Free 2008 Subaru Forester VIN Decoder

How to decode a 2008 Subaru Forester VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2008 Subaru Forester VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is an alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle globally. It forms the initial characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides specific details about the vehicle, including its manufacture date, location, and model specifics. For example, Subaru Corporation, a renowned vehicle manufacturer based in Tokyo, Japan, uses the WMI “JF1” for certain models, including the 2008 Subaru Forester. This particular vehicle falls under the category of passenger cars and signifies that it was produced by Subaru in Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo. Understanding the WMI is essential for vehicle identification, tracking, and registration purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 2008 Subaru Forester

WMI: JF1

• Model Years Covered: 1998-2008
• Example VIN: JF1SG63608H701678
• 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 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Subaru Forester VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 2008 Subaru Forester VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2008 Subaru Forester Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2008 Subaru Forester

The final 6 characters in a 2008 Subaru Forester’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 2008 Subaru Forester VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN may suggest the vehicle’s model year to be in the year 2008, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class: It is specified as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), offering insight into the vehicle’s design and potential use case.
• Engine Specifications: The VIN indicates the engine displacement to be 2500.0 CC (2.5 Liters), providing clues about the vehicle’s power and potential fuel efficiency.
• Drive Type: The VIN suggests the vehicle features an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, highlighting its capability in various driving conditions.
• Safety Features: Safety features such as the locations of airbags are specified, including front airbags for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger) and side airbags, indicating the vehicle’s emphasis on safety.
• Transmission Details: It comes equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, which could potentially affect driving experience and fuel economy.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN may reveal that the SUV was manufactured in Ota, Gunma, Japan, by FHI (Yajima Plant), providing insights into its origin and potentially the build quality.
• Series and Trim: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is part of the Wagon Body Type series and features the L.L.Bean trim, suggesting additional features or specific design elements unique to this variant.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2008 Subaru Forester