Subaru VIN decoder
Subaru VIN decoder
Subaru builds the Outback, Ascent and Crosstrek for the US in Lafayette, Indiana (VINs starting 4S3 or 4S4). Other models, including the WRX and BRZ, come from Japan (JF1 and JF2).
Subaru WMI codes
The first three VIN characters. Verified against the NHTSA vPIC database.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4S3 | Subaru of America, Inc | Cars | United States |
| 4S4 | Subaru of America, Inc | SUVs, vans & crossovers | United States |
| JF1 | Subaru Corporation | Cars | Japan |
| JF2 | Subaru Corporation | SUVs, vans & crossovers | Japan |
What to know about Subaru VINs
- VINs starting 4S were assembled in Indiana; JF VINs were built in Japan.
- Subarus are popular in snow states. Check the report for the states the car was registered in and look underneath for rust.
- Turbocharged WRX models are often modified; accident and theft records are worth checking.
Subaru models you can decode
- Outback
- Forester
- Crosstrek
- Ascent
- Impreza
- Legacy
- WRX
- BRZ
- Solterra
Any 17-character Subaru VIN from the 1981 model year onwards can be decoded. Check open recalls for free on NHTSA.
How a Subaru VIN is built
All 17-character VINs for vehicles sold in the US follow the same structure.
Example: 5NPD74LF5LH611542
| Position | What it means | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country / region | Where the manufacturer is registered: 1, 4, 5 and 7 = United States, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = South Korea, W = Germany. |
| 2–3 | Manufacturer | Positions 1–3 together form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned to one maker and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Manufacturer-coded details such as model line, body style, restraint system, engine and gross weight rating. |
| 9 | Check digit | A 0–9 or X calculated from the other 16 characters. It catches typos and many fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the model year. The codes repeat every 30 years (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory that built the vehicle. Plant codes are defined by each manufacturer. |
| 12–17 | Serial number | The production sequence number that makes the VIN unique. |
VIN model year chart (10th character)
Codes repeat every 30 years. On cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the later year.
A
1980 · 2010
B
1981 · 2011
C
1982 · 2012
D
1983 · 2013
E
1984 · 2014
F
1985 · 2015
G
1986 · 2016
H
1987 · 2017
J
1988 · 2018
K
1989 · 2019
L
1990 · 2020
M
1991 · 2021
N
1992 · 2022
P
1993 · 2023
R
1994 · 2024
S
1995 · 2025
T
1996 · 2026
V
1997 · 2027
W
1998 · 2028
X
1999 · 2029
Y
2000 · 2030
1
2001 · 2031
2
2002 · 2032
3
2003 · 2033
4
2004 · 2034
5
2005 · 2035
6
2006 · 2036
7
2007 · 2037
8
2008 · 2038
9
2009 · 2039
The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the number 0 are never used as year codes.
Where to find the VIN on a Subaru
- Lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, readable from outside the car
- Sticker or plate on the driver’s door jamb (open the door)
- Title, registration card and insurance card
- Engine bay, often on the firewall or the front of the frame on trucks
- Seller’s listing or the dealer’s window sticker
The VIN on the car, the title and the listing must all match. If they do not, do not buy.
VinCode report · $5.99
Before you buy a used Subaru, check its history
Title brands, accidents, total-loss events, odometer readings, owners and service records for the VIN, scored with the VinCode Score.
- Title brand check
- Accidents & damage
- Odometer chart
- Owners & usage
- Service records
- VinCode Score
How can I tell where my Subaru was built?
Look at the first character: 4 means the United States (Lafayette, Indiana) and J means Japan.
Does the VIN show if a Subaru has all-wheel drive?
Almost every Subaru sold in the US has all-wheel drive except the BRZ. The decoder shows the drive type recorded for the VIN.
Is the Subaru VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a Subaru VIN is free. A full VinCode report with title brands, accidents, odometer readings and owners costs $5.99.
Does a Subaru VIN show accident history?
No. The VIN only encodes how the vehicle was built. Accident, damage and title history come from records reported for the VIN, which is what the VinCode report shows.