How to decode a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the Society of Automotive Engineers. For the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, the WMI is “5NM”, indicating it was produced by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama LLC (HMMA) in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Specifically, this WMI signifies that the vehicle is a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), designed to meet a variety of transportation needs. The presence of “5NM” at the beginning of the VIN ensures that any stakeholder can immediately recognize the vehicle’s manufacturing origin, type, and associated manufacturing details. This system provides an efficient way to track vehicle history and attributes on a global scale.

List of WMI Codes for a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

WMI: 5XY

Model Years Covered: 2018
Example VIN: 5XYZW4LA0JG504402
Manufacturer Name: Kia Georgia, Inc.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: West Point
State or Province: Georgia
Country: United States WMI: 5NM
Model Years Covered: 2017-2018
Example VIN: 5NMZU3LB0JH049016
Manufacturer Name: Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama LLC (HMMA)
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Montgomery
State or Province: Alabama
Country: United States

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

Known VDS for a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
ZW4LA	ZU3LB	ZUDLB	ZTDLB	ZT3LB	ZT3CB	ZWDLA	ZUDLA	ZU4LA

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 Santa Fe Sport 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 Santa Fe Sport VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
J	2018

11th Character in the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
G		Georgia	United States		5XYZW4LA0JG504402
H		Alabama	United States		5NMZU3LB0JH049016

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

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

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How to find a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport’s VIN?

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

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. It’s commonly found in the lower corner where the dashboard meets the windshield.
Open the driver’s side door to inspect the door jamb area. There should be a sticker or plate on the frame where the door latches when it is closed that displays the VIN.
Locate the VIN on the vehicle’s registration documents or on the insurance card, which should match your 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
If you check under the hood, there’s usually a VIN plate or sticker on the front engine block or on the strut towers inside the engine compartment.

What info can a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2018, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class. For the 2018 Santa Fe Sport, this may indicate it as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 4 doors, tailored for versatility and passenger capacity.
Engine Type and Specifications: The VIN may provide specific details about the engine, such as it being a 2000 CC (or 2 L) In-Line 4-cylinder engine designed by HMC, with a Turbo feature and an output of 240 horsepower, offering insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Fuel Type and Efficiency: Information about the primary fuel type being gasoline, can offer insights into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental considerations.
Safety Features: The VIN may delineate safety equipment locations, such as curtain airbags in the 1st and 2nd rows, front airbags for the driver and passenger, and a knee airbag for the driver, potentially underscoring the vehicle’s safety provisions.
Transmission and Drive Type: It can specify the transmission style as automatic with 6 speeds and a drive type of 4x2, showcasing the vehicle’s drivetrain and handling characteristics.
Production Details: Information on the production location, highlighting that the vehicle was manufactured in the United States, Georgia, adds to the provenance and quality assurance of the vehicle.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Displacement (CC)	2000
Displacement (CI)	122.0474881894
Displacement (L)	2
Doors	4
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Engine Brake (hp) From	240
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	HMC
Engine Model	T-GDI THETA II
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Knee Air Bag Locations	Driver Seat Only
Model	Santa Fe Sport
Model Year	2018
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Georgia
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Sport 2.0T Ultimate
Series2	Wagon Body type
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Transmission Speeds	6
Transmission Style	Automatic
Turbo	Yes
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	5XYZWDLA*JG
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	5XYZWDLA0JG503671