How to decode a 2018 Hyundai Kona VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2018 Hyundai Kona VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle, comprising the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The WMI reveals essential details about a vehicle, such as the manufacturer’s name, location, and the type of vehicle they produce. For instance, Hyundai Motor Co., based in Seoul, South Korea, uses the WMI “KM8” for its multipurpose passenger vehicles, specifically exemplified by models like the 2018 Hyundai Kona. This identifier not only distinguishes Hyundai vehicles from those of other manufacturers but also highlights the vehicle’s origin and classification. The effective use of the WMI enables a systematic and unified identification process across the global automotive industry.

List of WMI Codes for a 2018 Hyundai Kona

WMI: KM8

Model Years Covered: 2018-2024
Example VIN: KM8K1CAA0JU076399
Manufacturer Name: Hyundai Motor Co.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Seoul Korea
State or Province:
Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2018 Hyundai Kona 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 2018 Hyundai Kona:

Known VDS for a 2018 Hyundai Kona
K1CAA	K53A5	K22AA	K12AA	K3CA5	K62AA	K33A5	K6CAA	K2CAA	K5CA5

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 2018 Hyundai Kona 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 2018 Hyundai Kona VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
J	2018

11th Character in the 2018 Hyundai Kona VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2018 Hyundai Kona Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
U	Ulsan		South Korea		KM8K1CAA0JU076399

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2018 Hyundai Kona

The final 6 characters in a 2018 Hyundai Kona’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Hyundai Kona’s VIN below:

How to find a 2018 Hyundai Kona’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2018 Hyundai Kona is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Hyundai Kona, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. You can typically see the VIN by looking through the windshield from outside the vehicle.
Open the driver’s side door and check the door pillar (door jamb) for a sticker or plate. The VIN should be listed there on your Hyundai Kona.
Look at the engine block, which is another common place to find the VIN for your Hyundai Kona. This might require some cleaning if the engine is dirty.
Check inside the glove box or the compartment itself for a sticker that may display the VIN in your Hyundai Kona.
Examine the vehicle’s registration documents or insurance papers, as the VIN for your Hyundai Kona will be listed on any official documentation related to the vehicle.
If you’re still having trouble finding the VIN, consult the owner’s manual for your Hyundai Kona, which should provide specific information on additional locations where the VIN may be found.

What info can a 2018 Hyundai Kona VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, being the year 2018, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle, and its production location in Ulsan, South Korea.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN can specify the body class, indicating that the vehicle is a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle with a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) body class, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Engine Type and Power: The VIN data reveals a 1.6L T-GDI GAMMA engine from HMC with 4 cylinders and 175 horsepower, providing insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities and power.
Safety Features: Standard safety features include forward collision warning (FCW), lane-keeping assistance (LKA), blind spot warning (BSW), and pedestrian automatic emergency braking (PAEB), emphasizing the vehicle’s focus on safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
Fuel Type and Transmission: The vehicle uses gasoline as its primary fuel type and has an automatic transmission with 7 speeds, offering information on fuel preferences and driving mechanisms.
Seating and Comfort Features: The vehicle accommodates 5 passengers, indicating its capacity, and includes advanced comfort features such as keyless ignition and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) of the direct type, enhancing the driving experience through convenience and safety monitoring.
Drive Type and Wheels: The VIN data indicates a 4x2 drive type and 18-inch wheels at both the front and rear, influencing decisions based on driving conditions and wheel maintenance.
Active Safety Systems: Numerous standard active safety systems like vehicle stability management (VSM) and electronic stability control (ESC) are present, indicating the vehicle’s advanced technological capabilities in ensuring driving safety and stability.

Don’t have your 2018 Hyundai Kona’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2018 Hyundai Kona

Vehicle Spec	Value
Active Safety System Note	Driver Attention Warning: Standard; Parking Distance Warning: Standard; Rear View monitor with parking guidance: Standard; Heads-up Display: Standard; Rear Cross-traffic Alert: Standard; Vehicle Stability Management (VSM): Standard; Lane Change Assist: Standard; Standard; Brake Assist (BA): Standard; Remote keyless entry system with alarm: Standard; Proximity Key entry with electronic push button start: Standard
Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB)	Standard
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)	Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs	Standard
Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) / Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN)	Standard
Axles	2
Backup Camera	Standard
Blind Spot Warning (BSW)	Standard
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Daytime Running Light (DRL)	Standard
Displacement (CC)	1600.0
Displacement (CI)	97.63799055157
Displacement (L)	1.6
Doors	4
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	Standard
Engine Brake (hp) From	175
Engine Manufacturer	HMC
Engine Model	T-GDI GAMMA
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)	Standard
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Keyless Ignition	Standard
Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)	Standard
Model	Kona
Model Year	2018
Number of Seats	5
Number of Wheels	4
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB)	Standard
Plant City	Ulsan
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	South Korea
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching	Standard
Series	Ultimate
Series2	Wagon body style
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Steering Location	Left-Hand Drive (LHD)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Traction Control	Standard
Transmission Speeds	7
Transmission Style	Automatic
Turbo	Yes
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KM8K5CA5*JU
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Wheel Base (inches) From	102.4
Wheel Size Front (inches)	18
Wheel Size Rear (inches)	18
Sample_VIN	KM8K5CA50JU069055