Free Subaru VIN Decoder! 🚗 See specs, build sheet, recalls basic history—no sign-up. 🛡️✅ Need accidents, mileage, title? Upgrade in one click.
Looking for the VIN?
Here is there you’ll find it:
A 17-digit VIN (vehicle identification number) is a unique code. It serves as your vehicle's fingerprint. Analyze your Subaru VIN number to reveal crucial details about your car. Our VIN Decoder will assist in verifying the car's manufacturer, model year, body type, and production history.
Get instant access to your vehicle's specifications and history with our four-step process.
Your vehicle identification number is located in several standard locations on every vehicle for easy identification and verification.
| Key Risk | Major Statistics (2024-2025) | Impact on Buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Theft & Catalytic Converter Theft | Whole-car: Forester 21-23 among the least stolen series. Catalytic converters: 3,800 State Farm claims in H1 2024. | Theft is rare, but protect the catalytic converter. |
| Major Recalls | 118,723 Outback/Legacy 20-22 (airbag sensor, WRA-24), 35,357 Crosstrek/Impreza 2024 (wiring harness, WRL-23). Total 153,000+ open recalls. | Run the VIN and schedule free repairs before buying. |
| Depreciation | Average market: -45.6% over 5 years. BRZ loses only 30.3%, Crosstrek -33.6%, Outback -39.3%. | Subaru retains value better than most; worth the higher upfront cost. |
| Odometer Rollback | EpicVIN identified 2.1M+ vehicles with rolled-back odometers, including ~80,000 Subarus. | Cross-check mileage with service records and EpicVIN; discrepancies in any instance warrant price reduction or rejection. |
| Flood & Salvage Titles | 10,000+ models with salvage titles on online auctions; 150+ with flood designation currently listed. | Auction photos help detect frame or flood damage. |
| IIHS Safety Ratings | 3 models earned the 2025 Top Safety Pick: Forester, Solterra, and Ascent. | High safety = lower insurance, but verify airbags and sensors. |
How to Minimize Risks:
✅ Run the VIN through EpicVIN tool
🔍 Inspect the undercarriage for rust, sealant, or welds
⚠️ Use an OBD-II scanner to detect ABS/SRS error codes
🧰 Hire a certified mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection - especially in coastal states
| Problem | Scale & Details | Buyer Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic Battery Drain | ~2.8M models of 2015-2020 (Outback, Forester, Legacy, WRX, Ascent); car won't start after 1-3 days; battery replacement $45-250 DIY or $300-400 at dealer | Check VIN for warranty update completion; budget for a potential new battery |
| Windshield Cracks + EyeSight | 1.4M vehicles of 2019-2023 (Forester, Ascent, Outback, Legacy); stress cracks without impact; windshield + calibration $650-1,000+, dealer up to $1,400 | Inspect for micro-cracks; verify insurance covers ADAS calibration |
| CVT Chain Failure | 198,255 vehicles of 2019-2021 (Ascent, Outback/Legacy 2.4T); jerking, humming, power loss; CVT replacement $7,500-8,600 outside warranty | Verify recall WRK-21 closure; test CVT thoroughly for jerking and noise |
Each character in your VIN tells a specific story about your vehicle's production. Here's the standard VIN format:
Let's decode a sample VIN: 4S3BSAB68J3012345
| Symbols | Sample | What It Reveals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | The United States as the country of origin |
| 2 | S | Subaru as a manufacturer |
| 3 | 3 | Passenger car vehicle type |
| 4-8 | BSAB6 | Sedan/wagon body style, engine type, restraint system, model line, series designation |
| 9 | 8 | Check digit for validation |
| 10 | J | 2018 model year |
| 11 | 3 | Indiana assembly plant |
| 12-17 | 012345 | Individual vehicle serial number |
Year 2017
Make Subaru
Model Crosstrek
Fuel Type Gasoline
Engine 2L Naturally Aspirated
Made in JAPAN
By 2025, our data team had decoded over 14 million Subaru VINs. We've linked each one to NMVTIS titles, state-DMV odometer logs, and a trove of live salvage-auction photo evidence. That mix can flag an unclosed CVT recall, a flood title quietly washed in Florida, or suspicious mileage gaps. We offer to turn a five-second VIN check into the cheapest insurance a shopper can buy.Alex Black, CMO, EpicVIN
On the dashboard near the windshield or inside the door frame.
The first character "J" means it's Japan-built; 4 means U.S. factory (Indiana).
Yes - our free VIN decoder detects EyeSight and other key features.
Yes - EpicVIN compares DMV, service, and inspection records to flag discrepancies.
Our reports show all registered owners from the first title to the current.
Yes - we pull from 12+ live sources, including NMVTIS, DMV, auctions, service shops, and insurers.
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