On the Engine Some Subaru engines have a code printed directly on the engine. This code helps you identify the engine's specifications and factory code. The first 11 digits indicate the engine's specifications and the last four digits indicate the code specific to your engine. How to decipher the serial number (VDS) on a Subaru? The vehicle descriptor section (VDS) is a tool that indicates the generation and the version of the vehicle. The model code or vehicle descriptor section (VDS) of a Subaru is located within the 17 digit serial number (VIN) of your vehicle.
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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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.
| line | body | engine | model/trim | check digit | year | ||||||||||||
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 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | ||||||
| 7 | ||||||
| 8 | ||||||
| 9 | ||||||
| 0 |
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
Real examples
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
2009 VIN chart
2008 |
start of specific model
Subaru Engine Number Decoder
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