Kia VIN decoder
Enter a Kia VIN to see the model, year, engine, factory and open safety recalls. Free, with official NHTSA data.
About Kia VINs
Kia cars built in Korea start with KNA and SUVs with KND. The Sorento and Telluride built in West Point, Georgia start with 5XY, the Optima and K5 from the same plant with 5XX, and the Forte built in Mexico with 3KP.
Kia is part of Hyundai Motor Group.
Good to know
- The 8th character is the engine code.
- Kia and Hyundai share platforms and engines, so engine recalls often cover both brands.
- Kia's own recall lookup shows whether recall work was done on a specific VIN.
Kia manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 7 codes for Kia. The first character shows the region where the vehicle was built (1, 4, 5 USA; 2 Canada; 3 Mexico; J Japan; K Korea; W Germany; Z Italy).
| Code | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type | Also used by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3KM | Kia Mexico S.A. De C.V. | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Hyundai |
| 3KP | Kia Mexico S.A. De C.V. | Mexico | Passenger Car | Hyundai |
| 5XX | Kia Georgia, Inc | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | – |
| 5XY | Kia Georgia, Inc | United States (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Hyundai |
| KNA | Kia Corporation | South Korea | Passenger Car | – |
| KND | Kia Corporation | South Korea | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Hyundai |
| U5Y | Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc (Hatci) | United States (USA) | Passenger Car | Hyundai |
Some codes are shared by several brands of the same group. The full decode shows the brand.
How to read a Kia VIN
| Position | Meaning | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Manufacturer code (WMI) | Maker, brand and country, as in the table above. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle descriptor | Model, body, engine and safety equipment. Each maker sets its own layout here. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typing errors and fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the year (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory code, set by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial number | The production number of that vehicle. |
Model year codes
The 10th character of a Kia VIN is the model year. Letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used. The codes repeat every 30 years.
Kia models in the NHTSA database
NHTSA lists 25 model names under Kia. Decode a VIN to see which one yours is, with its exact trim and engine.
Kia models with years and recalls
- Kia EV3 2027
All Kia model names
- Amanti
- Borrego
- Cadenza
- Carnival
- EV3
- EV6
- EV9
- Forte
- Forte Koup
- K4
- K5
- K900
- Niro
- Optima
- Rio
- Rondo
- Sedona
- Seltos
- Sephia
- Sorento
- Soul
- Spectra
- Sportage
- Stinger
- Telluride
Vehicle types NHTSA lists for Kia
Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), Passenger Car
Where to find the VIN on a Kia
Windshield
At the bottom of the windshield on the driver side, readable from outside.
Driver door frame
On the label on the door pillar, with tire pressures and weights.
Papers
On the title, registration and insurance card.
Kia recalls by VIN
Every decoded Kia VIN on VinGear shows the safety recalls NHTSA lists for that model and year. To know whether the repair was already done on your vehicle, ask a Kia dealer or use Kia's own recall lookup with the VIN.
Kia VIN decoder questions
How do I decode a Kia VIN?
Type the 17-character VIN in the box at the top of this page and press Decode VIN. You get the model, year, engine, factory and safety recalls from NHTSA, free.
Is this Kia VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding and recall checks are free with no sign-up. The data comes from NHTSA, the US vehicle safety agency.
What do the first three characters of a Kia VIN mean?
They are the manufacturer code (WMI): maker, brand and country of manufacture. NHTSA lists 7 codes for Kia; the table on this page shows them.
Does a Kia VIN show options or the owner?
No. The VIN codes the model, body, engine and factory, not options or colour. It never shows the owner, and VinGear does not look up owners.