- Characters 1-3 of a Buick Encore VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Buick Encore
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Buick Encore VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Buick Encore VIN.
- 10th Character in the Buick Encore VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Buick Encore VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Buick Encore Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Buick Encore
- How to find a Buick Encore's VIN?
- What info can a Buick Encore VIN reveal?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Buick Encore
How to decode a Buick Encore VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Buick Encore VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI, is an integral part of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and comprises the first three characters of the VIN. These characters specifically identify the manufacturer of the vehicle and sometimes its country and vehicle type. For the Buick Encore, the WMI is KL4 which indicates that the vehicle was produced by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically designed as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV). Another WMI used for the Buick Encore is LRB, which also signifies that the vehicle is a product of General Motors, with the same designation regarding its type and purpose. The WMI is a globally recognized standard that ensures each vehicle has a unique identifier and can be reliably traced back to its manufacturer.
List of WMI Codes for a Buick Encore
WMI: KL4
- Model Years Covered: 2013-2022
- Example VIN: KL4CJCSB0DB019579
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
WMI: LRB
- Model Years Covered: 2019
- Example VIN: LRBCJASB1KY003717
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Buick Encore VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a Buick Encore:
| Known VDS for a Buick Encore | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJCSB | CJDSB | CJFSB | CJGSB | CJBSB | CJASB | CJHSB | CJESB | CJ2SM | CJFSM |
| CJHSM | CJ1SM | CJDSM | CJGSM | CJ1SB | CJBSM | CJ3SB | CJ2SB | CJCSM | CJESM |
| CJASM | |||||||||
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Buick Encore VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the Buick Encore VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| N | 2022 Buick Encore |
| M | 2021 Buick Encore |
| L | 2020 Buick Encore |
| K | 2019 Buick Encore |
| J | 2018 Buick Encore |
| H | 2017 Buick Encore |
| G | 2016 Buick Encore |
| F | 2015 Buick Encore |
| E | 2014 Buick Encore |
| D | 2013 Buick Encore |
11th Character in the Buick Encore VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Buick Encore Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Bupyeong | South Korea | Gm Korea | KL4CJCSB0DB019579 | |
| Y | Yantai | Shandong | China | Dong Yue South | LRBCJASB1KY003717 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Buick Encore
The final 6 characters in a Buick Encore’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Buick Encore’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Buick Encore is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side of your Buick Encore, where the VIN can commonly be found on a small metal plate visible through the glass.
- Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb area on your Buick Encore, as there is often a sticker or plate with the VIN where the door latches.
- Check the Buick Encore’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers, where the VIN is typically listed.
- Inspect the engine block of your Buick Encore, as the VIN is often stamped onto the engine itself.
- Review the Buick Encore’s owner’s manual or service book, as the VIN is sometimes recorded in these documents.
- Examine the rear wheel well above the tire on the driver’s side, because sometimes the VIN is placed in this less common location on your Buick Encore.
- Look beneath the spare tire in the trunk or cargo area of your Buick Encore, as manufacturers sometimes place the VIN in this area.
What info can a Buick Encore VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2022, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
- Body Class: The VIN can provide information about the body class of the Buick Encore, indicating that it is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Number of Seats: The VIN can indicate the number of seats in the Buick Encore, which is 5, offering insights into the passenger capacity of the vehicle.
- Transmission Style: The VIN can reveal the transmission style, indicating whether it is automatic or manual, providing insights into the driving experience of the vehicle.
Don’t have your Buick Encore’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Buick Encore
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Safety System Note | Forward Collision Alert: Standard; Front and Rear Collision Alert: Standard |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 30600 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Standard |
| Body Class | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | All Rows |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 1400.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 85.43324173262 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.4 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | GMNA |
| Engine Model | LE2 - Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing, ALUM, GEN 1 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Standard |
| Model | Encore |
| Model Year | 2018 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 5 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Plant City | Bupyeong |
| Plant Company Name | GM Korea |
| Plant Country | South Korea |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching | Standard |
| Series | Premium |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Top Speed (MPH) | 120 |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 6 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Turbo | Yes |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | KL4CJHSM*JB |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 100.6 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 18 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 18 |
| Sample_VIN | KL4CJHSM0JB549271 |
Decode a Buick VIN
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