Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN Decoder

Decode any Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 5 real B9 Tribeca VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 2008–2011 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

A Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN opens with 4S4 (the United States). A 2014 B9 Tribeca carries E in position 10.

How to read a Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN

Here is a real 2011 Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMI4S4
4–8 · VDSWX9GD
9 · Check0
10 · YearB
11 · Plant4
12–17 · Serial403308

VIN 4S4WX9GD0B4403308 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN structure
PositionSectionWhat it tells you
1–3WMIWorld Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type.
4–8VDSVehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series.
9Check digitA calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN.
10Model yearOne character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z.
11PlantThe assembly plant that built the car.
12–17SerialSequential production number of this exact vehicle.
ROWS 6·SOURCE ISO 3779 / NHTSA vPIC

Where Subaru B9 Tribeca VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 5 Subaru B9 Tribeca VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Subaru B9 Tribeca assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
4S4United StatesMultipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)5100%
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · ForCar decoded VINs

Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.

Model-year codes for the Subaru B9 Tribeca

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Subaru B9 Tribeca has not yet outlived: its 9 years still map one-to-one. All 9 model years of the Subaru B9 Tribeca, 2006 to 2014, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
2014E—
2013D—
2012C—
2011B—
2010A—
20099—
20088—
20077—
20066—
ROWS 9·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Subaru B9 Tribeca VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 5 VINs the Subaru B9 Tribeca uses 3 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyW (100%)1 distinct
5 — seriesX (100%)1 distinct
8 — engineD (100%)1 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN gets you

What a decoded VIN opens up:

FIG.05·Subaru B9 Tribeca data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Fuel economy18 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Model years covered9 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Subaru B9 Tribeca

A Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN normally opens with 4S4; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN locations
WhereHow to see itWhy it matters
Dashboard, driver sideThrough the windshield, bottom cornerEasiest to check before you touch anything
Driver door jambOpen the door, sticker on the pillarAlso lists tire pressures and build date
Under the hoodFirewall or strut tower plateSurvives a windshield replacement
Title and insurancePaper documentsMust match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel
ROWS 4·SOURCE ForCar
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Frequently asked questions

Is this Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows the recalls NHTSA holds on the Subaru B9 Tribeca.

What year is my B9 Tribeca by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2014 B9 Tribeca carries E, a 2013 B9 Tribeca carries D, a 2012 B9 Tribeca carries C.

What does position 4 mean on a Subaru B9 Tribeca VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 5 Subaru B9 Tribeca VINs here, W is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 5 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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