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.

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.
 

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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2008 2008

start of specific model

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2009 Tribeca

-

*****
2008 Tribeca

******

********
2007 Tribeca

2006 B9 TRIBECA

c SoA

2006 Legacy and Outback VIN

C SoA

2005 Outback, Legacy

*****
2004 LEGACY, OUTBACK VIN

C SoA
*********

1999 Outback, Legacy

2009 Forester

-

*****

****

2008 Forester (see schematic above)

2007 Forester

c SoA

2004 Forester

*****
2000 Forester

2008 Impreza STI

2008 Subaru Impreza STI VIN codes

******
2007 Impreza

**********

2006 Impreza WRX, STI VIN codes

cSoA
2004 Impreza WRX, STI VIN code

c SoA
2002 Impreza

******
2001 Impreza VIN

c SoA

1999 Impreza

1997 Impreza VIN codes

c SoA

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2006 BAJA

2004 Baja

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1997 SVX