and the Envision at SAIC-GM's Dong Yue plant in China. Earlier Buick sedans such as the LaCrosse and Lucerne were North American builds: GM's 2010 standard lists them under the passenger-car WMIs 1G4 and 2G4.
Every Buick from model year 1981 onward carries the standardized 17-character VIN that NHTSA has required since that model year. Decoding it confirms the model year, plant, body, engine and restraint codes GM assigned. For Buicks built for the US and Canadian markets, NHTSA's vPIC database usually returns the most complete result. Buick shares GM's VIN rules with Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac.
NHTSA’s files hold 170 vehicle recall campaigns and 17,475 owner complaints for Buick vehicles from model years 1995 to 2026, summarised here on 20 model pages. The LeSabre has the most complaints (2,992), followed by the Enclave (2,495) and the Regal (2,357). Of those complaints, 854 report a crash, 756 a fire, 672 at least one injury and 13 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 9 WMIs to Buick; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G4 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Passenger Car | – |
| 2G4 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Canada | Passenger Car | – |
| 3G4 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Passenger Car | – |
| 3G5 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 4GL | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 5GA | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| KL4 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Not stated | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| LRB | SHANGHAI GENERAL MOTORS CORP LTD. | China | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Cadillac |
| W04 | ADAM OPEL AG | United Kingdom | Passenger Car | – |
Some codes are shared across a manufacturer’s brands; the last column names the other brands in our catalog that vPIC links to the same code. See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 1995–2026.
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeSabre | 1995–2006 | 12 | 2,992 |
| Enclave | 2008–2026 | 29 | 2,495 |
| Regal | 1995–2020 | 43 | 2,357 |
| LaCrosse | 2005–2019 | 24 | 2,120 |
| Century | 1995–2005 | 11 | 1,415 |
| Rendezvous | 2001–2007 | 9 | 1,241 |
| Park Avenue | 1995–2005 | 13 | 1,004 |
| Lucerne | 2006–2011 | 6 | 943 |
| Encore | 2013–2022 | 13 | 600 |
| Verano | 2012–2017 | 11 | 440 |
| Rainier | 2003–2007 | 10 | 391 |
| Skylark | 1995–2000 | 8 | 274 |
| Riviera | 1995–1999 | 3 | 252 |
| Envision | 2016–2026 | 9 | 241 |
| Encore GX | 2020–2026 | 4 | 231 |
| Terraza | 2005–2008 | 3 | 207 |
| Roadmaster | 1995–1999 | 5 | 103 |
| Envista | 2024–2026 | 2 | 89 |
| Cascada | 2016–2019 | 1 | 53 |
| Terraza CXL | 2007 | 1 | – |
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Other Buick models in NHTSA data
NHTSA also lists these Buick model names, but with no recall campaign and fewer than 25 complaints each, so they have no page of their own: Allure, Regal TourX, Truck.
Which WMI codes start a Buick VIN?
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. On a Buick, the first character shows the country of assembly, the second identifies GM (G) or GM Korea (L), and the third marks the brand and vehicle type. These codes are verified against NHTSA's vPIC database:
| WMI | Manufacturer (NHTSA vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1G4 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Passenger car |
| 2G4 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Canada | Passenger car |
| 5GA | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | MPV (SUV) |
| KL4 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | South Korea | MPV (SUV) |
| LRB | SHANGHAI GENERAL MOTORS CORP LTD. | China | MPV (SUV) |
What do characters 4 to 8 mean on a Buick VIN?
GM files a VIN standard with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 565 for each model year. In the 2026 edition, every current Buick uses GM's layout for MPVs and light trucks:
- Position 4: gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), brake system and body style
- Position 5: chassis, which reflects two- or four-wheel drive where a model offers both
- Position 6: series, meaning the trim level
- Position 7: restraint system (always a letter)
- Position 8: engine
Older Buick passenger cars follow GM's car layout instead, where position 4 is the vehicle line, 5 the series and 6 the body style. Position 9 is the check digit and position 10 the model year code.
Which plant codes appear in position 11?
Position 11 identifies the assembly plant. GM defines these letters per country of build, so always read position 11 together with position 1. For the 2026 Buick lineup, GM's standard lists:
| Model | WMI | Position 11 | Assembly plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enclave | 5GA | J | Lansing Delta Township, Michigan, USA |
| Encore GX | KL4 | B | Bupyeong, South Korea (GM Korea) |
| Envista | KL4 | B | Bupyeong, South Korea (GM Korea) |
| Envision | LRB | D | Dong Yue, China (SAIC-GM) |
Why does my Buick Envision VIN start with L?
Because it was built in China. The Envision is assembled by SAIC-GM, GM's joint venture, and GM's VIN standard gives it the WMI LRB, where L is the region code for China. NHTSA's vPIC database lists LRB under Shanghai General Motors Corp. Ltd.
How can I tell where my Buick was built from the VIN?
Check the first character and position 11. A current Buick VIN beginning with 5 was built in the United States, K in South Korea and L in China. Position 11 then names the plant, for example J for Lansing Delta Township or B for Bupyeong in GM's 2026 codes.
Can I look up Buick recalls with the VIN?
Our decoder shows recalls NHTSA has issued for your Buick's make, model and model year, based on NHTSA's public data for US-market vehicles. To confirm whether one specific VIN still has an open recall, use NHTSA's VIN search or ask a Buick dealer. You can also browse recalls by model.
Does a Buick VIN decode include accident or ownership history?
No. A VIN decode reads what GM encoded at the factory: plant, model year, body, engine and restraints. Title, accident and ownership records come from state agencies and licensed history providers, and this site does not connect to them.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other North American brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Chevrolet (172) United States · 751 recall campaigns
- GMC (102) United States · 434 recall campaigns
- Cadillac (33) United States · 197 recall campaigns
- Chrysler (37) United States · 208 recall campaigns
- Dodge (58) United States · 436 recall campaigns
- Ford (161) United States · 1,229 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.