Subaru is a Japanese carmaker founded in 1953. The cars themselves are another matter: across 10 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 2 countries — the United States 55.9%, Japan 44.1%. 21 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.2 out of 5 across 21 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Subaru
Subaru Corporation is a Japanese automaker headquartered in Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo. The automotive division traces its founding to 1953, when six companies that survived the dissolution of aircraft maker Nakajima merged into Fuji Heavy Industries; Subaru was launched as the consumer automobile brand in 1954. The company adopted Subaru as its corporate name in 2017. Nearly every Subaru sold globally uses two defining technologies that no other mass-market automaker offers across its full lineup: a horizontally-opposed (boxer) engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. The Outback, Forester and Crosstrek combine to make Subaru the leading non-luxury brand in IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designations per model in the United States. The WRX and BRZ represent Subaru's performance heritage, with WRX competing in the World Rally Championship from 1990 to 2008. Subaru trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under 7270 and on the OTC market as FUJHY. Toyota Motor Corporation has held a 20% strategic stake in Subaru since 2019, and the two companies co-developed the BRZ/GR86 sports coupe and the Solterra/bZ4X electric SUV. Recall data for every Subaru VIN is reported to NHTSA. ForCar.org decodes any Subaru VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original MSRP.
The 1958 Subaru 360, a kei-class minicar, was the first vehicle sold under the Subaru brand. The name Subaru is the Japanese term for the Pleiades star cluster, depicted in the brand logo as six stars representing the six companies merged in 1953. The 1972 Leone introduced the boxer-engine plus all-wheel-drive layout that remains Subaru's signature, and the 1995 Impreza WRX, developed for World Rally Championship homologation, became a global cult car.
| Subaru | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1953 |
| Founded by | Kenji Kita |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Listed as | FUJHY |
| Slogan | «Confidence in Motion» |
| Models tracked here | 21 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 2 countries |
Technology it is known for: Boxer (horizontally-opposed) engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, EyeSight Driver Assist, X-MODE off-road system, StarLink connected services.
This page covers Subaru Corporation, the Japanese automaker — not the Pleiades star cluster (Subaru in Japanese) referenced in the logo.
Where Subaru cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 22,367 vehicles on record, 10 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 4S4, 4S3, 453, 454 | 1990–2026 | |
| Japan | JF2, JF1, JTM, JS1 | 1981–2026 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Subaru beginning 4S4 was assembled in the United States.
All Subaru models 21
Every Subaru model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Subaru SUVs & crossovers 9
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Outback | 2005–2026 | 158 | 8,509 | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | 2016–2026 | 24 | 1,085 | 36 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Forester | 1998–2026 | 118 | 6,446 | 35 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru Impreza | 1993–2026 | 183 | 2,748 | 32 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru Ascent | 2019–2026 | 25 | 1,005 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Solterra | 2023–2026 | 9 | 39 | 120 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Baja | 2003–2006 | 41 | 119 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Subaru B9 Tribeca | 2006–2014 | — | — | 18 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru XV CrossTrek | 2012–2015 | 4 | 202 | 31 mpg | 4.5/5 |
Subaru Cars & sedans 8
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru WRX | 2015–2026 | 12 | 215 | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1990–2026 | 222 | 3,344 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru BRZ | 2013–2026 | 12 | 99 | 28 mpg | 5.0/5 |
| Subaru XT | 1985–1991 | 15 | 9 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru SVX | 1992–1997 | 6 | 305 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru Justy | 1987–1994 | 12 | 50 | 34 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Subaru XT6 | 1988–1991 | 8 | 5 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru RX | 1986–1989 | — | — | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
Subaru More models 4
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Brat | 1981–1986 | 1 | 1 | 25 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru GL | 1981–1989 | 19 | 92 | 25 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Subaru Loyale | 1990–1994 | 9 | 90 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru DL | 1981–1989 | 19 | 17 | 25 mpg | 3.5/5 |
Subaru by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Subaru | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 897 campaigns | Most recalled: Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| Owner complaints | 23,978+ filed | Most reported: Outback |
| Fuel economy | 120 mpg best | Leader: Solterra |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 8 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,184/yr typical | Cheapest: Forester |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Subaru hybrids & electric models
Subaru's electrified lineup — 3 hybrids and 1 electric / plug-in. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Subaru hybrids 3
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Crosstrek | 2016–2026 | 36 | 24 | 4.5/5 |
| Subaru Forester | 1998–2026 | 35 | 118 | 4.0/5 |
| Subaru XV CrossTrek | 2012–2015 | 31 | 4 | 4.5/5 |
Subaru electric & plug-in 1
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Solterra | 2023–2026 | 120 | 9 | 4.5/5 |
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Subaru window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Subaru's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Subaru window stickers →How to read a Subaru VIN
Every Subaru built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Subaru and the country it was built in (real Subaru codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- JapanJF1 · JF2 · JF3 · JF4
- USA4S3 · 4S4
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. The whole position-by-position breakdown — year codes 2001–2026, country codes, stamping locations — lives in our VIN decoder tool.
Who owns Subaru, and what you get
Subaru is independent, Japanese-owned and publicly listed as FUJHY. Subaru competes in mainstream passenger and SUV segments with above-average pricing offset by standard all-wheel drive on every model except the BRZ. The brand's US sales concentrate in northern states with snow exposure (Colorado, Vermont, New Hampshire) where AWD provides differentiated value. Subaru is the only mainstream brand whose entire lineup is rated IIHS Top Safety Pick or higher.
| Subaru | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Ownership | Independent |
| Stock ticker | FUJHY |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | United States, Japan |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Subaru models actually start to break →
Subaru — frequently asked
Is Subaru japanese?
Subaru is a Japanese company, headquartered in Tokyo and founded in 1953. The cars are a separate question: 55.9% of the Subaru vehicles in our records were assembled in the United States.
Where are Subaru cars made?
Across 10 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: the United States (55.9%), Japan (44.1%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Subaru?
Subaru is independent, publicly traded as FUJHY.
How many Subaru models are there?
We track 21 Subaru models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Subaru warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Subaru reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Subaru model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.