- Characters 1-3 of a Kia VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Kia
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Kia VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Kia VIN.
- 10th Character in the Kia VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Kia VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Kia Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Kia
- How to find a Kia's VIN?
- What info can a Kia VIN reveal?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Kia
How to decode a Kia VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Kia VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, denoting critical details such as the country of manufacture, the type of vehicle, and the specific facility where it was produced. For instance, Kia Corporation utilizes several WMIs across its global operations: KNA and KND for passenger and multipurpose vehicles made in Seoul, South Korea, respectively; 3KP for passenger cars assembled in Pesqueria, Mexico; and 5XX for passenger cars, alongside 5XY for multipurpose vehicles, both produced in West Point, Georgia, United States. These codes serve as the first three characters of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), providing an immediate understanding of key vehicle attributes and origin.
List of WMI Codes for a Kia
| WMI | Manufacturer Name | Vehicle Type | City | State or Province | Country | Model Years Covered | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KNA | Kia Corporation | Passenger Car | Seoul | Seocho-Gu | South Korea | 1995-2023 | KNALD124045017782 |
| KND | Kia Corporation | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Seoul | Seocho-Gu | South Korea | 1995, 1997-2024 | KNDJH742095022369 |
| 3KP | Kia Mexico S.A. de C.V. | Passenger Car | Pesqueria | Nuevo Leon | Mexico | 2017-2024 | 3KPFN5A30HE056878 |
| 5XX | Kia Georgia, Inc. | Passenger Car | West Point | Georgia | United States | 2012-2024 | 5XXG44J80MG053557 |
| 5XY | Kia Georgia, Inc. | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | West Point | Georgia | United States | 2011-2024 | 5XYKUDA20BG002607 |
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Kia VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the most popular vehicle descriptor codes for a Kia:
| 100 Most Common VDS for a Kia | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD124 | LD125 | LD225 | JH742 | JJ742 | JH741 | JJ741 | KNEC1 | LN4D7 | LB4J1 |
| LC4J1 | NB5H3 | NB4H3 | NC5H3 | NE5H3 | C44LA | C34LB | C34LA | C3DLC | C4DLC |
| C5DLE | AEFS5 | ADFS5 | AFFS5 | AB5S1 | AA5S2 | FW4A3 | FW6A3 | FU6A2 | FT4A2 |
| FU4A2 | FW5A3 | FU5A2 | FX4A6 | FX6A8 | FX5A8 | FK4A6 | FZ4A8 | FX4A8 | FZ6A3 |
| FZ5A3 | FX4D6 | FK5A8 | FN5A3 | FL4A8 | FN4A8 | FL4A7 | FK4A7 | F34AD | F54AD |
| F24AD | F44AC | G44J8 | G14J2 | G34J2 | G24J2 | G64J2 | G64A2 | LW4D4 | LU4D4 |
| LU4D3 | LT4D3 | S34J6 | S24J6 | CB3LC | CC3LC | CE3LC | CM3CD | CD3LD | CM3LD |
| CC3LD | CE3LG | CC3LG | CS3LF | CT3L1 | CP3LE | CR3LE | CT3LE | CR3LF | CR3L1 |
| CR3CF | GD124 | GD126 | GD128 | GE124 | GE123 | GE224 | GE228 | GH4A8 | GH4A4 |
| GG4A8 | GN4A7 | GR4A6 | GM4AD | GM4A7 | GN4A6 | GR4A7 | GN4AD | GT4L3 | GT4L1 |
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 Kia 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 Kia VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| R | 2024 |
| P | 2023 |
| N | 2022 |
| M | 2021 |
| L | 2020 |
| K | 2019 |
| J | 2018 |
| H | 2017 |
| G | 2016 |
| F | 2015 |
| E | 2014 |
| D | 2013 |
| C | 2012 |
| B | 2011 |
| A | 2010 |
| 8 | 2009 |
| 9 | 2009 |
| 8 | 2008 |
| 7 | 2007 |
| 6 | 2006 |
| 5 | 2005 |
| 4 | 2004 |
| 3 | 2003 |
| 2 | 2002 |
| 1 | 2001 |
| Y | 2000 |
| X | 1999 |
| W | 1998 |
| V | 1997 |
| T | 1996 |
| S | 1995 |
11th Character in the Kia VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Kia Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Whasung | South Korea | Kia Motors Corporation | KNALD124045017782 | |
| 6 | Sohari | South Korea | Kia Motors Corporation (Kmc) | KNDNB5H30N6115326 | |
| 7 | Kwangju | South Korea | KNAFG526077042073 | ||
| E | Tijuana | Mexico | Kmm | 3KPFN5A30HE056878 | |
| G | Georgia | United States | 5XXG44J80MG053557 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Kia
The final 6 characters in a Kia’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Kia’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Kia is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Kia. You’ll typically find the VIN visible through the windshield on a plate.
