How to decode a Hyundai Kona VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Hyundai Kona VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit code that is assigned to every vehicle manufacturer and forms the first section of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This identifier is essential for recognizing the brand and country of the vehicle’s origin. For the Hyundai Kona, the WMI is KM8, which signifies Hyundai Motor Company as the manufacturer, with the vehicle being assembled in South Korea. When you encounter a Hyundai Kona VIN starting with KM8, it confirms the car is indeed part of Hyundai’s diverse and dynamic lineup, engineered to offer a combination of style, utility, and technological innovation.

List of WMI Codes for a 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 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 Hyundai Kona:

Known VDS for a Hyundai Kona
K1CAA	K53A5	K22AA	K12AA	K3CA5	K62AA	K33A5	K6CAA	K2CAA	K5CA5
K53AG	K23AG	K33AG	K63A5	K6CA5	K6CAB	K2CAB	K33A3	K22AB	K62AB
K3CAB	K32AB	K3CA3	K5CA3	K1CAB	K53A3	HACA3	HA3AB	HACAB	HCCAB
HBCAB	HECA3	HA3A3

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 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 Hyundai Kona VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
R	2024 Hyundai Kona
P	2023 Hyundai Kona
N	2022 Hyundai Kona
M	2021 Hyundai Kona
L	2020 Hyundai Kona
K	2019 Hyundai Kona
J	2018 Hyundai Kona

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

Known 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 Hyundai Kona

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

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How to find a Hyundai Kona’s VIN?

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

Look for the Hyundai Kona’s VIN on the dashboard near the windshield on the driver’s side. It’s typically visible from outside the vehicle.
Examine the door pillar on the driver’s side when you open the driver’s door of the Hyundai Kona; there should be a VIN plate or sticker.
Inspect the engine bay; the Hyundai Kona’s VIN might be stamped on the firewall or on a label attached to the engine bay.
Review your Hyundai Kona’s vehicle registration documents or insurance card, which should list the VIN.
Check the Hyundai Kona’s owner’s manual packet; sometimes there is a sticker with the VIN.
Look underneath the spare tire in the trunk area of the Hyundai Kona; occasionally, the VIN is located there.
For newer models of the Hyundai Kona, the VIN might also be accessible electronically through the infotainment system under the vehicle information section.

What info can a Hyundai Kona VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting that the Hyundai Kona is from the year 2024, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
Body Class: A VIN can specify the body class, indicating that the Hyundai Kona may belong to the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) category, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a Hyundai Kona

Vehicle Spec	Value
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)	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
Base Price ($)	26500.00
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
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)	Standard
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 Departure Warning (LDW)	Standard
Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)	Standard
Model	Kona
Model Year	2020
Number of Seat Rows	2
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*LU
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Wheel Base (inches) From	102.4
Wheel Size Front (inches)	18
Wheel Size Rear (inches)	18
Sample_VIN	KM8K5CA50LU425832