Decode Your VIN
Enter your vehicle's VIN code to discover all technical specifications. The VIN consists of 17 alphanumeric characters.
Subaru Crosstrek VIN Decoder
Decode any Subaru Crosstrek VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your Crosstrek into the decoder above and get the generation, model year, engine, trim, transmission, plant of origin, and open NHTSA recalls instantly. No sign-up, no credit card.
This page goes deeper than the general Subaru guide. Below you’ll find the Crosstrek’s three generations and their real chassis codes, the WMI codes that actually appear on a Crosstrek VIN, a position-by-position breakdown (including why engine displacement doesn’t reduce to one tidy VIN character on this model), the trims sold each generation, and the Crosstrek-specific recalls worth checking.
About the Subaru Crosstrek
The Crosstrek launched for model year 2013 as a lifted, more rugged hatchback variant of the Impreza, riding about an inch higher with plastic body cladding and standard all-wheel drive. For its first three model years in North America it was badged “XV Crosstrek,” matching the “Subaru XV” name Subaru used for the same car in most other markets. Subaru dropped the “XV” prefix for model year 2016, and the car has been sold simply as “Crosstrek” in the US and Canada ever since, still on the same first-generation GP platform through 2017. If you’re VIN-checking an older listing that says “XV Crosstrek,” you’re looking at the same GP-chassis car as a “Crosstrek,” just from an earlier model year.
| Generation | Model years (US) | Chassis code | Sold as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2013-2017 | GP | XV Crosstrek (2013-2015), Crosstrek (2016-2017) | Impreza-based, lifted hatchback |
| 2nd | 2018-2023 | GT | Crosstrek | Subaru Global Platform; 2.5L and PHEV added mid-cycle |
| 3rd | 2024-present | GU | Crosstrek | Wilderness off-road trim; full hybrid added for 2026 |
The chassis code sits inside the VIN’s Vehicle Descriptor Section, at positions 4-5. A VIN with GP there is a first-generation car no matter what the seller calls it; GT is second-generation; GU is the current one.
Subaru Crosstrek WMI codes (positions 1-3)
The Crosstrek is classified as a multipurpose passenger vehicle (MPV), so it carries Subaru’s MPV-class World Manufacturer Identifiers rather than the passenger-car codes used on the Impreza sedan or WRX. Decoding real Crosstrek VINs through the NHTSA vPIC database confirms two WMIs in current use:
| WMI | Country of build | Plant |
|---|---|---|
| JF2 | Japan | Ota, Gunma (Subaru’s home complex) |
| 4S4 | USA | Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA), Lafayette, Indiana |
Every Crosstrek sold in the US carries one of these two codes. A JF2 VIN, for example JF2GUADC7R8328674, decodes to a Japan-built 2024 Crosstrek Premium. A 4S4 VIN, for example 4S4GUHT60R3831877, decodes to a 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness assembled in Indiana, where Subaru began building 2.5L Crosstrek variants in May 2023. If your Crosstrek’s VIN starts with anything other than JF2 or 4S4, treat it as suspect and decode it with the tool above to confirm.
How to decode a Subaru Crosstrek VIN, position by position
Positions 1-3: WMI
Covered above. The first character tells you the country of assembly, not where Subaru is headquartered; a 4S4 Crosstrek built in Indiana is exactly as much a genuine Subaru as a JF2 car built in Japan.
Positions 4-8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Positions 4-5 carry the chassis code (GP, GT, or GU). From there, the Crosstrek’s VDS does not isolate engine displacement to a single clean character the way some other automakers’ VINs do. Decoding real, checksum-valid VINs through vPIC shows the same character at position 8 shared by different engines within one generation:
| VIN (positions 1-11 shown) | Model year | Trim | Engine (per vPIC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JF2GPACC7DH | 2013 | 2.0i Premium | 2.0L, gas |
| JF2GTABC1JH | 2018 | Premium | 2.0L, 152 hp gas |
| JF2GTDNC2KH | 2019 | Hybrid (PHEV) | 2.0L, 137 hp + electric |
| JF2GTHSC7MH | 2021 | Sport | 2.5L, 182 hp gas |
| JF2GUADC7R8 | 2024 | Premium | 2.0L, 152 hp gas |
| 4S4GUHT60R3 | 2024 | Wilderness | 2.5L, 182 hp gas |
Notice that both the 2.0L Premium and the 2.5L Sport within the same GT generation show C at position 8. The engine, restraint system, and drivetrain are encoded jointly across positions 4-7, with position 6 in particular shifting between engine families (A on 2.0L trims, H on the 2.5L Sport and Wilderness, D on the plug-in hybrid in our sample), but Subaru does not publish a fixed one-character-equals-one-engine key the way some brands do, and NHTSA’s own decoder matches the whole string against a lookup table rather than a single position. The reliable way to confirm a Crosstrek’s exact engine is to decode the full VIN, which is what the tool at the top of this page does.
Position 9: Check digit
A single character calculated from the other 16 using modulo-11 math. Change one digit anywhere in the VIN and the check digit no longer matches; NHTSA, every state DMV, and any compliant decoder will flag the VIN as invalid.