- Examine the driver’s side door jamb on your Kia. The VIN is often placed on a sticker or label where the door latches.
- Review the vehicle registration documents for your Kia. These paperwork often have the VIN listed.
- Check the insurance card or policy for your Kia, as the VIN is usually printed on these documents for identification purposes.
What info can a Kia VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year of manufacture, with an indication of 2020.
- Body Class and Type: A VIN can specify the body class, possibly identifying the vehicle as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), which offers insights into the vehicle’s design and intended use.
- Engine and Fuel Type: VIN information may reveal engine details, possibly indicating a 1.6L engine size with Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) design. It might also suggest the vehicle is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) with primary electric fuel and secondary gasoline fuel systems.
- Safety Features: The VIN may suggest the presence of standard safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), forward collision warning (FCW), and curtain airbags for 1st and 2nd rows, possibly highlighting the vehicle’s safety measures.
- Electrification Level and Battery Details: Specifics about the vehicle being a PHEV and details about its battery, such as the type being Lithium-Ion and a 360V battery voltage, may reflect on its ecological footprint and performance efficiency.
- Driver Assistance Technologies: It can indicate the inclusion of advanced driving assistance systems like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Blind Spot Warning (BSW), possibly emphasizing the vehicle’s modern technology adaptations for safety and convenience.
- Manufacturing Information: Details such as the manufacturing plant location in Hwasung, South Korea, and the vehicle’s assembly specifics can be discerned from the VIN, offering insights into the geographical origin and production quality of the vehicle.
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Decode a Kia VIN
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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Kia
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) | Standard |
| Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) | Standard |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Standard |
| Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs | Standard |
| Automatic Pedestrian Alerting Sound (for Hybrid and EV only) | Standard |
| Axles | 2 |
| Backup Camera | Standard |
| Base Price ($) | 32790.00 |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion/Li-Ion |
| Battery Voltage (Volts) From | 360 |
| Blind Spot Warning (BSW) | Standard |
| Body Class | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Charger Power (kW) | 45 |
| Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) | Standard |
| Curtain Air Bag Locations | 1st and 2nd Rows |
| Daytime Running Light (DRL) | Standard |
| Displacement (CC) | 1600.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 97.63799055157 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.6 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) | Standard |
| EV Drive Unit | Single Motor |
| Electrification Level | PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Standard |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 104 |
| Engine Manufacturer | KMC |
| Engine Model | GDI |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | Standard |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Electric |
| Fuel Type - Secondary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
| Headlamp Light Source | LED |
| Keyless Ignition | Standard |
| Knee Air Bag Locations | Driver Seat Only |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | Standard |
| Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) | Standard |
| Model | Niro |
| Model Year | 2020 |
| Number of Seat Rows | 2 |
| Number of Seats | 5 |
| Number of Wheels | 4 |
| Other Battery Info | Battery: Li-PB; 24.7 Ah; Motor: 3-phase AC, 44.5 kW |
| Other Restraint System Info | Seat Belt: All Positions |
| Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB) | Standard |
| Plant City | Hwasung |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | South Korea |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Standard |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | EX |
| Series2 | Wagon Body Style |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type | Direct |
| Traction Control | Standard |
| Transmission Speeds | 6 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | KNDCD3LD*L5 |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Wheel Base (inches) From | 106.30 |
| Wheel Size Front (inches) | 16 |
| Wheel Size Rear (inches) | 16 |
| Sample_VIN | KNDCD3LD0L5386430 |
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