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Understanding the VIN logic.


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Hi guys

I have been attempting to make sense of the VIN used on Subaru's Legacy. While I have things (I think) more or less sorted out for the first two generations of Legacys, the newer ones have new codes that I am not aware of.

 

Please help me out if you spot an error or can add any additional information :

 

The first 3 digits are the vehicle type / Manufactures location:

"JF1" Passenger car manufactured by FHI in Japan.

"JF2" Multipurpose passenger vehicle made by FHI in Japan.

"4S3" Passenger car made by SIA in Indiana

"4S4" Multipurpose passenger vehicle made by SIA in Indiana (2005+ Outback for instance)

 

The 4th digit is the model:

"B" = Legacy

"G" = Impreza, "S" = Forrester, "W" = Tribeca

 

The 5th digit is the vehicle type:

"C" 1st gen Sedan, "F" or "J" 1st gen Wagon

"D" 2nd gen Sedan, "G" 2nd gen Wagon, "K" 2nd gen Wagon

"E" 3rd gen Sedan, "H" 3rd gen Wagon

"L" 4th gen Sedan, "P" 4th gen Wagon

 

T=Baja

D=Impreza Sedan

X=Tribeca ("Crossover" vehicle)

 

The 6th digit of the VIN is the engine code.

6 ..... '90-'95 2.2 liter

3 ..... '96+ 2.2 Liter (FWD)

4 ..... '96+ 2.2 Liter (AWD)

6 ..... '96+ 2.5 Liter (only available w/AWD)

7 ..... '04+ 2.5 Liter Turbo (Sti ?)

8 ..... '01+ 3.0 H6 (only available w/AWD) ???

 

The 7th digit is the Trim Level (varies by year and model):

2 = 2nd Gen Brighton

3 = 2nd Gen L, Outback

4 = 2nd Gen LS, LSi

5 = 3rd Gen GT (?)

6 = ?

7 = 1st Gen Turbo, 2nd Gen GT

 

2005 MY 0=XT, 1=i, 2=i ltd, 3=XT ltd, 4=R 5=R ltd, 6=R LL Bean, 7=GT Ltd, 8=GT 9=GT Spec B

 

The 8th digit is the Weight Class and/or Restraint Type :

5 = Dual SRS Airbags

6 = Dual SRS Airbags + Side curtain airbags. (?)

C = Class C (4000-5000 Lb GVWR)

 

The 9th digit is simply a "check digit" :

 

The 10th digit is the year of Manufacture:

F=1985, G=1986, H=1987,

J=1988, K=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

 

The 11th digit is the Transmission/Drivetrain configuration (varies by year and MFG plant):

1=SIA 5spd FWD

3=SIA 6spd AWD

4=SIA 5EAT AWD

6=SIA 5spd AWD

7=SIA 4EAT AWD

9=SIA 4EAT FWD

G=FIH 5spd AWD

-= 6spd or RHD Postal vehicle

H=FHI auto AWD

L=FIH 6spd AWD

 

Digits 12 through 17 are for the sequential serial number part of the VIN

1##### is for Baja

2##### is for Legacy 4-door Sedans

3##### is for Legacy Station Wagons

4##### is for the B9 Trebeca

5##### is for the Impreza Sedan

6##### is for Legacy & Outback Wagon

7##### is for Forrester

8##### is for Impreza Sport Wagon

 

If you folks dont mind could you post the first 12 or so digits of your VIN as well as basic information about your car (year, engine size, trim level, and transmission type, and country ) ?

 

TIA

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:lol: just curious, but why are you doing this? :confused:
I am attempting to learn the logic behind Subarus VIN. I am not asking you folks for your full VIN... you dont have to be paranoid, or anything. I just think it helps to know the VIN codes.

 

The last 6 digits of the VIN are your unique serial number. While I am certainly curious about rough numbers for the different years, I am not asking for your full VIN... I just curious about about the meaning of these codes.

 

Yeah, I could TRY and ask SoA for this, but the thing is these codes vary by year. For instance, engine code "6" which used to mean the largest motor available, 2.2 or 2.5 I suspect means something totally different now that there is an H6, a 2.5i and a 2.5 Turbo. I dont think SoA's information would be especially reliable

 

If you feel weird about disclosing even a partial VIN thats fine, but if you are willing to help me out, I would certainly appeciate it.

 

Thanks again.

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:lol: just curious, but why are you doing this? :confused:

 

Dude, it's just car geekery, but on a Subaru level. People do it all the time with different car makes. Go to an air cooled VW meat sometime, now those people are scary.

 

Sorry, but my car is on the left coast while I'm on the right coast for now.

Martin Luther - "Who loves not women, wine and song remains a fool his whole life long."

 

EL4NFZT7

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C'mon. The guy is trying to collect useful info. For example being able to tell the vin if car is MT/AT could be useful when shopping for a car. Carfax e.g. does not provide such information.

 

If you don't want to help, at least resize the pic, so it's not that obnoxiously huge.

 

My vin: 4s3bp6868563xxxxx

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On SL-i.net a member is doing something similar, I don't see the big deal.

 

Also, if you haven't found this site yet, try here.

 

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/vin.html

 

Thanks for this link, didn't see it before, although I know and use cars101.com...

 

Btw, I was wondering if color was encoded in the VIN. Apperently not, however SubaruFast (application for looking up parts) is able to tell the exterior color from the VIN number. Perhaps it has database of serial numbers vs. body colors.

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Thanks Uncle Mat, B dubs, & Dr. Sharp.

 

Red Beast, Even though I have never met you, I still hate you. :D

If You could shrink or delete your photo, that would be very nice.

 

Your 95 LSi Wagon has a 4EAT even though based on the trim code I think you should have "4" not "5" for a 7th digit, B Dubs ? (more likely my VIN decoder logic is off, though). Also your '07 2.5i Sedan has side curtain air bags. :)

 

Joe's Cars101 VIN decoder is cool, and although I have known about his site, I never saw his VIN decoder before.

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  • 4 years later...

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