SUBARU SERIAL NUMBER VIN DE-CODER, READ YOUR VEHICLE'S VIN
Examples
on this page, through 2009 model year: Legacy, Outback - Forester  -  Impreza, WRX, STI  -  Tribeca   -  Baja  - SVX  
other pages: 2010 VINS

Note - this unofficial independent Subaru research site is designed to help you learn about Subarus. It is not sponsored, authorized,  supported or approved by Subaru or any dealer and is not connected to or affiliated with, any dealer. Always contact your local dealer. Inspect any vehicle prior to purchasing. Information subject to change, correction, updating.

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text, formatting c j spitz, unauthorized reproduction prohibited. thanks for visiting. you are here http://www.cars101.com/subaru/vin.html v 2.23.10

The current VIN is 17 characters long.
This system started in 1981. Prior to that, VINs varied in length from 11 to 17 characters.

Where is it located: Left front corner of dashboard, driver's door jam, various body panels and engine components, your registration and title

A code's specific meaning may be different on a yearly basis but the position remains the same.
 

 VIN real examples are below
4
S
3
B
E
6
3
5
X
3
6
2
0
0
0
0
1
position #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12-17
means
manufacturer's code
line body engine model/trim
restraint systems
check digit year
factory and
transmission
sequential production number

Positions 1-2-3 are the Manufacturer ID code.
1: country code. J is Japan (1 or 4 is USA, 2 is Canada, 3 Mexico, K Korea, S England, W Germany, Z Italy etc)
2. manufacturer. F is Fuji Heavy Industries (A is Audi, B BMW, C Chrysler, F Ord, G GM, H Honda, S Subaru, V VW etc)
3. Vehicle type or manufacturing division

JF1 is FHI Fuji Heavy Industry passenger vehicle, made in Japan
4S3 is a SIA Subaru-Isuzu factory passenger vehicle
4S4 is a SIA Subaru-Isuzu factory MPV multi purpose vehicle such as the 2005 Outback, but not the 04 which was a 4S3 because it was still considered a car.

Position 4 is Line type, ie. what product line.  B is Legacy, G is Impreza, S is Forester,

Position 5- tells what kind of body, ie Impreza sedan, Legacy wagon, Baja, Impreza or Forester wagon, Legacy wagon etc.
D- Impreza sedan; L- Legacy sedan; G Impreza Sport wgn and Forester; P- Legacy wagon; T- Baja
This code can change yearly.

Position 6 - Engine types, varies by year. This can change yearly
2 is 2.0L turbo 4cyl; 6 is either 2.2L or 2.5L 4 cyl; 7 is a 2.5L turbo STi motor; 8 is a 3.0L 6 cyl.

Position 7 - model type and trim. First, you have to know the model, then you can decipher the correct trim.

2003: 1: Baja, 2: Brighton, 3: Legacy L, Forester X, 4: Legacy GT, 5: Legacy GT w/ leather, Impreza TS, Forester XS, 6: Legacy Outback, 7: Legacy Outback w/ All Weather pkg, Impreza RS sedan, 8: Legacy Outback Limited wagon and sedan, Impreza Outback Sport, 9: Legacy Outback wagon H6, Impreza WRX, 0: Legacy Outback LL Bean wagon

2005
number Legacy sedan Legacy wagon Outback Forester Impreza Baja
1
2.5i
2.5i
2.5i
     
2
2.5i Limited
2.5i Limited
2.5i Limited
   
Sport
3      
X
 
Turbo
4    
3.0R sedan
     
5    
3.0R VDC
XS
   
6    
3.0R LL Bean
 
RS sedan w/ sport pkg
 
7
GT Limited
GT Limited
XT Limited
XS w/ moonroof, LL Bean
RS sedan, wagon
 
8
GT
GT
XT
 
Outback Sport
 
9      
XT
WRX sedan, wagon
 
0        
WRX STi

Position 8 is the Restraint.  5- manual seat belts with dual front airbags, 6- manual seat belts with dual front and dual side airbags.
C: Class C (4001-5000lbs) MPV

Position 9: check digit. A mathamatical formula that takes all the other characters in the VIN and comes up with a value of 0-9 or X, thus ensuring accuracy. I have no idea how this works. It's a mystery.

Position 10: Model year: J is 1988, K is 1989, L 1990, M 1991, N 1992, P 1993, R 1994, S 1995, T 1996, V 1997, W 1998, X 1999, Y 2000, 1 2001, 2 2002, 3 2003,
4 2004, 5 2005, 6 2006, 7 2007, 8 2008...

