How to decode a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are used to uniquely identify the manufacturer of a vehicle, serving as the first three characters in the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). These codes not only indicate the manufacturer but can also provide information about the vehicle type and manufacturing location. For the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe, the WMI is “5XY”, signaling that it is manufactured by Kia Georgia, Inc. in West Point, Georgia, United States. This specific code identifies the vehicle as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), offering insight into both the type of vehicle and its place of production.

List of WMI Codes for a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

WMI: 5XY

Model Years Covered: 2011-2017
Example VIN: 5XYZHDAG0CG102819
Manufacturer Name: Kia Georgia, Inc.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: West Point
State or Province: Georgia
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe 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 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe:

Known VDS for a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
ZHDAG	ZGDAG	ZG4AG	ZK3AB	ZKDAG	ZH4AG	ZK4AG	ZGDAB	ZG3AB

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 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe 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 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
C	2012

11th Character in the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
G		Georgia	United States	Kia Motor Manufacturing, Georgia	5XYZHDAG0CG102819

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

The final 6 characters in a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Hyundai Santa Fe’s VIN below:

How to find a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe. The VIN is usually visible through the windshield on the lower right corner.
Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Hyundai Santa Fe. The VIN might be located on a label or sticker near the area where the door latches when closed.
Look under the hood of your Hyundai Santa Fe; often, there is a VIN plate on the engine block or on the firewall of the vehicle.
Check your Hyundai Santa Fe’s vehicle registration documents or insurance papers, which will always list your VIN.
Examine the rear wheel well above the tire. In some vehicles, including the Hyundai Santa Fe, the VIN can sometimes be found in this area.
Search the trunk area of your Santa Fe for the VIN, which might be on the floor or the underside of the trunk lid.

What info can a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2012, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Size: It can specify the body class and size, indicating whether it’s a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 4 doors, providing insights into the vehicle’s design and potential space.
Engine Specifications: Details such as the engine’s configuration being V-shaped, a displacement of 3.5 liters (213.58 cubic inches), and the fact that it operates on gasoline with a Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) system are typically encoded within the VIN.
Safety Features: Standard safety features such as airbag locations are highlighted, with the VIN revealing curtain airbags in the 1st and 2nd rows along with front and side airbags for the 1st row (Driver and Passenger).
Drive Type and Weight Class: The VIN discloses the drive type, such as 4x2, and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, positioning the vehicle in Class 1D which ranges from 5,001 to 6,000 lb, which could be critical for understanding performance and usage limitations.
Fuel Type: It often specifies the primary fuel type the vehicle runs on, with this example being gasoline, which is integral for evaluating fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Manufacturing Details: The vehicle’s place of manufacture and the plant’s specific company name can be traced, pinpointing the production to Kia Motor Manufacturing, Georgia, in the United States. This may offer indications regarding manufacturing standards and quality.

Don’t have your 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Displacement (CC)	3500.0
Displacement (CI)	213.58310433156
Displacement (L)	3.5
Doors	4
Drive Type	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Model	Santa Fe
Model Year	2012
Other Engine Info	LAMBDA 2
Plant Company Name	Kia Motor Manufacturing, Georgia
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Georgia
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	GL(Middle-low )
Series2	wagon body Type
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Vehicle Descriptor	5XYZGDAG*CG
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	5XYZGDAG0CG114486