Free 2012 Buick LaCrosse VIN Decoder

How to decode a 2012 Buick LaCrosse VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Buick LaCrosse VIN

World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer for identification purposes. The 2012 Buick LaCrosse, as produced by General Motors LLC, is assigned the WMI “1G4”, indicating it’s manufactured in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This coding applies to models produced between 2010 and 2019, signifying the LaCrosse falls within this range. The WMI is part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which holds key information about the car, including its make, model, and place of assembly. By examining the WMI, one can deduce essential details about the vehicle’s origin and its manufacturing company.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Buick LaCrosse

WMI: 1G4

• Model Years Covered: 2010-2019
• Example VIN: 1G4GE5E30CF141857
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2012 Buick LaCrosse 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 2012 Buick LaCrosse:

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 2012 Buick LaCrosse 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 2012 Buick LaCrosse VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 2012 Buick LaCrosse VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2012 Buick LaCrosse Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Buick LaCrosse

The final 6 characters in a 2012 Buick LaCrosse’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 2012 Buick LaCrosse VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2012, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, potentially indicating if it’s a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors for easy access, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Type and Specifications: Detailed engine information, including the engine model, displacement (e.g. 3.6L), and number of cylinders (e.g. 6 cylinders), can be derived from the VIN, contributing to a better understanding of the vehicle’s performance and power.
• Fuel Type and Efficiency: The VIN may offer insights into primary and secondary fuel types used, such as Gasoline and Ethanol (E85), and specific fuel delivery systems like Stoichiometric Gasoline Direct Injection (SGDI), potentially influencing the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Safety Features: Information about the presence and location of airbags, such as curtain airbags in all rows and front airbags in the 1st row for driver and passenger safety, may be included in the VIN, contributing to an understanding of the vehicle’s safety features.
• Drive Type: The VIN can provide information on the drivetrain configuration, such as Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), potentially highlighting the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
• Manufacturing Details: The VIN often encloses information about the manufacturing location, down to the city and plant name, for example, the Fairfax Assembly in Kansas City, United States, providing insights into the vehicle’s production origin.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Buick LaCrosse

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