Position 11- Manufacturing plant and Transmission: can vary by year
SIA (US Built)- 4: SIA, 5spd SportShift automatic, 5: SIA, 4spd SportShift automatic, 6: 5spd manual awd, 7: automatic awd, '-' can be 6spd manual, postal car depending on the year
FHI (Japan built)- G: manual awd, H: automatic awd, L 6spd manual

Position 12-17- sequential production numbers. Changes yearly, based on the line
100001 Baja; 200001 Legacy  and Outback sedan; 300001 Legacy and Outback wagon; 500001 Impreza sedan; 600001 Legacy and Outback wagon;
700001 Forester; 800001 Impreza Sport wagon

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Real examples
Example from 2005. This is an Outback XT Limited wagon
4S4 B P 6 7 C 4 5 4 32662- (last digit left blank because this is a real car). 
position  1-2-3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-17
this VIN 4S4 B P 6 7 C ?
5 4 50431-
what it means made in USA at SIA, is a truck Legacy line Legacy wagon either 2.2 or 2,.5L. since it's  2005 it's 2.5 since it's a 4S4 truck, this must be an Outback XT Limited manual seat belts and front and side airbags check digit, a mathematical mystery 5= 2005 in 2005, 4 meant 5spd automatic  sequential production number
.
Example from 2005. This is an Impreza STi sedan
JF1 G D 7 0 6 9 5 L 51722-- (last digit left blank because this is a real car). 
position  1-2-3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-17
this VIN JF1 G D 7 0 6 ?
5 L 50431-
what it means made by Fuji in Japan Impreza line Impreza sedan 2.5L turbo, STi only since it's an  Impreza 0 = STi manual seat belts and front and side airbags check digit, a mathematical mystery 5= 2005 in 05 L was AWD 6spd manual sequential production number
.
Example from 2003. This is an Impreza WRX sedan
JF1 G D 2 9 6 3 3 G 50431- (last digit left blank because this is a real car).
position  1-2-3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-17
this VIN JF1 G D 2 9 6 ?
3 G 50431-
what it means made by Fuji in Japan Impreza line Impreza sedan 2.0L turbo WRX or H6 Legacy wagon
(this is a WRX)
manual seat belts and front and side airbags check digit, a mathematical mystery it's a 2003 in 1995 G was manaul AWD if made in Japan sequential production number
.
Example from 1995. This is an automatic 2wd Legacy L wagon
4S3 B K 6 3 5 X S 9 32008- (last digit left blank because this is a real car). 
position  1-2-3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-17
this VIN 4S3 B K 6 3 5 ?
S 9 932008-
what it means made in SIA Legacy line wagon 2.2L must have been 2wd L wgn manual seat belts and dual airbags check digit, a mathematical mystery 1995 in 1995 9 must have been SIA automatic 2wd sequential production number
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2009 VIN chart


2008

2008

start of specific model



2009 Tribeca

-

*****
2008 Tribeca

******
2008 Tribeca VIN
********
2007 Tribeca
2007 Tribeca VIN codes

2006 B9 TRIBECA
2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN code
c SoA

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2009 Legacy and Outback

2008 Legacy and Outback VIN
2008 Legacy, Outback
****

*******
2007 Legacy and Outback VIN
2007 Legacy and Outback VIN
07 Legacy, Outback
2007 Subaru Legacy and Outback VIN de-code
c SoA

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2006 Legacy and Outback VIN
2006 Subaru Legacy and Outback VIN codes
C SoA
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2005 Outback, Legacy
2005 Outback, Legacy VIN
*****
2004 LEGACY, OUTBACK VIN

2004 SUBARU LEGACY, OUTBACK VIN CODES
C SoA
*********

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1999 Outback, Legacy
1999 Outback, Legacy


2009 Forester

-
2009 Forester VIN code
*****

****
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2008 Forester (see schematic above)

2007 Forester
2007 Subaru Forester VIN decode
c SoA

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2004 Forester
2004 Forester
*****
2000 Forester
2000 Forester VIN codes


2009 Impreza


-
2008 Impreza

2008 Subaru Impreza VIN codes
****

****

****

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2008 Impreza STI
2008 Subaru Impreza STI VIN codes
2008 Subaru Impreza STI VIN codes
WRX STI VIN CODES
******
2007 Impreza
2007 Impreza VIN
**********
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2006 Impreza WRX, STI VIN codes
2006 Impreza WRX, STI Vin codes
cSoA
2004 Impreza WRX, STI VIN code
2004 SUBARU WRX, STI VIN CODE
c SoA
2002 Impreza
2002 Impreza VIN codes
******
2001 Impreza VIN
2001 Subaru Impreza VIN codes
c SoA
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1999 Impreza
1999 Impreza VIN codes

1997 Impreza VIN codes
1997 Subaru Impreza VIN code
c SoA

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2006 BAJA
2006 SUBARU BAJA VIN
2004 Baja
2004 Baja


1997 SVX
1997 SUBARU SVX VIN CODE

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