Subaru VIN Decoder: Free Outback, Forester & Crosstrek Lookup
Enter a 17-character Subaru VIN to read the model, trim, engine, model year and assembly plant from NHTSA data. Free, no sign-up.
Subaru VINs are more useful than most for one reason: on current models the descriptor section encodes the trim level, so a decoder can separate a Forester Premium from a Sport or Touring without a window sticker. Trim mismatches are the most common problem in used Subaru listings, and this is the check that catches them. Enter the VIN above and the decoder reads it against NHTSA's vPIC database using Subaru's own filing. The tables below are the codes we checked for the Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Legacy, Ascent and WRX.
JF or 4S: Japan or Indiana
Subaru builds US-market cars in two places, Gunma, Japan, and Subaru of Indiana Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana. The first character tells you which, and position 11 confirms it.
| WMI | Built in | What vPIC registers it for | Position 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
JF1 | Japan | Subaru passenger cars (such as the WRX) | H Gunma (Yajima) |
JF2 | Japan | Subaru multipurpose vehicles (Forester, Crosstrek) | H Gunma (Yajima) |
JF3 | Japan | Subaru trucks | H Gunma |
4S3 | Indiana | Subaru passenger cars (Legacy) | 3 Lafayette |
4S4 | Indiana | Subaru multipurpose vehicles (Outback, Ascent) | 3 Lafayette |
An Outback that starts with 4S4 and a Forester that starts with JF2 are both normal. A JF2 with a 3 in position 11, or the reverse, is a transcription error or something worse. Model lines have moved between plants over the years, so check the WMI against the model year rather than assuming.
Position 4 model line and position 7 trim
Position 4 is the model line. These are the letters vPIC returns for current models:
| Position 4 | Model line |
|---|---|
S | Forester |
B | Legacy and Outback |
G | Crosstrek |
W | Ascent |
V | WRX |
Positions 5 and 6 cover body style, engine and transmission. On the Outback, a G in position 6 identifies the 2.4L turbocharged engine used in the XT trims, while 2.5L models use other codes. Position 7 is where Subaru encodes trim. On the current Forester (JF2SK…), vPIC maps it like this:
| Forester position 7 | Trim |
|---|---|
A | Base |
C | Base Plus |
D, E | Premium |
G, H, J | Sport |
L, M | Wilderness |
N, P | Limited |
R | Touring |
These letters are model-specific. A D on a Forester does not mean Premium on an Outback or Ascent, which is why the decoder reads the full VIN instead of one character off a chart. Position 8 does not carry a decoded attribute in vPIC for current Subarus.
Position 10 letter to Subaru generation
Subaru's chassis codes change with each generation, and the year letter in position 10 tells you which one you are looking at. This matters because a 2019 Forester and a 2018 Forester look alike in photos but are different cars underneath.
| Letter | Model year | Forester | Outback | Crosstrek | WRX | Ascent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 2010 | SH, 3rd generation | 4th generation (new) | Not sold | GR/GV Impreza-based | Not sold |
D | 2013 | SH, last year | 4th generation | XV Crosstrek, 1st generation (new) | GR/GV | Not sold |
E | 2014 | SJ, 4th generation (new) | 4th generation, last year | 1st generation | GR/GV, last year | Not sold |
F | 2015 | SJ | 5th generation (new) | 1st generation | VA (new) | Not sold |
J | 2018 | SJ, last year | 5th generation | 2nd generation (new) | VA | Not sold |
K | 2019 | SK, 5th generation (new) | 5th generation, last year | 2nd generation | VA | 1st generation (new) |
L | 2020 | SK | 6th generation (new) | 2nd generation | VA | 1st generation |
N | 2022 | SK refresh | 6th generation | 2nd generation | VB (new) | 1st generation |
R | 2024 | SK | 6th generation | 3rd generation (new) | VB | 1st generation, refreshed for 2023 |
S | 2025 | SK, last year | 6th generation, last year; Legacy sedan also ends | 3rd generation | VB | 1st generation |
T | 2026 | SL, 6th generation (new), hybrid added | 7th generation Outback (new) | 3rd generation | VB | 1st generation |
Letters not shown carry the same generation as the row above them. The letter cycle repeats every 30 years, so position 7 is a letter on 2010-and-later cars and a number on 1980 to 2009 cars. A 2023 Outback may have been built in 2022; the door-jamb label carries the build month, and the manufacturing date guide shows how to read it.
Worked examples: a Forester and an Outback
Illustrative only: JF2SKAECXNH100001 is a made-up VIN with a valid check digit (here an X, which stands for 10). It does not belong to a real car.
| Characters | Position | Decoded |
|---|---|---|
JF2 | 1–3 | Subaru multipurpose vehicle, built in Japan |
S | 4 | Forester |
KA | 5–6 | Body, engine and transmission data |
E | 7 | Premium trim |
C | 8 | No separate attribute in vPIC |
X | 9 | Check digit (valid) |
N | 10 | 2022 model year |
H | 11 | Gunma, Japan |
100001 | 12–17 | Production sequence |
vPIC returns this sample as a 2022 Subaru Forester Premium with a 2.5L four-cylinder, CVT and all-wheel drive. A matching Indiana-built example, 4S4BTAFC2P3100001, decodes as a 2023 Outback Premium from Lafayette. If either car were advertised as a Touring, position 7 would say otherwise.
