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.
subject to change, correction

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.
subject to change, correction

B is Legacy and Outback, G is Impreza, S is Forester, W is Tribeca

Position 5- body  what kind of body
subject to change, correction

H- Forester or Impreza 5 door wagon, I- Impreza 4 door, M- Legacy sedan,  P- Impreza 5 door, R- WRX 5 door, Outback wagon, V- WRX 4 door, X- SUV
This code can change yearly.

Position 6 - Engine types, varies by year. This can change yearly
subject to change, correction

Impreza/Tribeca: A- 2.0L, 7- 2.5L turbo, 8- 2.5L STI turbo, 9- 3.6L
Legacy/Outback E- 3.6L, F- 2.5L turbo, G- 2.5L Canada, H-2.5L Canada,  J- 3.6L Canada, K 2.5L turbo Canada, L- 2.5L, M- 3.6L
Forester A-2.5L PZEV, B-2.5L, C 2.5L Canada, D- 2.5L Canada, E- 2.5L Canada, F- 2.5L Canada, G- 2.5L turbo, H- 2.5L, turbo Canada, J- 2.5L turbo CanaDa
 

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/ XT Premium	base	base	2.0iL
B	-	2.5 all wheel value pkg	Premium	Premium	2.0i Premium
C	-	2.5X Premium	Premium, AWP	Premium, AWP	2.0i Premium, awp
D	-	2.5X Premium awp	Premium, H/K audio	Premium, H/K audio	2.0i Premium, moonrood
E	-	2.5 Limited	Premium, moonroof	Premium, moonroof	2.0i Premium, nav / WRX
F	7pass Premium	2.5 Limited nav	Premium, HK audio, AWP	Premium, HK audio, AWP	2.0i Premium, moonroof, nav
G	7p Ltd Limited/Touring	2.5 X/XT Touring	Premium, awp, moonroof	Premium, awp, moonroof	2.0i Limited/SE
H	7p Limited/Touring Nav	2.5 X/XT Touring nav	Premium, awp, hk audio, moonroof	Premium, awp, hk audio, moonroof	STI
J	-	-	Limited, hk audio	Limited	STI sedan
K	7P Limited/Touring Nav/DVD	-	Limited, hk audio, moonroof	Limited, moonroof	STI/2.0i Limited, moonroof, nav
L	-	-	Limited, moonroof, Nav	Limited, moonroof, Nav	2.0i Sport Premium
M	-	-	Limited, moonroof	Limited, moonroof	2.0i Sport moonroof
N	-	-	-	-	2.0i Sport, nav
P	-	-	-	-	2.0i Sport, moonroof, nav
R	-	-	-	-	2.0i Sport Limited
S	-	-	-	-	2.0i Sport Limited, moonroof
T	-	-	-	-	2.0i Sport Limited, nav
U	-	-	-	-	2.0i Sport Limited, moonroof, nav
V	-	-	-	-	2.0i Premium plus

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: C 2012, D 2013, E 2014

(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, A 2010, B 2011)

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 H: CVT, Impreza L: 6 spd manual

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

002001 and up- Legacy sedan;  200001 and up - Outback wagon

400001 and up- Tribeca 400001 and up- Forester

002001 Impreza 4 door 20001- Impreza 5 door

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START 2012 FORESTER, made in Japan
 Information subject to change, correction, updating.

code	option pkg	Forester model	option package code and description	transmission	starting VIN	VIN key
CFA	01	2.5X	01- base	5 spd manual	JF2SHAACG	400001
CFA	21	2.5X	21- alloy wheel/roof rack value package	5 spd manual	JF2SHABCXCG	400001
CFB	01	2.5X	01- base	4 spd AT	JF2SHAACXCH	400001
CFB	21	2.5X	21- alloy wheel/roof rack value package	4spd AT	JF2SHABCXCH	400001
CFE	01	2.5X Premium	01- base	5 spd manual	JF2SHBCCXCG	400001
CFE	02	2.5X Premium	02- awp	5 spd manual	JF2SHBDCXCG	400001
CFF	01	2.5X Premium	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHBCCXCH	400001
CFF	02	2.5X Premium	02- awp	4spd AT	JF2SHADCXCH	400001
CFF	33	2.5X Premium	33- awp, navigation	4spd At	JF2SHADCXCH	400001
CFI	01	2.5XT Limited	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHBECXCH	400001
CFI	10	2.5XT Limited	10- navigation	4spd AT	JF2SHAFCXCH	400001
CFJ	01	2.5XT Touring	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHAGCXCH	400001
CFJ	10	2.5XT Touring	10- navigation	4spd AT	JF2SHBHCXCH	400001
CFM	01	2.5 XT	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHGACXCH	400001
CFN	01	2.5 XT Touring	01- base	4spd AT	JF2SHGGCXCH	400001
CFN	19	2.5 XT Touring	10- navigation	4spd AT	JF2SHGHCXCH	400001

end 2012 Forester

start 2012 WRX AND STI
4dr sedan and 5 door hatchback
made in Japan. Information subject to change, correction, updating.
 

model code	WRX and STI 4 door sedan model	model option code and description	trans	starting VIN	VIN key
CWN	WRX 4 door	01- base	5spd manual	JF1GV7E6XCG	002001
CWO	WRX Premium 4door	01- base	5spd manual	JF1GV7F6XCG	002001
CWO	WRX Premium 4 door	14- navigation	5spd manual	JF1GV7F6XCG	002001
CWP	WRX Limited 4 door	01- base	5spd manual	JF1GV7F6XCG	002001
CWP	WRX Limited 4 door	14- navigation	5spd manual	JF1GV7E6XCG	002001
CWV	STI 4 door	01- base	6 spd manual	JF1GV8J6XCL	002001
CWV	STI 4 door	10- navigation	6 spd manual	JF1GV8J6XCL	002001
CWW	STI Limited 4 door	01- base	6 spd manual	JF1GV8J6XCL	002001
CWW	STI Limited 4 door	10- navigation	6 spd manual	JF1GV8J6XCL	002001
model code	WRX and STI 5 door hatchback model	model option code and description	trans	starting VIN	VIN key
CXN	WRX 5 door	01- base	5spd manual	JF1GR7E6XCG	200001
CXO	WRX Premium 5 door	01- base	5spd manual	JF1GR7E6XCG	200001
CXO	WRX Premium 5 door	14- navigation	5spd manual	JF1GR7E6XCG	200001
CXP	WRX Limited 5 door	01- base	5spd manual	JF1GR7E6XCG	200001
CXP	WRX Limited 5 door	14- navigation	5spd manual	JF1GR7E6XCG	200001
CXV	STI 5 door	01- base	6 spd manual	JF1GR8H6XCL	200001
CXV	STI 5 door	10- navigation	6 spd manual	JF1GR8H6XCL	200001

all info subject to chamnge, correction

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the end