About Subaru Cars
The Japanese auto manufacturer Subaru got its start as Aircraft Research Laboratory in 1915, which became Nakajima Aircraft Company in 1932 and provided Japan with planes and parts during World War II. After the war, Fuji Sangyo Co. was the successor company, which made motor scooters with leftover aircraft parts. In 1950 the government forced the company to break into 12 smaller companies, but shortly after that, five of them joined forces to become Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI).
The group’s first auto, produced in 1954, was named Subaru 1500 after the Pleiades constellation (hence the stars on modern Subaru badges). Nissan purchased a 20 percent stake in Subaru in 1960, and the two automakers soon shared capabilities, including components such as the Subaru transmission being used in the first Nissan Pathfinder. General Motors bought Nissan’s stake in Subaru when Nissan was acquired by Renault in 1999. This allowed the Subaru Forester to be marketed as a Chevrolet Forester in India and the Impreza to be sold in the U.S. as a Saab 9-2X. Toyota bought General Motors’s share of Subaru in 2005, kicking off a period of collaboration between Toyota and Subaru (such as Corollas being built in Subaru’s U.S. plants).
Quick Facts
-
Subaru Impreza
is the most-recalled Subaru vehicle
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Subaru Justy
is the least expensive car from Subaru starting from
$ 5,866.00
-
Subaru Justy
has an MPG of
37 miles/gallon / 39 miles/gallon
which is the highest gas mileage in the city and on highways
-
Subaru L-Line
has the most trims available with 13 variations released
Number of Subaru Sales in the United States
Subaru U.S. Sales Reports - By Month
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 40,812 | 41,358 | 49,111 | 47,241 | 49,561 | 44,335 | 50,517 | 52,697 | 53,070 | 46,070 | 56,274 | |
| 2016 | 41,101 | 42,011 | 49,285 | 50,380 | 50,083 | 46,598 | 52,093 | 60,418 | 54,918 | 54,045 | 51,308 | 63,177 |
| 2017 | 43,879 | 45,500 | 54,871 | 52,368 | 56,135 | 52,057 | 55,703 | 63,215 | 55,120 | 55,394 | 51,721 | 63,342 |
| 2018 | 44,357 | 47,249 | 58,097 | 53,170 | 60,146 | 59,841 | 59,426 | 64,088 | 57,044 | 55,394 | 56,782 | 64,541 |
| 2019 | 46,072 | 49,081 | 61,601 | 57,288 | 63,972 | 61,511 |
Subaru Car Sales in The United States from 2015 to 2019
| Year | Car Sales |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 531,046 |
| 2016 | 615,417 |
| 2017 | 649,305 |
| 2018 | 680,135 |
| 2019 | 339,525 |
Average Pricing for Subaru Popular models
| Popular Subaru Models | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Impreza | $ 21,977.85 |
| Impreza WRX | $ 29,430.09 |
| B9 Tribeca | $ 32,208.43 |
| Tribeca | $ 32,881.36 |
| GL | $ 3,028.42 |
| Loyale Wagon | $ 11,827.88 |
| Loyale | $ 10,341.04 |
| SVX | $ 29,446.83 |
| DL | $ 4,382.66 |
| DL Wagon | $ 4,011.06 |
| XV Crosstrek Hybrid | $ 28,019.00 |
| Ascent | $ 41,011.85 |
Interesting Facts About Subaru
The majority of Subaru vehicles are made in Japan, but the company’s Indiana production facility is capable of turning out 1 million vehicles per year. It opened another production facility in Bangkok in 2019, but that site will produce a maximum of 100,000 vehicles per year.
The best-selling Subaru in the United States is the Outback, which sold nearly 65,000 units in 2018. The automaker has sold 40,000 vehicles per month for more than 60 months in a row.
Subaru is credited with breaking new ground in society by directing some of its advertising at gay women in the mid-1990s. The company’s marketers realized that the all-wheel-drive vehicles were preferred by pockets of lesbian women in places like Northampton, Massachusetts and Portland, Oregon, so they hired an ad agency, Mulryan/Nash, to direct some of the company’s advertising to a gay audience through specific publications and outlets. It is noted as one of the early mainstream brands to make such an effort.
The Outlander’s popularity is partly owed to the family pet: the model has been named most dog-friendly by some surveys. The company supports pet adoption efforts by partnering with the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in events and has donated $16 million to the organization since 2008.
