Free 2016 Kia Optima VIN Decoder

How to decode a 2016 Kia Optima VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2016 Kia Optima VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code made up of the first three characters of a vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which distinctly identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle globally. For the 2016 Kia Optima manufactured in the United States, the WMI is “5XX,” indicating that it was produced by Kia Georgia, Inc., based in West Point, Georgia. This particular WMI tells us that the vehicle is a passenger car made between the years 2012 and 2020. Conversely, the Kia Optima models produced in South Korea bear the WMI “KNA,” denoting their manufacturing by Kia Corporation in Seoul, Seocho-Gu. These codes are integral for identifying the vehicle’s production origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type.

List of WMI Codes for a 2016 Kia Optima

WMI: 5XX

• Model Years Covered: 2012-2020
• Example VIN: 5XXGT4L30GG001242
• Manufacturer Name: Kia Georgia, Inc.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: West Point
• State or Province: Georgia
• Country: United States

WMI: KNA

• Model Years Covered: 2001-2020
• Example VIN: KNAGN4AD0G5091922
• Manufacturer Name: Kia Corporation
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Seoul
• State or Province: Seocho-Gu
• Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2016 Kia Optima 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 2016 Kia Optima:

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 2016 Kia Optima 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 2016 Kia Optima VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 2016 Kia Optima VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2016 Kia Optima Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2016 Kia Optima

The final 6 characters in a 2016 Kia Optima’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 2016 Kia Optima VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating it may be a 2016 model, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN may provide information on the vehicle type, potentially indicating it as a Passenger Car with a Sedan/Saloon body type, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine and Fuel Specifications: Details about the engine, such as it possibly being a 2.4L MPI THETA II with gasoline as the primary fuel type and electric as secondary, are encoded within the VIN.
• Safety Features: The VIN might contain information about safety features, including airbag locations like the 1st and 2nd rows for curtain airbags and the 1st row for front and side airbags.
• Plant Information: Manufacturing details like the plant city Hwasung, the plant company name Kia Motors Corporation, and the country South Korea may be specified in the VIN, giving insights into the vehicle’s production origin.
• Electrification Level and Battery Information: It may specify the vehicle as a Strong HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and provide battery information such as a 270-volt system with a capacity of 5.3 Ah, potentially indicating the electrification level and battery details of the vehicle.
• Additional Specifications: Other notable details encoded in the VIN may include the vehicle’s series (GL - Middle-low and Hybrid (TF HEV)), displacement in CC, CI, and Liters, and specific features like the tire pressure monitoring system possibly being of the Direct type.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2016 Kia Optima