How to decode a 2006 Kia Sportage VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2006 Kia Sportage VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It forms the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides specific information, including the manufacturer’s name, vehicle type, and country of production. For example, the WMI for the 2006 Kia Sportage indicates that it is made by Kia Corporation, classified as a multipurpose passenger vehicle, and manufactured in Seoul, South Korea, within the Seocho-Gu district. This system is essential for the identification, registration, and regulation of vehicles worldwide, ensuring each one’s traceability to its manufacturer and specific details.

List of WMI Codes for a 2006 Kia Sportage

WMI: KND

Model Years Covered: 1995, 1997-2002, 2005-2024
Example VIN: KNDJF724067177210
Manufacturer Name: Kia Corporation
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Seoul
State or Province: Seocho-Gu
Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2006 Kia Sportage 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 2006 Kia Sportage:

Known VDS for a 2006 Kia Sportage
JF724	JF723	JF722	JE724	JE723

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 2006 Kia Sportage 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 2006 Kia Sportage VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
6	2006

11th Character in the 2006 Kia Sportage VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2006 Kia Sportage Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
7	Kwangju		South Korea	Kia Motors Corporation	KNDJF724067177210

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2006 Kia Sportage

The final 6 characters in a 2006 Kia Sportage’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Kia Sportage’s VIN below:

How to find a 2006 Kia Sportage’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2006 Kia Sportage is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Kia Sportage, typically near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN can often be seen from outside the vehicle.
Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb. There is usually a sticker or plate on the door pillar with the VIN for your Kia Sportage.
Check under the hood; the VIN might be stamped on the engine block or on a plate attached to the engine compartment.
Take a look at your vehicle’s registration documents, insurance papers, or title, where the VIN of your 2006 Kia Sportage should be printed clearly.
If you still can’t find the VIN, inspect the rear wheel well. Sometimes, the VIN is placed above the tire.
Some cars also have the VIN etched into the trunk area, so you might need to lift the cargo mat of your Kia Sportage to find a VIN plate or sticker there.

What info can a 2006 Kia Sportage VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly being the year 2006, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Manufacturing Details: Manufacturing insights, including the city of Kwangju and the country South Korea, may highlight the production origins. Furthermore, the VIN identifies the plant company as Kia Motors Corporation, suggesting its manufacturing affiliation.
Vehicle Specifications: The VIN contains comprehensive information about the Kia Sportage, possibly classifying it as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) and possibly indicating its engine displacement details, emphasizing a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC).
Drive Type and Fuel Efficiency: Information possibly encoded in the VIN specifies the vehicle as having a 4WD (4-Wheel Drive) system and possibly using Gasoline as its primary fuel type, suggesting potential insights into its performance characteristics.
Safety and Technology Features: Vehicle safety and technology details, such as the type of Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which is possibly direct, can be inferred from the VIN, indicating modern monitoring capabilities.
Body and Capacity: The VIN possibly indicates the vehicle has 4 doors and falls under the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of Class 1, possibly illustrating its size and potential capacity.
Engine Specifications: Additional engine information, such as the 2.0L DOHC designation and specific displacement metrics in CC, CI, and L, possibly give insight into the vehicle’s power and operational parameters.

Don’t have your 2006 Kia Sportage’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2006 Kia Sportage

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Displacement (CC)	2000
Displacement (CI)	122.0474881894
Displacement (L)	2
Doors	4
Drive Type	4x2
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Sportage
Model Year	2006
Other Engine Info	2.0L DOHC (50 state)
Plant City	Kwangju
Plant Company Name	Kia Motors Corporation
Plant Country	South Korea
Series	KM
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KNDJF724*67
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	KNDJF724067177210