The Subaru production facility in Indiana is 100 percent landfill-free. All byproducts of production are recycled or “turned into electricity” (burned for energy) at the 3.5 million square foot site where 5,500 people work. Even cafeteria waste is sent home with employees as garden compost.
Kelly Blue Book named Subaru to several categories of vehicles with the best resale values in 2019. Among them, the Subaru Legacy was named best resale value for a midsize car, the Subaru Outback was best for midsize SUV/crossover with a second row of seats, and Subaru Crosstrek was best compact SUV/crossover.
How to Identify and Decode Subaru VINs
World Manufacturer Identifier
All U.S. VINs begin with a three-digit sequence called the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). This set of codes identifies where the vehicle was manufactured and by which company. The WMI is assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and is regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Subaru owners can find out if their vehicle has an active recall by visiting the NHTSA VIN Safety Recall Lookup.
Subaru uses the following WMI codes in the first three digits of a VIN.
| JF1 | Japan | Fuji Heavy Industries | Passenger Vehicle |
| JF2 | Japan | Fuji Heavy Industries | MPV |
| 4S3 | USA | Subaru-Isuzu Automotive / Subaru of Indiana Automotive | Passenger Vehicle |
| 4S4 | USA | Subaru-Isuzu Automotive / Subaru of Indiana Automotive | MPV |
The characters in positions four through eight identify the specific attributes of the vehicle.
Subaru vehicles will have one of the following codes in the fourth position, indicating the vehicle model or type.
| A | DL/GL/GL-10/Leone/Loyale/Alcyone XT/XT6 |
| B | Legacy/Baja |
| C | Alcyone SVX |
| G | Impreza |
| K | Justy |
| S | Forester |
| V | WRX/LEVORG |
| W | Tribeca/B9 Tribeca/Ascent |
| Z | BRZ/FRS/GT86 |
The fifth character denotes the style or trim level of the vehicle, and in some cases, the generation.
| A | XX-94 Justy 3-Door |
| B | 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL sedan |
| C | 1st gen. Sedan (Impreza/Legacy); 85-94 Leone/DL/GL/Loyale sedan |
| D | XX-94 Justy 5-Door; 2nd gen. Sedan (Impreza/Legacy) |
| E | 3rd gen. Sedan (Impreza/Legacy) |
| F | 1st gen. Wagon (raised-roof Legacy/Impreza/Forester); 80-89 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL hatchback |
| G | 2nd gen. Wagon (raised-roof Legacy/Outback/Impreza/Forester); 85-94 3rd gen. Leone/DL/GL/Loyale hatchback |
| H | 3rd. gen Legacy/Outback Wagon/Impreza Hatch |
| J | 1st gen. non-raised-roof Legacy Wagon |
| K | 2nd gen. non-raised-roof Legacy Wagon |
| L | 4th gen. Legacy Sedan |
| M | 1st gen. Impreza Coupe; 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL wagon; 5th gen. Legacy Sedan, 1st gen Ascent |
| M | Levorg Wagon |
| N | 85-94 3rd. gen Leone/DL/GL/GL-10/Loyale wagon |
| P | 4th gen. Legacy/Outback Wagon |
| R | Impreza Hatch Widebody |
| T | Baja; 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL Brat |
| U | 85-87 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL Brat |
| V | Impreza WRX Sedan Widebody |
| W | 80-84 2nd gen. Leone/DL/GL coupe |
| X | XT/SVX Coupe; Tribeca |
Position six indicates the factory-installed engine. These codes change frequently as new engines are introduced. Many modern Subaru vehicles will have one of the following codes based on engine size and drivetrain configuration.
| 2 | 1.8 liters, 4x2 |
| 3 | 3.0 liters, 4x2 |
| 4 | 2.2 liters, 4x4 |
| 6 | 2.5 liters, 4x4 |
| 8 | 3.0 liters, 4x4 |
Subaru vehicle trim levels can be identified by the seventh character. Subaru vehicles will have different codes depending on model and year of manufacture.
