Free 1998 Subaru Impreza VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Subaru Impreza VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Subaru Impreza VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which distinctly identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle globally. The WMI for Subaru vehicles, specifically for models like the 1998 Subaru Impreza, is “JF1”. This code reveals that the vehicle was manufactured by Subaru Corporation, located in Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. The designation is associated with passenger cars and covers a broad timeline of production years, indicating the legacy and consistency of Subaru’s manufacturing in Japan. Understanding a vehicle’s WMI is crucial for pinpointing its origin, making vehicle tracking and identification straightforward for various administrative, safety, and regulatory purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Subaru Impreza

WMI: JF1

• Model Years Covered: 1993-2016, 2024
• Example VIN: JF1GC4353WH500111
• 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 Impreza 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 Impreza:

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 Impreza 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 Impreza VIN — Year Code

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

Known 1998 Subaru Impreza Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Subaru Impreza

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

What info can a 1998 Subaru Impreza VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Size: It may indicate that the vehicle is a Wagon, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Specifications: The engine size or displacement is often detailed within the VIN, which in this case, could be expressed as 2200.0 CC, 134.25223700841 CI, or 2.2 L of displacement.
• Drive Type and Transmission: The type of drive (e.g., AWD/All-Wheel Drive) and transmission details (e.g., Manual/Standard with 5 speeds) can be typically encoded in the VIN.
• Safety Features: The VIN may provide information about safety features, such as the presence and location of airbags (e.g., SRS Airbag, Side Air Bags in 1st Row for both driver and passenger), though not in all cases.
• Manufacturing Information: VIN includes manufacturing details like the plant country (e.g., Japan), plant city (e.g., Ota), and the company name (e.g., FHI), providing insight into the vehicle’s origin and production.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The VIN may indicate the vehicle’s GVWR, categorizing it into a specific class based on weight, such as Class 1, which is 6,000 lb or less.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Subaru Impreza