Model Designations
DL GL-10 STD
GL RX Loyale
GLF XT, XT6 BRAT

Body Styles by Year
80-84 EA81 80-87 EA81 80-89 EA81 85-90 EA82 90-94 EA82
Sedan BRAT HatchBack Sedan Sedan
2-door Coupe Wagon Wagon
Wagon 3-door Coupe(87-90)

Subaru Vehicle Identification Decoder

Look up your vin number online

First 3 Digits

JF1 Passenger Vehicle

JF2 Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)

Fourth Digit Model Line

A Subaru XT and Loyale

K Subaru J Line

Fifth Digit Body Type

A Justy

B 4-dr 81-84

C 4-dr 85-89

F HatchBack 81-89

G 3-dr Coupe 86-89

K Touring Wagon 89

M Wagon 81-84

N Wagon 85-89

R Brat 81

T Brat 82-85

U Brat 86-87

W Hardtop 81-84

X XT 85-89, XT6 88-89

Sixth Digit Engine Type

1 1300

2 1600

3 1600 4wd

4 1800

5 1800 w/o air suspension

7 1800 4wd with air suspension

8 2700

9 2700 4wd with air suspension

Seventh Digit Model Designation

1 STD Hatchback

2 DL

3 GL 81-90, RS, Justy

4 GLF 81-82, GL-10 85-89, Xt6 88-89

5 86 Turbo, GL-10 Turbo 87-89, GL full-time 4wd 3-door 87

6 Turbo RX

7 GL Turbo 87-89

Eighth Digit Weight Class and Restraint Type

A Less then 3000 lbs GVWR

B 3001-4000 lbs GVWR with Passive Restraint

1 Less then 3000 lbs GVWR

2 3001-4000 lbs GVWR with Passive Restrain

Ninth Digit Check Digit

Tenth Digit Vehicle Model Year

A 4spd MT

B 5spd MT

C 3AT

D 4spd 4wd MT 81-84

D 5spd 4wd MT 85-89

E 4spd 4wd Dual Range MT 81-84, 85-89 Hatchback, 85-89 Brat

E 5spd 4wd Dual Range MT 85-89

F 3AT 4wd

G Full Time 4wd MT

H 4EAT Full Time 4wd

4 4spd 4wd 87 Hatchback

Last Digits

002001 & after Touring Wagon

100001 & after Hatchback

200001 & after 4 Door Sedan

300001 & after Hardtop 81,84, XT, XT6

400001 & after Wagon

500001 & after Brat

700001 & after Justy

800001 & after 3-Door

Subaru VIN code

Position Sample Description
1 4 World Manufacturer Identifier
2 S
3 4
4 B Line type
5 T Body style
6 6 Engine type
7 1 Model identifier
8 C Restraint type
9 X Check digit
10 3 Model year
11 7 Plant of manufacturer & transmission type
12 1 Sequential number
13 0
14 8
15 3
16 8
17 5

Line types

The line type is specified in character four of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.

VIN Code Description
A Alcyone/XT/XT6
B Legacy/Baja
C Alcyone SVX
G Impreza
S Forester

Body styles

The body style is specified in character five of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.

VIN Code Description
C Impreza Sedan
D Legacy Sedan
E Legacy Sedan
F Impreza & Forester Wagon
G Legacy Wagon (Outback models)
K Legacy Wagon
M Impreza Coupe
P Outback Wagon
T Baja
X XT/SVX Coupe

Engine types

The engine type is specified in character six of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.

VIN Code Description
2 1800cc FWD
3 3300cc AWD
4 2200cc AWD
6 2500cc AWD
8 3000cc FWD

Models

The model is identified in character seven of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.

VIN Code Description
1 Base
2 Brighton
3 L
5 LS/S
6 LSi
7 GT/RS
8 Outback/Sus
9 Postal Vehicle

Restraint types

The restraint type is specified as character eight of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.

VIN Code Description
2 Automatic Seat Belt without Air Bag
5 Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags
6 Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags and Side Air Bags
C Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger, Curtain and Side Air Bags

Plants and transmission types

The plant and transmission type is specified in character eleven of the Subaru VIN for passenger cars.

VIN Code Plant Transmission
6 SIA AWD MT5 5/R
7 SIA AWD 4EAT
8 SIA AWD 4EAT (Postal)
C FHI FWD 4EAT
G FHI AWD MT5 5/R
H FHI AWD 4EAT
  • SIA=Subaru-Isuzu of America
  • FHI=Fuji Heavy Industries

Subaru WMIs

WMI Country Description Vehicle Types
JF1 Japan Fuji Heavy Industries Passenger Vehicle
4S3 USA Subaru-Isuzu of America Passenger Vehicle
4S4

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