| # | Forester | Legacy | Outback | Impreza | WRX, STI | Crosstrek, Hybrid | BRZ |
| A | base | base | 2.5i base | base | WRX base (no spoiler) | base | - |
| B | base + | Premium | Premium | - | WRX | - | base |
| C | Premium | Premium, awp | Premium, awp | Premium, awp | WRX Premium | Premium, awp | high |
| D | Premium, mr | Premium, awp, mr | Premium, awp, mr | - | WRX Premium mr | Premium, awp, mr | - |
| E | Premium, mr, nav | Premium, awp | Premium, awp | - | WRX Premium, mr | - | - |
| F | Premium, mr, eye | Premium, awp, eye | Premium, awp, eye | - | WRX Prem, mr, nav, h/k | Premium, awp, eye | - |
| G | Premium, mr, nav, eye | Premium, awp, eye, mr | Premium, awp, eye, mr | - | WRX Limited, mr | - | - |
| H | Limited, mr | Premium, awp, mr, eye, nav | Premium, awp, eye, mr, nav | - | WRX Limited, mr | - | - |
| J | Limited, mr, nav | Limited | Limited | - | WRX Limited, mr, nav, h/k | - | - |
| K | Limited, r, nav, h/k | Limited, mr | Limited, mr | Premium, plus, awp, SI | STI (no spoiler) | - | - |
| L | Limited, mr, sp | Limited, mr, nav | Limited, mr, nav | - | STI | - | - |
| M | - | Limited, mr, eye | Limited, mr, eye | Limited | STI, mr | Limited | - |
| N | - | Limited, mr, nav, eye | Limited, mr, nav, eye | Limited, mr | STI | Limited, mr | - |
| P | Limited, mr, nav, eye | - | - | - | STI, nav, h/k | Limited, mr, nav | - |
| R | Limited, mr, nav, h/k, eye | - | - | - | STI, mr, h/k, nav | - | - |
| S | Touring, mr, hk | - | - | Sport- Limited, Eye, SR, Nav | STI Limited, mr, h/k | Sport- Limited, Eye, Mr, Nav | - |
| T | Touring, mr, nav, h/k | - | - | Sport | STI Limited mr, h/k | - | - |
| U | Touring,r, nav, h/k, sp | - | - | Sport, MR | STI Limited, mr, h/k, nav | - | - |
| V | Touring, mr, sp | - | - | Sport Limited | - | - | - |
| W | Touring, mr, nav, h/k, eye, sp | - | - | Sport Limited, MR | Special Edition | - | - |
| X | Touring,mr, nav, key, eye | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Y | Touring,r, h/k, sp, eye | - | - | ?? Sport Limited, mr, eye, nav | - | - | - |
Subaru vehicles use the eighth character of the VIN to denote the safety equipment or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The following codes are common:
| 1 | No Passive Restraint |
| 2 | Automatic Seat Belt w/o Air Bag |
| 3 | Automatic Seat Belt w/ Air Bag |
| 4 | Manual Seat Belt w/ Air Bag 1993-94; Automatic Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags |
| 5 | Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags |
| 6 | Manual Seat Belt w/ Driver/Passenger Air Bags and Side Air Bags |
| A | Class A (GVWR 3000 lbs. or less) |
| B | Class B (GVWR 3001-4000 lbs.) |
| C | Class C (GVWR 4001-5000 lbs.) |
| D | Class D (GVWR 5001-6000 lbs.) |
The ninth digit of the VIN is called the check digit. This character represents the result of an algorithm used to verify the validity of a VIN. VINs can be verified through the NHTSA VIN Verifier Lookup.
The character in position 10 identifies the year the vehicle was built.
| A | 1980, 2010 |
| B | 1981, 2011 |
| C | 1982, 2012 |
| D | 1983, 2013 |
| E | 1984, 2014 |
| F | 1985, 2015 |
| G | 1986, 2016 |
| H | 1987, 2017 |
| J | 1988, 2018 |
| K | 1989, 2019 |
| L | 1990, 2020 |
| M | 1991, 2021 |
| N | 1992, 2022 |
| P | 1993, 2023 |
| R | 1994, 2024 |
| S | 1995, 2025 |
| T | 1996, 2026 |
| U | 1997, 2027 |
| W | 1998, 2028 |
| X | 1999, 2029 |
| Y | 2000, 2030 |
| 1 | 2001, 2031 |
| 2 | 2002, 2032 |
| 3 | 2003, 2033 |
| 4 | 2004, 2034 |
| 5 | 2005, 2035 |
| 6 | 2006, 2036 |
| 7 | 2007, 2037 |
| 8 | 2008, 2038 |
| 9 | 2009, 2039 |
The digit used by Subaru in the eleventh position identifies both the plant the vehicle was built in and the transmission installed by the factory.