What a Subaru VIN leaves out
- Option packages. Trim shows up, but add-ons such as a moonroof, navigation or the EyeSight-plus packages on older cars are not reliably encoded. The original window sticker by VIN lists them.
- Paint colour. The colour code is on the vehicle labels. See paint code by VIN.
- Head gaskets and CVT service. The things Subaru buyers worry about most are maintenance records, not VIN characters. Ask for them.
- History and condition. Accidents, flood damage, title brands and mileage come from title and insurance records. The vehicle history check guide covers those.
Subaru also prints the VIN in the MySubaru owner account and app for registered vehicles, which is handy when you are checking recalls without walking out to the car.
Subaru recalls
The decode result above lists the safety recalls NHTSA has on file for that Subaru model and year. To see whether one is still open on this exact car, run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup. Subaru's owner site lists the same recalls with Subaru's own service campaigns. Recall repairs are free at any authorized Subaru retailer.
Before you pay, run the free NICB VIN check for theft and salvage records, and see the free VIN check guide for the rest. Comparing with an American truck? The Ford and Chevy decoders use their own code tables.
Anatomy of a VIN, character by character
Every position has a job, set by the ISO 3779 standard and U.S. federal rule 49 CFR Part 565. Tap a section to see what it encodes.
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
The first character is the region or country of manufacture. The second is the manufacturer, and the third is usually the vehicle type or division. Low-volume makers (under 1,000 vehicles a year) use a 9 in position 3 and carry an extra code in positions 12–14.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Five characters the manufacturer uses to describe the vehicle: model line, series, body type, engine and restraint system. Each maker defines its own scheme, which is why decoding needs a manufacturer database like NHTSA's vPIC.
Check digit
Each character is converted to a number, multiplied by a positional weight, summed and divided by 11. The remainder, 0–9 or X for 10, must equal position 9. A mismatch means a typo or a VIN that deserves a closer look.
Model year
One letter or digit maps to the model year and repeats every 30 years. For North American cars and light trucks, a digit in position 7 points to 1980–2009 and a letter points to 2010–2039. The full chart is below.
Assembly plant
The manufacturer's code for the factory that built the vehicle. It's useful for recall campaigns, which are often limited to one plant and date range.
Production sequence
The serial number of this vehicle on the production line. Combined with the first eleven characters it makes the VIN unique. For low-volume makers, positions 12–14 complete the manufacturer code.
VIN model year chart
The 10th character of every VIN. The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the digit 0 are never used here.
- A19802010
- B19812011
- C19822012
- D19832013
- E19842014
- F19852015
- G19862016
- H19872017
- J19882018
- K19892019
- L19902020
- M19912021
- N19922022
- P19932023
- R19942024
- S19952025
- T19962026
- V19972027
- W19982028
- X19992029
- Y20002030
- 120012031
- 220022032
- 320032033
- 420042034
- 520052035
- 620062036
- 720072037
- 820082038
- 920092039
Which cycle? On North American cars and light trucks, check position 7. If it's a number the vehicle is from 1980–2009, and if it's a letter it's from 2010–2039. The highlighted code is the current calendar year.
Where to find the VIN on your car
Standing next to the car? Tap a spot. Check at least two of them. They should match exactly.
Look through the windshield at the lower corner in front of the steering wheel. A metal tag is riveted to the dash. It's the easiest spot to read from outside the car, and zooming in with your phone camera helps in bright sun.
Open the driver door and look at the B-pillar or the edge of the door. The safety certification sticker lists the VIN, often with a barcode you can scan with this site on Android Chrome.
Pop the hood and check the firewall, the front of the engine block or the radiator support. The location varies by maker. Older cars and many trucks have it stamped here.
On trucks, trailers and motorcycles the VIN is often stamped on the frame rail, near a rear wheel well, on a trailer tongue or on the steering head of a motorcycle.
Questions, answered
Free Subaru VIN decoder. Read the model, trim, engine, model year and plant (Japan or Indiana) from any Outback, Forester, Crosstrek or WRX VIN.
Can a Subaru VIN tell me the trim level?
Often, yes. On the current Forester the 7th character encodes trim, for example E for Premium, L or M for Wilderness and R for Touring. Codes vary by model, so decode the full VIN above.
Where was my Subaru built?
Check the first character and the 11th. A VIN that starts with J and has H in position 11 was built in Gunma, Japan. A VIN that starts with 4S and has 3 in position 11 was built in Lafayette, Indiana.
How do I tell if an Outback has the turbo engine?
On the Outback, a G in the 6th position identifies the 2.4L turbocharged engine used in XT trims. The decoder above shows the engine displacement directly.
Does the Subaru VIN show the build date?
No. The 10th character is the model year. The month and year of manufacture are printed on the certification label in the driver door jamb.
How do I check Subaru recalls by VIN?
The decode result lists recalls for that model and year. For open recalls on your specific car, enter the VIN in the NHTSA recall lookup. Recall work is free at an authorized Subaru retailer.