Free Subaru BRZ VIN Decoder

Unlock the secrets of your dynamic Subaru BRZ with our FREE VIN decoder! Discover its unique features and history. Enter your VIN in the box below to get started.

Free VIN Decoder

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What you’ll get from Subaru BRZ VIN check?

  • Model Year: The VIN can reveal that the vehicle is likely a 2017 model, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
  • Plant Location: The manufacturing details suggest that the vehicle was assembled in Ota, Gunma, Japan, indicating its origin.
  • Vehicle Specifications: This Coupe is equipped with a high trim level, featuring a 2L naturally aspirated engine capable of generating up to 205 horsepower depending on the transmission type, offering valuable insights into the vehicle’s performance.
  • Safety Features: Standard safety equipment includes an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), front and curtain airbags for the first row, and a backup camera, possibly ensuring a high level of protection for occupants.
  • Fuel Type: The vehicle runs on Gasoline, making it a suitable option for those seeking a conventional fuel choice.
  • Transmission and Performance: It features an automatic transmission with 6 speeds and achieves a top speed of 143 MPH, suggesting a balance of efficiency and performance.
  • Additional Equipment: Standard features include keyless ignition, a direct type tire pressure monitoring system, and electronic stability control, possibly showcasing advanced technological integrations for convenience and safety.
Subaru BRZ VIN Decoder

Subaru BRZ 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 BRZ VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Subaru BRZ VIN

WMIs, or World Manufacturer Identifiers, are unique three-character codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). These codes not only identify the manufacturer but also provide information about the vehicle type and its production location. For the Subaru BRZ, the WMI JF1 denotes Subaru Corporation as the manufacturer, classifying the vehicle as a Passenger Car produced in Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. The range of model years for vehicles under this WMI spans from 2013 to 2020, 2022 to 2024, indicating the specific periods during which models with this identifier were produced. This system plays a crucial role in vehicle identification, law enforcement, and recall management processes globally.

List of WMI Codes for a Subaru BRZ

WMI: JF1

  • Model Years Covered: 2013-2020, 2022-2024
  • Example VIN: JF1ZCAB10D1604339
  • Manufacturer Name: Subaru Corporation
  • Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
  • City: Shibuya-Ku
  • State or Province: Tokyo
  • Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Subaru BRZ 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 BRZ 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 BRZ VIN — Year Code

Year Code Year
R 2024 Subaru BRZ
P 2023 Subaru BRZ
N 2022 Subaru BRZ
L 2020 Subaru BRZ
K 2019 Subaru BRZ
J 2018 Subaru BRZ
H 2017 Subaru BRZ
G 2016 Subaru BRZ
F 2015 Subaru BRZ
E 2014 Subaru BRZ
D 2013 Subaru BRZ

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

Known Subaru BRZ Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code Plant City Plant State Plant Country Plant Company Name Example VIN
1 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi JF1ZCAB10D1604339
2 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi JF1ZCAC10D2600302
8 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi (Main Plant ) JF1ZCAC10E8600332
9 Ota Gunma Japan Fhi (Main Plant ) JF1ZCAB10E9600214

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Subaru BRZ

The final 6 characters in a Subaru BRZ’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 BRZ’s VIN?

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

  1. Check the dashboard on the driver’s side near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN for the Subaru BRZ can usually be seen from outside the vehicle.
  2. Look at the driver’s side door jamb for the Subaru BRZ. The VIN might be located on a sticker or a plate where the door latches when closed.
  3. Examine the engine bay of your Subaru BRZ. The VIN can often be found on a plate attached to the engine block or the chassis.
  4. Inspect your vehicle registration documents or the insurance card for the Subaru BRZ. The VIN is always printed on these official documents.
Subaru BRZ VIN Decoder

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

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Subaru BRZ

Vehicle Spec Value
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs Standard
Axles 2
Backup Camera Standard
Base Price ($) 25795.00
Body Class Coupe
Curtain Air Bag Locations 1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Daytime Running Light (DRL) Standard
Displacement (CC) 2000
Displacement (CI) 122.0474881894
Displacement (L) 2
Doors 2
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) Standard
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Standard
Engine Brake (hp) From 200
Engine Brake (hp) To 205
Engine Number of Cylinders 4
Event Data Recorder (EDR) 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)
Keyless Ignition Standard
Model BRZ
Model Year 2019
Number of Seat Rows 2
Number of Seats 4
Number of Wheels 4
Other Engine Info Naturally Aspirated Engine Engine Brake (hp):205HP(MT) or 200HP(AT)
Plant City Ota
Plant Company Name Main plant
Plant Country Japan
Plant State Gunma
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 6
Transmission Style Manual/Standard
Trim High
Vehicle Descriptor JF1ZCAC1*K9
Vehicle Type Passenger Car
Wheel Base (inches) From 101.20
Wheel Size Front (inches) 17
Wheel Size Rear (inches) 17
Sample VIN JF1ZCAC10K9600062

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

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the VIN on a Subaru BRZ?

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 BRZ's history for free?

Enter the Subaru BRZ’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 BRZ VIN numbers start with?

Subaru BRZ VIN's start with JF1 for vehicles manufactured by Subaru Corporation in Japan. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Subaru BRZ.

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