| 1 | SIA FWD 5MT |
| 3 | SIA Full-time AWD 6MT |
| 4 | SIA Full-time AWD 5AT |
| 5 | SIA Sport Shift Automatic |
| 6 | SIA Full-time AWD 5MT |
| 7 | SIA Full-time AWD 4EAT |
| 8 | SIA Full-time AWD 4EAT (Postal RHD) |
| 9 | SIA FWD 4EAT |
| A | FHI FWD 4MT |
| B | FHI FWD 5MT |
| C | FHI FWD 3AT/ECVT |
| D | FHI On-demand AWD 5MT |
| E | FHI 4spd 4wd Dual Range MT 81-84, 85-89 Hatchback, 85-89 Brat. 5spd 4wd dual range MT 85-89 |
| F | FHI On-demand AWD 3AT |
| G | FHI Full-time AWD 5MT. Full-time AWD CVT. |
| H | FHI Full-time AWD 4EAT |
| K | FHI FWD 4EAT |
| L | FHI Full-time AWD 6MT |
| P | FHI Full-time AWD 4EAT (Postal RHD) |
The 12 through 17 digits are the serial number. Subaru serial numbers follow a pattern, as follows:
| 100000 and after | Legacy Sedan SUS (Jan 98 - May 98) |
| 210001 and after | Legacy Sedan |
| 310001 and after | Legacy Station Wagon |
| 410001 and after | Impreza Coupe; Ascent |
| 510001 and after | Impreza Sedan |
| 610001 and after | Legacy Station Wagon Outback |
| 710001 and after | Forester Wagon |
| 810001 and after | Impreza Sports Wagon |
Safety and Recalls for Subaru Cars
Defective airbags are the cause of a major recall in 2018 that affected about 158,000 Subaru vehicles. The airbag inflators installed in the following vehicles could pose a hazard to passengers and must be replaced:
- 2009-2013 Subaru Tribeca,
- 2009-2013 Subaru Legacy,
- 2009-2013 Subaru Outback,
- 2009-2013 Subaru WRX, and
- 2009-2011 Subaru Impreza.
Steering control can be lost on some models due to a manufacturing error on the steering column. This has prompted a recall of 2016-2017 Subaru Legacy and 2016-2017 Subaru Outback vehicles, affecting nearly 50,000 models.
Over 550,000 model-year 2010-2014 Subaru Outback and Legacy models have been recalled for a potential failure of the windshield wiper system. A plastic part may melt and cause the entire system to malfunction.
Certain turbocharged Subarus needed a secondary air injection pump relay replaced to reduce the possibility that the air pump would overheat. Turbocharged versions of the following are affected:
- 2009-2013 Subaru Outback,
- 2007-2009 Subaru Legacy,
- 2007-2009 Subaru Forester and
- 2008-2014 Subaru WRX and Subaru WRX STI.
Several Subaru models were recalled to inspect brake lines that may corrode if exposed to saltwater. The recall of more than 600,000 vehicles affects:
- 2008-2014 Subaru WRX,
- 2008-2011 Subaru Impreza,
- 2005-2009 Subaru Outback,
- 2005-2009 Subaru Legacy, and
- 2009-2013 Subaru Forester.
Subaru Recalls
Subaru had 2533 from 1980 to 2024 of which the most recalled model is 1988 Subaru Justy and the least is 1982 Subaru GL. Subaru had the most recalled during 2009.
| Model | Number of Recalls |
|---|---|
| 1988 Subaru Justy #1 with most recalls | 4 |
| 2018 Subaru Forester #2 with most recalls | 2 |
| 2015 Subaru WRX #3 with most recalls | 2 |
| 2000 Subaru Outback #4 with most recalls | 2 |
| 1991 Subaru XT #5 with most recalls | 2 |
| 2008 Subaru Forester #6 with most recalls | 1 |
| 1993 Subaru Legacy #7 with most recalls | 1 |
| 1989 Subaru GL #8 with most recalls | 1 |
| 1987 Subaru Justy #9 with most recalls | 1 |
| 1982 Subaru GL #10 with most recalls | 1 |
