Subaru uses a 17-character VIN format and code for vehicles sold in the United States. These rules also largely apply to the Saab 9-2x, a badge-engineered Subaru Impreza WRX wagon.
1st 3 Characters
WMI Country Description Vehicle Types
JF1 Japan Fuji Heavy Industries Passenger Vehicle
JF2 Japan Fuji Heavy Industries MPV
4S3 USA Subaru-Isuzu Automotive / Subaru of Indiana Automotive Passenger Vehicle
4S4 USA Subaru-Isuzu Automotive / Subaru of Indiana Automotive MPV
– MPV means Multi-Purpose Vehicle (station wagon, SUV, van or truck)
Fourth Character
Line type:
The line type is specified in the 4th character of the Subaru VIN
A DL/GL/GL-10/Leone/Loyale/Alcyone XT/XT6
B Legacy/Baja
C Alcyone SVX
G Impreza
K Justy
S Forester
V WRX/LEVORG
W Tribeca/B9 Tribeca/Ascent
Z BRZ/FRS/GT86
Fifth Character
The body style
*This section is incorrect for 4th Gen Outbacks
A XX-94 Justy 3-Door
B 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL sedan
C 1st gen. Sedan (Impreza/Legacy); 85-94 Leone/DL/GL/Loyale sedan
D XX-94 Justy 5-Door; 2nd gen. Sedan (Impreza/Legacy)
E 3rd gen. Sedan (Impreza/Legacy)
F 1st gen. Wagon (raised-roof Legacy/Impreza/Forester); 80-89 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL hatchback
G 2nd gen. Wagon (raised-roof Legacy/Outback/Impreza/Forester); 85-94 3rd gen. Leone/DL/GL/Loyale hatchback
H 3rd. gen Legacy/Outback Wagon/Impreza Hatch
J 1st gen. non-raised-roof Legacy Wagon
K 2nd gen. non-raised-roof Legacy Wagon
L 4th gen. Legacy Sedan
M 1st gen. Impreza Coupe; 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL wagon; 5th gen. Legacy Sedan, 1st gen Ascent
M Levorg Wagon
N 85-94 3rd. gen Leone/DL/GL/GL-10/Loyale wagon
P 4th gen. Legacy/Outback Wagon
R Impreza Hatch Widebody
T Baja; 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL Brat
U 85-87 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL Brat
V Impreza WRX Sedan Widebody
W 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL coupe
X XT/SVX Coupe; Tribeca
Sixth Character
Engine type
1 1300cc – 1989; 1800cc FWD 1996
2 1600cc – 1989; 1800cc Impreza 1993-95; 1800cc Impreza AWD 1996-97; 2000cc AWD Turbo 2002-05
3 1600 4WD – 1989; 3300cc FWD/AWD 1992-1995; 2200cc FWD 1996-99
4 1800cc 1985-94; 2200cc AWD 1996-2000; FB 1600cc DIT AWD 2015+
5 1800cc 4WD w/out air susp – 1988, 1989; 1800cc 4WD 1990-94 2000cc 2004-
6 2200cc 1990; 2200cc FWD/AWD 1991-95; 2200cc AWD (Ghost); 2500cc AWD 1996-2000; 2500cc AWD
7 1800cc 4WD w/ air susp; 1200cc FWD 1989-94; 2500cc AWD Turbo
8 2500cc FWD; 1200cc 4WD 1991; 1200cc AWD 1992-94; 3000cc 2001-2009; 3300cc FWD/AWD 1996-97
9 2500cc 4WD w/ & w/out air susp 1989-91; 3600cc 2008-up
A 2400cc AWD
B ?
Seventh Character
Model Type
1 Base
2 Brighton
3 L
4 2.5GT with cloth
5 LS/S
6 LSi, Outback base
7 GT/RS, Outback AWP
8 Outback Limited Wagon/SUS
9 Postal Vehicle/WRX/Outback VDC
0 Outback L.L. Bean
K STI WRX/Levorg
P Ascent
Eighth Character
Restraint Type for passenger vehicles, or the weight class (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), for MPVs
1 No Passive Restraint
2 Automatic Seat Belt w/o Air Bag
3 Automatic Seat Belt w/ Air Bag
4 Manual Seat Belt w/ Air Bag 1993-94; Automatic Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags
5 Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags
6 Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags and Side Air Bags
A Class A (GVWR 3000 lbs. or less)
B Class B (GVWR 3001-4000 lbs.)
C Class C (GVWR 4001-5000 lbs.)
D Class D (GVWR 5001-6000 lbs.)
Ninth Character
The Check Digit is identified in the 9th character of the Subaru VIN
Tenth Character
The Model Year Letters began being reused in 2010
1 2001
2 2002
3 2003
4 2004
5 2005
6 2006
7 2007
8 2008
9 2009
A 1980, 2010
B 1981, 2011
C 1982, 2012
D 1983, 2013
E 1984, 2014
F 1985, 2015
G 1986, 2016
H 1987, 2017
I not used
J 1988, 2018
K 1989, 2019
L 1990
M 1991
N 1992
P 1993
R 1994
S 1995
T 1996
V 1997
W 1998
X 1999
Y 2000
Eleventh Character
Plants and transmission type VIN Code Plant Transmission
1 SIA FWD 5MT
3 SIA Full-time AWD 6MT
4 SIA Full-time AWD 5AT
5 SIA Sport Shift Automatic
6 SIA Full-time AWD 5MT
7 SIA Full-time AWD 4EAT
8 SIA Full-time AWD 4EAT (Postal RHD)
9 SIA FWD 4EAT
A FHI FWD 4MT
B FHI FWD 5MT
C FHI FWD 3AT/ECVT
D FHI On-demand AWD 5MT
E FHI 4spd 4wd Dual Range MT 81-84, 85-89 Hatchback, 85-89 Brat. 5spd 4wd dual range MT 85-89
F FHI On-demand AWD 3AT
G FHI Full-time AWD 5MT. Full-time AWD CVT.
H FHI Full-time AWD 4EAT
K FHI FWD 4EAT
L FHI Full-time AWD 6MT
P FHI Full-time AWD 4EAT (Postal RHD)
SIA = Subaru-Isuzu of America (now known as Subaru of Indiana Automotive), Lafayette, Indiana
FHI = Fuji Heavy Industries, Gunma, Japan
Seventeenth Characters
The Vehicle Production Sequence number
100000 and after – Legacy Sedan SUS (Jan 98 – May 98)
210001 and after – Legacy Sedan
310001 and after – Legacy Station Wagon
410001 and after – Impreza Coupe; Ascent
510001 and after – Impreza Sedan
610001 and after – Legacy Station Wagon Outback
710001 and after – Forester Wagon
810001 and after – Impreza Sports Wagon