Free 1989 Buick Riviera VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1989 Buick Riviera VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1989 Buick Riviera VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial sequence of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. For the 1989 Buick Riviera, the WMI is “1G4”, signifying a vehicle manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States. Specifically, this code indicates that the vehicle was produced in Warren, Michigan. The WMI is vital for recognizing the vehicle’s manufacturer, ensuring consistent vehicle identification worldwide. This particular code covers several model years, highlighting its use in identifying various vehicles, including the Buick Riviera produced in 1989.

List of WMI Codes for a 1989 Buick Riviera

WMI: 1G4

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, 1995-1999
• Example VIN: 1G4EZ11C0KU403591
• 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 1989 Buick Riviera 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 1989 Buick Riviera:

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 1989 Buick Riviera 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 1989 Buick Riviera VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1989 Buick Riviera VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1989 Buick Riviera Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1989 Buick Riviera

The final 6 characters in a 1989 Buick Riviera’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1989 Buick Riviera VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1989, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: The VIN may indicate that the Riviera is a Passenger Car with a body style of Coupe, possibly offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Type: The VIN typically includes details about the engine, including its configuration (V-Shaped), displacement (3.8L or 3800CC), number of cylinders (6), and fuel delivery system (Multipoint Fuel Injection).
• Fuel Efficiency: The primary fuel type the vehicle operates on, such as Gasoline, can be discerned from the VIN, providing potential insight into its fuel efficiency.
• Manufacturing Location: The VIN can potentially trace where the vehicle was assembled, including the city (Hamtramck), state (Michigan), and country (United States), based on manufacturing information.
• Safety Features: Details about the type of seat belt installed (Manual) can be an indicator of the safety features present in the vehicle, as per its production year.
• Engine Manufacturer: The manufacturer of the engine (BOCF) is often specified, offering insights into the vehicle’s engine origins and specifications.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1989 Buick Riviera