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Kia VIN decoder
Decode any Kia VIN for manufacturer specifications and NHTSA safety recall campaigns, and see which World Manufacturer Identifiers NHTSA has on record for Kia.
Enter all 17 characters. The decoder reads the make, model and year from the whole VIN, not just the first three characters.
Kia WMI codes
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA lists 9 of them for Kia. They were issued across 3 countries: Mexico, South Korea and United States (USA). They span 2 vehicle types, listed separately below.
The country shown is where the identifier was issued, which usually but not always matches where a given vehicle was assembled. The eleventh character identifies the specific plant. A single WMI can cover more than one vehicle type, so some codes appear in more than one table.
Passenger Car 6 codes
| WMI | Registered entity | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 3KP | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico |
| 5NP | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI) | United States (USA) |
| 5XX | KIA GEORGIA, INC | United States (USA) |
| KNA | KIA CORPORATION | South Korea |
| KNJ | KIA MOTORS (FORD IMPORTS) | South Korea |
| U5Y | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI) | United States (USA) |
Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) 3 codes
| WMI | Registered entity | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 3KM | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico |
| 5XY | KIA GEORGIA, INC | United States (USA) |
| KND | KIA CORPORATION | South Korea |
Common Kia models
Some of the Kia models you are most likely to be decoding, as NHTSA spells them. Recall searches by year, make and model need that exact spelling.
- Forte
- K4
- K5
- Soul
- Seltos
- Sportage
- Sorento — NHTSA recall records list Sorento Hybrid and Sorento PHEV as separate models.
- Telluride
- Carnival
- Niro
- EV6
- EV9
Notable Kia recalls since 2018
A few of the largest or most serious recent safety recalls covering Kia vehicles. They are examples, not a complete list: a single model year can have a dozen campaigns. A recall on the model does not mean it is still open on a particular car, so check the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup, or see every campaign for a year and model with our recall lookup.
Brakes: anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit
Vehicles: Certain older Kia vehicles: 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid and Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento and 2010-2011 Rondo.
The hydraulic electronic control unit for the anti-lock brakes can short circuit. That can start an engine compartment fire while the vehicle is parked or being driven.
Dealers replace the control unit's fuse at no charge; until then owners are told to park outside and away from buildings.
Seats: front power seat
Vehicles: Certain 2020-2024 Kia Telluride vehicles. This campaign replaces recall 24V-407, and vehicles already repaired under it need the new remedy.
The front power seat motor can overheat because a seat slide knob sticks or because of an improper repair under recall 24V-407. An overheating motor can start a fire while the vehicle is parked or driven.
Dealers install an electronic fuse assembly at no charge; until the repair, owners are told to park outside and away from buildings.
Power train: driveshaft
Vehicles: Certain 2020-2024 Kia Telluride vehicles.
The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, so the vehicle can roll away while in park. A rolling vehicle raises the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers update the electronic parking brake software and replace damaged intermediate shafts as needed at no charge; until then owners are told to set the parking brake before leaving the vehicle.
Brakes: anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit
Vehicles: Certain 2017-2021 Kia Sportage and 2017-2019 Cadenza vehicles.
A circuit in the anti-lock brake hydraulic electronic control unit can short. That can start a fire in the engine compartment.
Dealers replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box, and update the control unit software on vehicles with an electronic parking brake, at no charge; owners are told to park outside until the repair is done.
Fuel system: fuel tank check valve
Vehicles: Certain 2021-2024 Kia K5 vehicles.
A damaged check valve can let air into the fuel tank, making it expand until it touches hot exhaust parts and melts. A melted tank can leak fuel and increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers replace the check valve and inspect the fuel tank, replacing it if damaged, at no charge.
Reading the rest of a Kia VIN
Characters 4 to 8 describe the vehicle — model, body style, engine, restraint system. Kia assigns that scheme itself and files it with NHTSA, which is why decoding requires a lookup rather than arithmetic. Character 9 is the check digit, character 10 is the model year, and character 11 is the assembly plant.
See how to read a VIN for the full breakdown, or model year codes for the position 10 table.
Where the VIN is on a Kia
On the driver's side dashboard, readable through the windshield, and on a sticker in the driver's door jamb. The door jamb sticker usually carries a scannable barcode, which is more reliable than transcribing 17 characters by eye — the decoder can read it with your camera.
More detail in where to find the VIN.