Hyundai VINs start with KMH or KM8 (Korea) and 5NP, 5NM or 5NT (Montgomery, Alabama).
Specs are free. The Hyundai's history is the part that costs money — $5.99 of it.
Accident records, title brands, odometer readings, service history and open recalls for this VIN.
Get the full report — $5.99Hyundai VIN decoder: reading the code yourself
Hyundai VINs are easy to read once you know two characters: the fourth names the model line and the eleventh the plant. A Sonata or Elantra sold in the US may have been built in Alabama or in Korea, and the first three characters say which.
| Position | What Hyundai encodes there |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (table below). |
| 4 | Model line: D Elantra, E Sonata, J Tucson and Santa Cruz, S Santa Fe, R Palisade, K Ioniq 5. |
| 5–7 | Series, body and restraint codes. |
| 8 | Engine. Letters are reused across models — F is a 2.0 on an Elantra but a 2.4 on a Sonata — so read it with the model line. |
| 9 | Check digit. |
| 10 | Model year (table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant (table below). |
| 12–17 | Production serial. |
Hyundai WMI codes (positions 1–3)
| Code | Meaning | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| KMH | Hyundai Motor Co., Korea, passenger cars | Korean-built Elantra and Sonata, Ioniq, Genesis models |
| KM8 | Hyundai Motor Co., Korea, SUVs | Tucson, Palisade, Ioniq 5 |
| 5NP | Montgomery, Alabama, cars | Sonata, Elantra |
| 5NM | Montgomery, Alabama, SUVs | Santa Fe |
| 5NT | Montgomery, Alabama, pickup | Santa Cruz |
| 7YA | Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, Georgia | Newer US-built electric SUVs |
Hyundai assembly plant codes (position 11)
| Code | Plant | Builds |
|---|---|---|
| U | Ulsan, South Korea | Tucson, Palisade, Ioniq 5 |
| A | Asan, South Korea | Korean-built Sonata |
| H | Montgomery, Alabama | Sonata, Elantra, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz |
| B | Bromont, Quebec (closed 1993) | Sonata, 1989–1993 |
Two Elantras of the same year can come from Alabama or Korea; neither is better, but the plant is a quick check that the VIN, the door label and the listing describe the same car.
Model-year letters (position 10)
Every maker uses the same tenth-character code. 2001–2009 are the digits 1–9; from 2010 the alphabet starts again at A, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z so nothing is mistaken for a digit. The same letters were used for 1980–2000, which is why a VIN's seventh character matters: a letter there means the vehicle is 2010 or newer, a digit means 2009 or older.
| 1 2001 | 2 2002 | 3 2003 | 4 2004 | 5 2005 |
| 6 2006 | 7 2007 | 8 2008 | 9 2009 | A 2010 |
| B 2011 | C 2012 | D 2013 | E 2014 | F 2015 |
| G 2016 | H 2017 | J 2018 | K 2019 | L 2020 |
| M 2021 | N 2022 | P 2023 | R 2024 | S 2025 |
| T 2026 | V 2027 | W 2028 | X 2029 | Y 2030 |
Hyundai trouble spots to check in the history report
Years are approximate. Match the engine the decoder returns against the list.
- Theta II 2.0 turbo and 2.4 GDI engines, about 2011–2019 (Sonata, Santa Fe Sport, Tucson and others): connecting-rod bearing failure. Hyundai recalled many, added a knock-sensor software update and extended engine coverage through a class settlement. An engine replacement on record is common and not a bad sign.
- Anti-theft: many 2011–2022 key-start models have no engine immobilizer and were stolen in large numbers from 2022. Hyundai offered a free software update; check it was done and look for theft or recovery entries.
- Anti-lock brake module fires: Hyundai recalled several million 2010s vehicles because the ABS module can short-circuit, with advice to park outside until repaired.
- Seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (about 2016–2019 Tucson, Elantra Sport and Eco, Veloster): hesitation and clutch complaints, addressed with software updates and repairs.
- Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6: recalled in 2024 for the integrated charging control unit (ICCU), which can fail and stop the 12-volt battery charging.
The free recall check above lists the campaigns for the model and year; nhtsa.gov/recalls confirms whether this VIN's repair was done.
A VIN-first checklist for buying a used Hyundai
- Decode the VIN and note the engine — Theta II, turbo or not, decides which issues above apply.
- Ask a Hyundai dealer whether the engine coverage and the anti-theft update apply to the VIN.
- Run the history report for accidents, title brands, theft records and the service trail.
- Match the dashboard VIN, the door-jamb label and the title.
- Pull the original window sticker to confirm packages the decode doesn't list.
What a Hyundai VIN decode can't tell you
Everything above was fixed on the day the vehicle was built, which is exactly why it is reliable and exactly why it is incomplete. A collision, a flood title issued in another state, a rolled-back odometer or a skipped timing-chain service all happen later, so none of them touch the VIN. They live in the vehicle history report: accident and damage records, title brands, the odometer timeline, open recalls, service entries and ownership changes. Decode here for free as often as you like; buy history only for the Hyundai you are serious about. Dealers and flippers who check every car can bring that to $1.30 a report.
Guides that go with this decoder
- Kia VIN decoder — Hyundai's sister brand shares engines, plants and recalls.
- What the 17 digits in a VIN mean — the full position-by-position breakdown.
- Signs of a rolled-back odometer — what a decode can't catch and a report can.
- Is a salvage-title car worth buying? — every brand, and what it does to value.
- Dealer auction VIN checks — the pre-bid routine volume buyers use.
- Other makes: any VIN · Ford · Chevrolet · GMC · Toyota · Honda · Nissan · Hyundai · Kia · Subaru · Mazda · Jeep · Dodge and Ram · Tesla · BMW · Mercedes-Benz · Audi · Volkswagen · Lexus · Land Rover · Porsche · window sticker lookup
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a Hyundai VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN above. The decoder returns model year, model, trim, body, engine, drivetrain, transmission and assembly plant from the official NHTSA vPIC database. The first three characters tell you where it was built: KMH and KM8 are Korea, while 5NP, 5NM and 5NT are Hyundai's plant in Montgomery, Alabama.
Which character in a Hyundai VIN shows the model?
The fourth. D is the Elantra, E the Sonata, J the Tucson (and the Santa Cruz, which is built on it), S the Santa Fe, R the Palisade and K the Ioniq 5. The decoder reads the rest of the code for trim, engine and drive.
Which plant built my Hyundai?
The eleventh character. U is Ulsan and A is Asan in South Korea; H is Montgomery, Alabama. The decoder names the plant for you.
Is my Hyundai covered by the Theta II engine settlement?
Many 2011–2019 Hyundai models with the 2.0 turbo or 2.4 GDI engine received a knock-sensor software update and extended engine coverage that also applies to later owners. A Hyundai dealer can confirm coverage for a VIN; the history report shows whether the update or an engine replacement was done.
Was this Hyundai part of the theft problem?
Many 2011–2022 Hyundai and Kia models with a turn key and no engine immobilizer were targeted by thieves from 2022. Hyundai offered a free anti-theft software update. Ask whether it was installed, and look for theft or recovery entries in the history report.
Does a VIN decode show if a Hyundai has been in an accident?
No. A decode returns factory build data only. Accidents, branded titles, odometer readings, service records and open recalls appear in the full vehicle history report, $5.99 for a single VIN.