Coverage: Strut-tower plate on older Subarus; door jamb or door edge on many newer models; no original-sticker source for Subaru
Where the Subaru paint code is
Subaru’s own paint bulletins, like this 2026 one, say the paint coding is on the vehicle’s VIN plate. Where that plate sits depends on the year:
- Older Subarus (1990s on): a metal plate on top of the driver-side front strut tower, under the hood.
- Many 2007 and newer models: on the passenger-side strut tower, or on a label on the door jamb or door edge.
At the lot, pop the hood and look at the tops of both front strut towers. If there’s nothing there, open the doors and check the jambs and door edges on both sides. Some newer cars put it on the passenger-side door pillar.
What Subaru paint codes look like
Subaru of America’s paint bulletin is clear: Subaru color codes are three characters long. They mix letters and digits. In the bulletin, most major paint brands use the Subaru code itself as their stock number, so body shops and touch-up suppliers will recognize it.
Real Subaru colors and codes from Subaru of America’s 2015 model-year paint bulletin:
| Color name | Code |
|---|---|
| Crystal White Pearl | K1X |
| Crystal Black Silica | D4S |
| Ice Silver Metallic | G1U |
| Dark Gray Metallic | 61K |
| WR Blue Pearl (new formula) | K7X |
These are examples from one model year. Confirm your own code on the plate before ordering.
Is WR Blue Pearl code 02C or K7X?
Subaru gives a textbook example of a name outliving its paint.
- WR Blue Pearl changed formula. Touch-up suppliers list WR Blue Pearl under code 02C on 2000s-era Imprezas and WRXs. For the 2015 model year, Subaru’s bulletin introduced K7X, marked as a new formula of WR Blue Pearl. Two WRXs both called WR Blue Pearl can carry different codes and slightly different paint.
- The same code, different names. In that same 2015 bulletin, K1X is printed as “Crystal White Silica” on some model pages and “Crystal White Pearl” on the BRZ page. Some suppliers also sell D4S as “Crystal Black Silica Pearl”.
- Suppliers rename things. Subaru’s bulletin warns that some paint vendors use different color names from Subaru’s. One catalog calls K3X Lapis Blue Pearl, while another sells it as Lapis Blue Metallic.
The code survives all of that. The name doesn’t, so order by code.
Does the Subaru VIN plate show the color?
The plate does, but the 17-character VIN printed on it doesn’t encode color, so read the separate paint code on the plate or ask a dealer (why the VIN doesn’t contain the paint code).
What StickerByVIN can and can’t do for a Subaru
We name factory colors by reading them from original window stickers, and we don’t have an original-sticker source for Subaru. So we can’t tell you the factory color from your VIN, and we won’t guess.
What you get free for every Subaru VIN:
- The NHTSA decode: year, model, trim, body, engine, drivetrain and plant where reported.
- The count of NHTSA recall campaigns for that make, model and year, plus a link to check open recalls on your exact VIN.
- The location guide above, so you can read the real code off the car.
For the original sticker, try the selling dealer, your purchase paperwork or Subaru’s customer service with the VIN. See Subaru window sticker for more.
How do I order Subaru touch-up paint that matches?
- Match the code, not the name. Read the three characters off the plate and order those.
- Shake pearl paints well. Suppliers say to shake D4S for about a minute, because the silica flakes settle.
- Use clearcoat. Modern Subaru colors are basecoat with clear on top. Color alone dries flat.
- Test on a hidden spot, like a door jamb or lower rocker, and let it dry before you judge.
- Expect fade on older cars. Sun-faded 02C paint on an older WRX won’t look like a fresh mix, even with the correct code.
For other brands, see the paint code lookup.
Sources
- Subaru of America, 2026MY Paint Coding Information (bulletin 13-108-25), hosted by NHTSA
- Subaru owners site
- NHTSA recall lookup, to check open recalls on your exact VIN
Last updated November 5, 2026.
