Most Subaru Impreza VINs open with JF1 (Japan, 1993–2026) or 4S3 (the United States, 2011–2023). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often H (32%); a 2026 Impreza carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 58 recall campaigns and 2,380 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Subaru Impreza VIN
Here is a real 2026 Subaru Impreza VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN JF1GUAFC3T8205155 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Subaru Impreza VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Subaru Impreza VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is JF1 (Japan, 1993–2026), then 4S3 (the United States, 2011–2023):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JF1 | 1993–2026 | Japan | Passenger Car | |
| 4S3 | 2011–2023 | United States | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Subaru Impreza it is not one number either — assembly moved between 8 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| H | 1993–2016 | 748 | |
| G | 1993–2015 | 662 | |
| 3 | 2016–2023 | 520 | |
| 8 | 1996–2026 | 162 | |
| L | 2004–2014 | 97 | |
| 2 | 2002–2013 | 75 | |
| 1 | 2013–2023 | 68 | |
| K | 1993–2002 | 14 |
Counted from 2,359 dated Subaru Impreza VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Subaru Impreza
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which for the Subaru Impreza has already happened — 1996 and 2026 share the character T. All 34 model years of the Subaru Impreza, 1993 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | 1996 |
| 2025 | S | 1995 |
| 2024 | R | 1994 |
| 2023 | P | 1993 |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
To tell the two apart on a car or light truck, look at position 7: a number for 1980–2009 models, a letter from 2010 on.
Body and engine characters we see on Subaru Impreza VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 261 VINs the Subaru Impreza uses 13 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | G (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | T (18%) · P (14%) · K (12%) · U (10%) · H (10%) · D (8%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | 6 (79%) · C (10%) · 5 (5%) · D (1%) · S (1%) · W (1%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Subaru Impreza VIN gets you
Behind a Subaru Impreza VIN: 2,380 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 58 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 2,380 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 26 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 15 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 34 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Subaru Impreza
A Subaru Impreza VIN normally opens with JF1; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Subaru Impreza VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 58 recall campaigns and 2,380 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Subaru Impreza.
Why does my Impreza VIN start differently from another Impreza?
Because the Subaru Impreza was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Subaru Impreza VINs on record we see 2 of them: JF1 (1993–2026), 4S3 (2011–2023). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Impreza by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Impreza carries T, a 2025 Impreza carries S, a 2024 Impreza carries R. A 1996 and a 2026 share T; position 7 tells them apart, a number for 1980–2009 and a letter from 2010 on.
Where was my Impreza built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 2,346 dated Subaru Impreza VINs it reads H 32%, G 28%, 3 22%, 8 7% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Subaru Impreza VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 261 Subaru Impreza VINs here, G is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Subaru Impreza check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with JF1 or 4S3. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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