Decode a Kia VIN
How to read a Kia VIN (position by position)
Every Kia built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 8 WMIs used on Kia vehicles, such as 3KM, 3KP and 5XX.
| Position | Part | On a Kia VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | 3, 5, 7, K, U (Mexico, the United States and South Korea) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | 3KM, 3KP, 5XX, 5XY, 7YA, KNA and 2 more |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Kia'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 Kia models |
| 11 | Plant | Kia plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Kia's production sequence |
Kia WMI codes
Kia WMIs point to 3 countries of manufacture: Mexico (3KM, 3KP), the United States (5XX, 5XY, U5Y) and South Korea (KNA, KND). 6 of them are shared with sister brands, so the WMI alone doesn't always tell you the make. vPIC registers Kia WMIs for suv / mpv and passenger car vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3KM | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. (also Hyundai) | MEXICO | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 3KP | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. (also Hyundai) | MEXICO | Passenger Car |
| 5XX | KIA GEORGIA, INC | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
| 5XY | KIA GEORGIA, INC (also Hyundai) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| 7YA | HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP METAPLANT AMERICA (also Hyundai) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| KNA | KIA CORPORATION | SOUTH KOREA | Passenger Car |
| KND | KIA CORPORATION (also Hyundai) | SOUTH KOREA | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| U5Y | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI) (also Hyundai) | UNITED STATES (USA) | Passenger Car |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Kia itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Kia VIN.
Kia model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2025 Kia Sportage carries S, a 2023 Kia Stinger carries P and a 2025 Kia Telluride carries S. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Kia
- 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.
Kia recalls
NHTSA lists 355 Kia vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2023 model year has the most, with 35; 2020–2024 models account for 143.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2023 | 35 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2021 | 25 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 12 |
Kia models in vPIC
vPIC lists 20 Kia models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- Cadenza 2016–2020
- Carnival 2022–2025
- EV6 2022–2025
- EV9 2024–2025
- Forte 2016–2024
- Forte Koup 2016–2017
- K4 2025
- K5 2021–2025
- K900 2016–2020
- Niro 2017–2025
- Optima 2016–2020
- Rio 2016–2023
- Rondo 2016
- Sedona 2016–2021
- Seltos 2021–2025
- Sorento 2016–2025
- Soul 2016–2025
- Sportage 2016–2025
- Stinger 2018–2023
- Telluride 2020–2025
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Kia by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Kia 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 Kia 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 Kia 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 Kia dealer can look it up from the VIN.