Free Subaru Impreza VIN Decoder

Unlock the innovative and reliable essence of your Subaru Impreza! Use our free VIN decoder below to explore your vehicle's features and history. Enter your VIN now and start the journey.

Free Subaru Impreza VIN Decoder

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What you’ll get from Subaru Impreza VIN check?

  • Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating it might be from the year 2020, providing insights into the potential age and historical value of the vehicle.
  • Body Class and Size: Details such as the vehicle being a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback with 5 doors are discernible, possibly indicating the body class and size.
  • Engine and Performance Specifications: The VIN can explain engine details, possibly highlighting that the vehicle might have a 2.0 L displacement, 152 hp, and operates on gasoline, potentially revealing both performance capabilities and fuel type.
  • Safety Features: A VIN can uncover a range of safety features like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Curtain Airbags in the 1st and 2nd Rows, and Dynamic Brake Support (DBS), suggesting the vehicle’s emphasis on safety.
  • Drive Type and Transmission: It can provide insights into the vehicle’s All-Wheel Drive (AWD) functionality and a manual transmission with 5 speeds, showcasing the drivetrain and transmission characteristics.
  • Additional Features: The dataset might reveal the availability of advanced features like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) being optional, indicating the potential for enhanced driving assist technology.
  • Manufacturing Details: Information such as the manufacturing location being Lafayette, Indiana, in the United States is obtainable, possibly affording insights into the vehicle’s origin and production site.
Subaru Impreza VIN Decoder

Subaru Impreza Vehicle History Risk Factors

Subaru’s reputation for reliability is strong among loyal owners, but the used Subaru market has several specific patterns that a vehicle history check will help surface.

Head gasket failures on 2.5L EJ25 non-turbo engine (1999–2011 Outback, Forester, Legacy, Impreza). This is the most well-known Subaru issue in the used car market. The non-turbo 2.5L EJ25 engine had a head gasket design that failed at elevated rates, typically between 80,000 and 150,000 miles, causing external coolant leaks and, if ignored, internal coolant-oil mixing. Repair costs are $1,500–$2,500. Service records showing head gasket replacement on older Subarus are a significant data point — it means the repair was done, which is better than not, but the engine’s overall condition should still be evaluated carefully.

CVT reliability on Crosstrek and Impreza (2017–present). Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT has generated more owner complaints in recent model years than the previous automatic transmissions. High-mileage examples warrant inspection of transmission fluid service history.

Oil consumption on 2013–2020 2.0L FB20 and 2.5L FB25 engines. Subaru’s second-generation flat-four engines had a documented oil consumption issue — some owners reporting 1 quart per 1,000 miles — that prompted a class action settlement and extended warranty coverage. A Bumper report won’t show oil consumption directly, but ownership and service records can indicate whether the issue was addressed under warranty.

WRX and STI engine modifications. Turbocharged Subarus — particularly WRX and STI models — are among the most frequently modified vehicles in the used market. Engine swaps, aftermarket turbo upgrades, and ECU tunes are common and void the factory powertrain warranty. VIN-confirmed factory spec verification is the first step in evaluating any used performance Subaru.

A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.

How to decode a Subaru Impreza VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Subaru Impreza VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter or digit sequences assigned to automotive manufacturers, providing essential information about the vehicle, including its country of origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type. For the Subaru Impreza, two distinct WMIs have been used over the years. Initially, vehicles produced from 1993 to 2016 and again in 2024 were stamped with JF1, indicating that they were manufactured by Subaru Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. However, for the model years 2017 to 2023, the WMI changed to 4S3, signifying that these Imprezas were manufactured by Subaru of America, Inc., located in Lafayette, Indiana, United States. This transition underscores the global nature of automotive manufacturing and the specific nuances in the production locales of the Subaru Impreza over time.

List of WMI Codes for a Subaru Impreza

WMI: JF1

  • Model Years Covered: 1993-2016, 2024
  • Example VIN: JF1GF2448PG804026
  • Manufacturer Name: Subaru Corporation
  • Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
  • City: Shibuya-Ku
  • State or Province: Tokyo
  • Country: Japan

WMI: 4S3

  • Model Years Covered: 2017-2023
  • Example VIN: 4S3GTAM60H3701349
  • Manufacturer Name: Subaru of America, Inc.
  • Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
  • City: Lafayette
  • State or Province: Indiana
  • Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Subaru Impreza VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

  • Engine type
  • Transmission
  • Model or trim
  • Body style
  • Gross vehicle weight range

Subaru’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes drivetrain type, engine variant, body style, and series configuration across the Outback, Forester, Impreza, Legacy, and Crosstrek lineups. Virtually all Subaru models share the same symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, so the VDS encoding focuses more heavily on distinguishing engine variants — particularly the 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder, 2.5L naturally aspirated, 2.5L turbocharged (Legacy GT, Forester XT), and the EJ257 turbocharged flat-four used in the WRX and STI. The engine character in the VDS is critical for WRX and STI buyers especially, as VIN-confirmed engine verification protects against the common practice of installing aftermarket engines into base Impreza shells.

