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.

Where is it located: Left front corner of dashboard, driver's door jam, various body panels and engine components, on 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 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, JF2  is FHI Fuji Heavy Industry passenger vehicle, made in Japan
4S3 is a SIA Subaru-Indiana factory passenger vehicle Legacy (not Outback)
4S4 is a SIA Subaru-Indiana factory MPV/SUV multi purpose vehicle - Outback and Tribeca

Position 4 model ie line or model type, ie. what product line.
B is Legacy and Outback, G is Impreza, S is Forester, W is Tribeca

Position 5- body  what kind of body
E- Impreza 4 door sedan, H- Forester or Impreza 5 door wagon, M- Legacy sedan,  R- Outback wagon, V- Impreza 4 door wide body (WRX, STI?), X- SUV
This code can change yearly.

Position 6 - Engine types, varies by year. This can change yearly
Impreza/Tribeca: 6- 2.5L, 7- 2.5L turbo, 8- 2.5L high power turbo, 9- 3.6L
Legacy/Outback U.S. : A- 2.5L,  B- 2.5L not PZEV, C- 2.5L PZEV, D- 3.6L, E- 3.6L, F- 2.5L turbo,
Legacy/Outback  Canada G- 2.5L, H- 2.5L, J- 3.6L, K 2.5L turbo, L- 2.5L, M- 3.6L
 

Position 7 - model type and trim. First, you have to know the model, then you can decipher the correct trim.

number	Tribeca	Forester	Legacy	Outback	Impreza
A		2.5X	base	base	2.5L
B		2.5 Plus	Premium	Premium	Limited
C		2.5X Premium	Premium, AWP	Premium, AWP	2.5L - S
D		2.5X Premium awp	Premium, H/K audio	Premium, H/K audio	Outback Sport
E		2.5 Limited	Premium, moonroof	Premium, moonroof	WRX
F	7pass	2.5 Limited navigation	Premium, HK audio, AWP	Premium, HK audio, AWP	WRX - S
G	7p Ltd	2.5 Limited Plus,	Premium, awp, moonroof	Premium, awp, moonroof	SE
H	7p Ltd Nav	2.5 Limited Plus, navigation	Premium, awp, hk audio, moonroof	Premium, awp, hk audio, moonroof	STI
J	7p Ltd DVD	-	Limited, hk audio	Limited, hk audio	STI-S
K	7P Ltd Nav/DVD	-	Limited, hk audio, moonroof	Limited, hk audio, moonroof	-
L	-	-	Limited, moonroof, Nav	Limited, moonroof, Nav	-
M	-	-	Limited, moonroof, Nav	Limited, moonroof	-

Position 8 is the restraint system based on GVWR.
6- manual seat belts with dual front and dual side airbags, front/rear curtain airbags (except Outback).
C: Class C (4001-5000lbs) MPV manual seat belts with dual front and dual side airbags, front/rear curtain airbags (Outback)
D: Class D (GVWR 5001-6000lbs) manual seat belts with dual front and dual side airbags, front/rear curtain airbags

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.

Position 10: Model year: B 2011, C 2012, D 2013

(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, 9 2009)

Position 11- Manufacturing plant and Transmission: can vary by year
 

SIA (US Built)-  1: 6spd manual trans 2: 5 spd automatic 3: CVT 4: 5spd automatic

FHI (Japan built)  G: 5spd manual  H: 4 spd automatic  L: 6 spd manual

Position 12-17- sequential production numbers. Changes yearly, based on the model

210001  and up- Legacy sedan;  310001 and up - Outback wagon

400001 and up- Tribeca 500001 and up- Impreza 4 door sedan

700001 and up- Forester 800001 and up- Impreza 5door wagon

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START 2011 FORESTER, made in Japan
 Information subject to change, correction, updating.

code	option pkg	Forester model	option package code - option	transmission	starting VIN	VIN key
BFA	01	2.5X	01- base	5 spd manual	JF2SHAACX	BG700001
BFA	21	2.5X	21- SE (special edition)	5 spd manual	JF2SHABCX	BG700001
BFB	01	2.5X	01- base	4 spd AT	JF2SHAACX	BH700001
BFB	21	2.5X	21- SE (special edition)	4spd AT	JF2SHABCX	BH700001
BFE	01	2.5X Premium	01- base	5 spd manual	JF2SHACCX	BG700001
BFE	02	2.5X Premium	02- awp	5 spd manual	JF2SHADCX	BG700001
BFF	01	2.5X Premium	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHACCX	BH700001
BFF	02	2.5X Premium	02- awp	4spd AT	JF2SHADCX	BH700001
BFF	33	2.5X Premium	33- awp, navigation	4spd At	JF2SHADCX	BH700001
BFI	01	2.5XT Limited	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHAECX	BH700001
BFI	10	2.5XT Limited	10- navigation	4spd AT	JF2SHAFCX	BH700001
BFJ	01	2.5XT Touring	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHAGCX	BH700001
BFJ	10	2.5XT Touring	10- navigation	4spd AT	JF2SHAHCX	BH700001
BFM	01	2.5 XT	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHGACX	BH700001
BFN	01	2.5 XT Touring	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHGGCX	BH700001
BFN	19	2.5 XT Touring	10- navigation	4spd AT	JF2SHGHCX	BH700001

end 2011 Forester

Information subject to change, correction, updating.
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