- What you'll get from Subaru Loyale VIN check?
- Subaru Loyale Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Subaru Loyale VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Subaru Loyale
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Subaru Loyale VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Subaru Loyale VIN.
- 10th Character in the Subaru Loyale VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Subaru Loyale VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Subaru Loyale Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Subaru Loyale
- How to find a Subaru Loyale's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Subaru Loyale
What you’ll get from Subaru Loyale VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the period the vehicle was manufactured, with the possibility of it being the year 1992.
- Body Class: The VIN specifies the body class as a Wagon, which can offer insights into the vehicle’s design and utility features.
- Engine Type: Details such as a 1.8-liter engine with 4 cylinders may be encoded in the VIN, providing potential insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle is indicated as Gasoline. This could provide important information for understanding fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Drive Type: The VIN indicates a 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 drive type, possibly highlighting the vehicle’s ability to handle diverse driving conditions.
- Safety Features: The VIN may mention the manual seat belt type, offering a hint at the basic safety features present in the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Location: The vehicle was possibly manufactured in Gunma, Japan, by FHI Gunma, potentially giving context to its production background and affecting its design and quality.
Subaru Loyale 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 Loyale VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Subaru Loyale VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) code is a unique sequence of characters assigned to every vehicle manufacturer for identification purposes. For Subaru Loyale models from 1990 to 1994, two distinct WMIs are employed, with JF1 indicating passenger cars and JF2 denoting multipurpose passenger vehicles. Both these WMIs are registered under Subaru Corporation, headquartered in Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. Through these identifiers, one can ascertain the vehicle type and its manufacturing origin, enhancing the tracing of vehicle specifications and history. Specifically, the Subaru Loyale’s identification through these WMIs underscores its production by a renowned Japanese manufacturer, ensuring a blend of reliability and innovation.
List of WMI Codes for a Subaru Loyale
WMI: JF1
- Model Years Covered: 1990-1992
- Example VIN: JF1AN4227LC418849
- Manufacturer Name: Subaru Corporation
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Shibuya-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan
WMI: JF2
- Model Years Covered: 1990, 1992-1994
- Example VIN: JF2AN52B8LD415969
- Manufacturer Name: Subaru Corporation
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Shibuya-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Subaru Loyale 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 Loyale 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 Loyale VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 1994 Subaru Loyale |
| P | 1993 Subaru Loyale |
| N | 1992 Subaru Loyale |
| M | 1991 Subaru Loyale |
| L | 1990 Subaru Loyale |
11th Character in the Subaru Loyale VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Subaru Loyale Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Gunma | Japan | Fhi Gunma | JF1AN4227LC418849 | |
| D | Gunma | Japan | Fhi Gunma | JF2AN52B8LD415969 | |
| F | Gunma | Japan | Fhi Gunma | JF2AC52B6LF207714 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Subaru Loyale
The final 6 characters in a Subaru Loyale’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 Loyale’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Subaru Loyale is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look for the VIN on the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Subaru Loyale. It is often visible through the windshield.
- Check the door jamb on the driver’s side, where the door latch meets the body of your Subaru Loyale. The VIN can often be found on a label or sticker in this location.
- Inspect the engine block of your Subaru Loyale. The VIN is sometimes engraved on the engine itself.
- Review your Subaru Loyale’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers, as the VIN will be printed on these documents.
- Look for a VIN sticker or plate under the hood of your Subaru Loyale, often placed on the front of the engine bay or near the firewall.
- Examine the rear wheel well directly above the tire; in some Subaru Loyale models, a VIN sticker may be placed in this less common location.
Don’t have your Subaru Loyale’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Subaru Loyale
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Wagon |
| Displacement (CC) | 1800 |
| Displacement (CI) | 109.842739370 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.800000 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg) |
| Model | Loyale |
| Model Year | 1992 |
| Plant City | Gunma |
| Plant Company Name | FHI Gunma |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Transmission Speeds | 3 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Trim | DL |
| Trim2 | Station Wagon |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JF2AN52B*NF |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Sample VIN | JF2AN52B4NF410971 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Subaru Loyale for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Subaru Loyale?
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 Loyale's history for free?
Enter the Subaru Loyale’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 Loyale VIN numbers start with?
Subaru Loyale VIN's start with JF1 and JF2 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 Loyale.
Decode a Subaru VIN
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