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Subaru Impreza VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the Subaru Impreza VIN — Year Code

Year Code Year
R 2024 Subaru Impreza
P 2023 Subaru Impreza
N 2022 Subaru Impreza
M 2021 Subaru Impreza
L 2020 Subaru Impreza
K 2019 Subaru Impreza
J 2018 Subaru Impreza
H 2017 Subaru Impreza
G 2016 Subaru Impreza
F 2015 Subaru Impreza
E 2014 Subaru Impreza
D 2013 Subaru Impreza
C 2012 Subaru Impreza
B 2011 Subaru Impreza
A 2010 Subaru Impreza
9 2009 Subaru Impreza
8 2008 Subaru Impreza
7 2007 Subaru Impreza
6 2006 Subaru Impreza
5 2005 Subaru Impreza
4 2004 Subaru Impreza
3 2003 Subaru Impreza
2 2002 Subaru Impreza
1 2001 Subaru Impreza
Y 2000 Subaru Impreza
X 1999 Subaru Impreza
W 1998 Subaru Impreza
V 1997 Subaru Impreza
T 1996 Subaru Impreza
S 1995 Subaru Impreza
R 1994 Subaru Impreza
P 1993 Subaru Impreza

11th Character in the Subaru Impreza VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Subaru Impreza Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code Plant City Plant State Plant Country Plant Company Name Example VIN
1 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi JF1GPAA60D1218190
2 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi JF1GPAE60D2804389
3 Lafayette Indiana United States 4S3GTAM60H3701349
8 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi (Main Plant ) JF1GE616788510306
9 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi (Main Plant ) JF1GPAC60E9273786
G Gunma Japan Fhi Gunma JF1GF2448PG804026
H Gunma Japan Fhi Gunma JF1GC2545PH525814
K Gunma Japan Fhi Gunma JF1GC2441PK513826
L Nan Fuji Heavy Industries JF1GD70604L509810

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Subaru Impreza

The final 6 characters in a Subaru Impreza’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?

How to find a Subaru Impreza’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your Subaru Impreza is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

  1. Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Subaru Impreza. The VIN can typically be seen through the windshield on a small plate mounted just below where the dashboard meets the glass.
  2. Open the driver’s side door and check on the door post (where the door latches when it is closed). Often, the Subaru Impreza will have a VIN sticker or plate in this area.
  3. For some models, the Subaru Impreza’s VIN can be found under the hood where the engine compartment meets the windshield. It may be on a plate or sticker near the back of the engine bay.
  4. Examine the rear wheel well. Sometimes, on a Subaru Impreza, the VIN can be found inside the wheel well above the tire.
  5. Check your Subaru Impreza’s insurance or registration documents. These documents, provided by your insurance company or local vehicle registration office, always list the VIN along with other key details of your vehicle.
Subaru Impreza VIN Decoder

Don’t have your Subaru Impreza’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Subaru Impreza

Vehicle Spec Value
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Standard
Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) Not Available
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs Standard
Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) Standard
Automatic Pedestrian Alerting Sound (for Hybrid and EV only) Not Available
Axles 2
Backup Camera Standard
Base Price ($) 22895
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) Optional
Body Class Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) Standard
Curtain Air Bag Locations 1st and 2nd Rows
Daytime Running Light (DRL) Standard
Displacement (CC) 2000
Displacement (CI) 122.0474881894
Displacement (L) 2
Doors 5
Drive Type AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) Standard
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Standard
Engine Brake (hp) From 152
Engine Number of Cylinders 4
Event Data Recorder (EDR) Not Available
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) Standard
Front Air Bag Locations 1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Headlamp Light Source LED
Keyless Ignition Standard
Knee Air Bag Locations Driver Seat Only
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Standard
Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) Standard
Model Impreza
Model Year 2020
Number of Seat Rows 2
Number of Seats 5
Number of Wheels 4
Other Engine Info Naturally aspirated
Parking Assist Not Available
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) Not Available
Plant City Lafayette
Plant Company Name
Plant Country United States
Plant State Indiana
Rear Cross Traffic Alert Not Available
Seat Belt Type Manual
Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching Standard
Side Air Bag Locations 1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Steering Location Left-Hand Drive (LHD)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type Direct
Traction Control Standard
Transmission Speeds 5
Transmission Style Manual/Standard
Trim Sport
Vehicle Descriptor 4S3GTAJ6*L1
Vehicle Type Passenger Car
Wheel Base (inches) From 105.10
Wheel Size Front (inches) 18
Wheel Size Rear (inches) 18
Sample VIN 4S3GTAJ60L1700341

Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.

Check any Subaru Impreza for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the VIN on a Subaru Impreza?

On most Subaru vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.

How do I check a Subaru Impreza's history for free?

Enter the Subaru Impreza’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.

What do Subaru Impreza VIN numbers start with?

Subaru Impreza VIN's start with JF1 for vehicles manufactured by Subaru Corporation in Japan, 4S3 for vehicles manufactured by Subaru of America, Inc. in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Subaru Impreza.

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