Decode a Hyundai VIN
How to read a Hyundai VIN (position by position)
Every Hyundai built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 14 WMIs used on Hyundai vehicles, such as 3KM, 3KP and 5NM.
| Position | Part | On a Hyundai VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 3, 5, 7, K, P, U (Mexico, the United States, South Korea and Singapore) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 3KM, 3KP, 5NM, 5NP, 5NT, 5XY and 8 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Hyundai's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current Hyundai models |
| 11 | Plant | Hyundai plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Hyundai's production sequence |
Hyundai WMI codes
Hyundai WMIs point to 4 countries of manufacture: Mexico (3KM, 3KP), the United States (5NM, 5NP, 5NT, 5XY…), South Korea (KM8, KMH, KMU, KND) and Singapore (PFD). 9 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Hyundai WMIs for suv / mpv, passenger car and truck vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3KM | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. (also Kia) | MEXICO | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 3KP | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. (also Kia) | MEXICO | Passenger Car |
| 5NM | HYUNDAI MOTOR MANUFACTURING ALABAMA LLC (HMMA) (also Genesis) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 5NP | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
| 5NT | HYUNDAI MOTOR MANUFACTURING ALABAMA LLC (HMMA) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Truck |
| 5XY | KIA GEORGIA, INC (also Kia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 7YA | HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP METAPLANT AMERICA (also Kia) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| KM8 | HYUNDAI MOTOR CO | SOUTH KOREA | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| KME | HYUNDAI MOTOR CO | Truck | |
| KMH | HYUNDAI MOTOR CO (also Genesis) | SOUTH KOREA | Passenger Car |
| KMU | HYUNDAI MOTOR CO (also Genesis, Hmc) | SOUTH KOREA | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| KND | KIA CORPORATION (also Kia) | SOUTH KOREA | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| PFD | HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP INNOVATION CENTRE IN SINGAPORE | SINGAPORE | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| U5Y | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI) (also Kia) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Hyundai itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Hyundai VIN.
Hyundai model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2022 Hyundai Veloster N carries N, a 2025 Hyundai Venue carries S and a 2025 Hyundai Xcient carries S. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
Hyundai recalls
NHTSA lists 395 Hyundai vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2011 model year has the most, with 35; 2020–2024 models account for 135.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2008 | 21 |
Hyundai models in vPIC
vPIC lists 26 Hyundai models for the 2016–2025 model years. Linked models have year-by-year pages with EPA mpg, owner complaints and recalls.
- Accent 2016–2022
- Azera 2016–2018
- Elantra 2016–2025
- Elantra GT 2017–2020
- Elantra N 2022–2025
- Equus 2016
- Genesis 2016
- Genesis Coupe 2016
- Ioniq 2017–2022
- Ioniq 5 2022–2025
- Ioniq 5 N 2025
- Ioniq 6 2023–2025
- Kona 2018–2025
- Kona N 2022–2023
- Nexo 2019–2025
- Palisade 2020–2025
- Santa Cruz 2022–2025
- Santa Fe 2016–2025
- Santa Fe Sport 2016–2018
- Santa Fe XL 2019
- Sonata 2016–2025
- Tucson 2016–2025
- Veloster 2016–2021
- Veloster N 2019–2022
- Venue 2020–2025
- Xcient 2023–2025
Hyundai models compared by year →
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Hyundai by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Hyundai models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a Hyundai VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a Hyundai paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a Hyundai dealer can look it up from the VIN.