Free 1997 Kia Sportage VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1997 Kia Sportage VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Kia Sportage VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI, is a pivotal part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that specifies the manufacturer of the vehicle, its type, and the place of production. For the 1997 Kia Sportage, the WMI indicates that the vehicle was manufactured by Kia Corporation, known for producing a variety of vehicles including multipurpose passenger vehicles. Specifically, for this model, the manufacturing took place in Seoul, South Korea, within the Seocho-Gu district. This identifier not only confirms Kia as the maker but also categorizes the Sportage as a multipurpose passenger vehicle (MPV), highlighting its versatile use. The coverage of the WMI spans across several model years, signifying the persistent standards and origin of the vehicles under this identifier.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Kia Sportage

WMI: KND

• Model Years Covered: 1995, 1997-2002, 2005-2024
• Example VIN: KNDJB7233V5538362
• Manufacturer Name: Kia Corporation
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Seoul
• State or Province: Seocho-Gu
• Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Kia Sportage 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 1997 Kia Sportage:

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 1997 Kia Sportage 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 1997 Kia Sportage VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1997 Kia Sportage VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Kia Sportage Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Kia Sportage

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Kia Sportage’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Kia Sportage’s VIN below:

What info can a 1997 Kia Sportage VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class. For the 1997 Sportage, this may indicate a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 4 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and functionality.
• Engine Specifications: The VIN provides engine details, such as a 2000 CC (2 Liter) displacement with a 4-cylinder Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) design, guiding towards understanding the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
• Drive Type: The drive type can also be identified from the VIN. In the case of the 1997 Sportage, it is a 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) capability, which can help in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
• Fuel Type: Understanding the vehicle’s fuel type, in this case gasoline, can help in comprehending fuel-related costs and environmental considerations.
• Safety Features: The VIN confirms the presence of a driver seat front airbag location, which is crucial for assessing the vehicle’s safety provisions.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN pinpoints the manufacturing location to be Whasung, South Korea, which offers clues about the vehicle’s production origins and potentially its build quality.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Kia Sportage

Source