Position 10: Model year
| Char | Year | Char | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | 2024 | F | 2015 |
| S | 2025 | E | 2014 |
| T | 2026 | D | 2013 |
| V | 2027 | C | 2012 |
| W | 2028 | B | 2011 |
| X | 2029 | A | 2010 |
| Y | 2030 | 9 | 2009 |
| 1 | 2031 | 8 | 2008 |
| 2 | 2032 | 7 | 2007 |
| 3 | 2033 | 6 | 2006 |
I, O, and Q are never used, since they’re easily mistaken for 1 and 0. A first-generation Crosstrek only ever carries D (2013) through H (2017); anything outside that range paired with a GP chassis code at positions 4-5 signals a data-entry error.
Position 11: Assembly plant
Decoding real Crosstrek VINs confirms three plant codes:
| Char | Plant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Ota, Gunma, Japan (Main Plant) | Common across all three JF2 generations |
| H | Ota, Gunma, Japan (Yajima Plant) | Also common across all three JF2 generations |
| 3 | Lafayette, Indiana (SIA) | 4S4 Crosstreks, 2.5L variants since May 2023 |
Positions 12-17: Serial number
The final six digits are the production sequence number for that specific car. Combined with the previous 11 characters, they make every Crosstrek VIN globally unique, even between two identical Premium AWD models built the same week.
Crosstrek trim levels by generation
- GP (2013-2017): Base, Premium, Limited; Hybrid and Hybrid Touring added for 2014, discontinued after 2016
- GT (2018-2023): Base, Premium, Sport, Limited; the 2.5L engine arrived on Sport and Limited for 2021; the plug-in Hybrid ran 2019-2021
- GU (2024-present): Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Onyx Edition, and Wilderness (added April 2023 for model year 2024, with 9.3 inches of ground clearance and a 3,500-pound tow rating)
None of these trim names are spelled out directly in the VIN. The decoder above reconstructs the trim from the full VDS string plus the vehicle’s equipment record, the same way it reconstructs engine displacement.
Where to find the VIN on a Subaru Crosstrek
- Lower-left corner of the windshield, visible from outside the car
- Driver’s side door jamb sticker (VIN, tire pressure, paint, and trim codes)
- Stamped on the engine bay firewall or front frame rail
- Vehicle title, registration, and Subaru dealer service records
The windshield and door jamb are the fastest to check on a used-car lot. If you suspect a cloned VIN, compare those against the frame-rail stamp, since the physical stamp is far harder to swap than an adhesive label.
Subaru Crosstrek recalls and safety
Recall history differs meaningfully by generation:
- GP (2013-2017): Included in Subaru’s Takata airbag recall campaigns, plus a 2013 model year recall for engine valve springs that could fracture and cause a stall.
- GT (2018-2023): Recall WUQ-02 (2019) covered certain 2018-2019 Crosstreks where the engine control module could keep powering the ignition coil after shutoff, risking a short circuit and underhood fire; the fix was an ECM reprogram and coil replacement.
- GU (2024-present): Recall WRP-23 covered front driveshaft assemblies on certain 2024 Crosstreks that could crack and break, and recall WRL-23 covered an instrument panel wiring harness on certain 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza models that could chafe against the steering beam bracket and short out.
To check your specific Crosstrek:
- Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the exact model year and trim
- Cross-reference the 17-character VIN with the Subaru vehicle recalls portal (US) or NHTSA’s recall database
- Contact your nearest Subaru retailer for any open campaign repair
Recall repairs are free regardless of the car’s age, mileage, or ownership history.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between an “XV Crosstrek” and a “Crosstrek”?
Nothing mechanical. Subaru sold the same first-generation GP-chassis car as “XV Crosstrek” for model years 2013-2015 in the US and Canada, then dropped the “XV” and called it simply “Crosstrek” starting with model year 2016, still on the same GP platform through 2017. Both names refer to identical hardware; only the badge and paperwork changed.
How do I decode a Subaru Crosstrek VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN from the windshield, door jamb, or title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include generation (GP, GT, or GU), model year, engine, trim, drivetrain, plant of origin, and any open NHTSA recalls. No account required.
How can I tell which Crosstrek generation I have from the VIN?
Look at positions 4-5. GP is the first generation (2013-2017, including the XV Crosstrek years). GT is the second generation (2018-2023). GU is the current, third generation (2024 onward). Position 10 then confirms the exact model year.
Does the VIN tell me if my Crosstrek has the 2.0L or 2.5L engine?
Not from a single character. On the Crosstrek, engine displacement is encoded across several VIN positions together rather than one isolated digit, and the same character can appear at position 8 on both 2.0L and 2.5L cars within a generation. A full VIN decode, like the one at the top of this page, resolves the exact engine correctly; reading one position in isolation will not.
Where is the VIN on a Subaru Crosstrek?
The two easiest spots are the lower-left corner of the windshield, readable from outside the car, and the driver-side door jamb sticker. Both are required by federal labeling regulation. The frame rail near the engine bay carries a physical stamp of the same number.
Is the Subaru Crosstrek VIN decoder free?
Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Crosstrek VIN free of charge with no sign-up. A full vehicle history report (accident records, odometer history, prior ownership, salvage status) is available as an optional paid upgrade.
Decode any Subaru Crosstrek VIN free
Type your 17-character Crosstrek VIN into the decoder at the top of this page for an instant breakdown. To go deeper into VIN structure or check other Subaru models:
- Subaru VIN decoder hub for the brand-wide guide
- How to read a VIN number for the general standard
- What every character in a VIN means for a position-by-position reference
- Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981) for older chassis numbers
- VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report for what a decode covers vs. what it doesn’t
- How to check if a car is stolen by VIN if you suspect a cloned plate
