Free 1998 Subaru Forester VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Subaru Forester VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Subaru Forester VIN

World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and provide specific details about it. For the 1998 Subaru Forester, the WMI is “JF1,” indicating it was manufactured by Subaru Corporation. This code reveals the vehicle’s country of origin as Japan, with the manufacturing plant located in Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo. Further, it designates the vehicle type as a passenger car. Understanding the WMI is crucial for identifying key vehicle attributes, including its model year range from 1998 to 2008, directly from its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Subaru Forester

WMI: JF1

• Model Years Covered: 1998-2008
• Example VIN: JF1SF6550WH702107
• Manufacturer Name: Subaru Corporation
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Shibuya-Ku
• State or Province: Tokyo
• Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Subaru Forester VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1998 Subaru Forester:

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1998 Subaru Forester VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 1998 Subaru Forester VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Subaru Forester VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Subaru Forester Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Subaru Forester

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Subaru Forester’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Subaru Forester’s VIN below:

What info can a 1998 Subaru Forester VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, giving insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN can specify the vehicle type, such as Passenger Car, and provide details about body class, like being a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with a specific body class.
• Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, including displacement in liters (e.g., 2.5L), cubic centimeters (e.g., 2500.0 CC), and cubic inches (e.g., 152.559 CI), can be decoded from the VIN.
• Drive Type and Transmission: The VIN may reveal the vehicle’s drive type, for example, AWD (All-Wheel Drive), and transmission details, including the number of speeds (e.g., 5) and style (Manual/Standard).
• Safety Features: Safety features such as SRS Airbag systems and the locations of side airbags (e.g., 1st Row for Driver and Passenger) might be identified.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN can provide insights into the manufacturing location, including the city (e.g., Ota), country (e.g., Japan), and the specific company (e.g., FHI), including the plant state (e.g., Gunma).
• Additional Details: Other relevant specifications, like the number of doors (e.g., 4), seat belt type (Manual), and vehicle’s trim level (e.g., L), are often encoded within the VIN.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Subaru Forester