How to decode a 2008 Hyundai Tucson VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2008 Hyundai Tucson VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that signifies the manufacturer of the vehicle and provides specific information about it. For example, the WMI for a 2008 Hyundai Tucson is “KM8,” indicating that it is manufactured by Hyundai Motor Co. This particular WMI signifies that the vehicle is classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), originating from Seoul, South Korea. The WMI is a crucial component in identifying vehicles globally, offering insight into the vehicle’s make, type, and manufacturing location. This system is universally applied across the automotive industry to ensure consistency and clarity in vehicle identification.

List of WMI Codes for a 2008 Hyundai Tucson

WMI: KM8

Model Years Covered: 2005-2024
Example VIN: KM8JN12D08U733760
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 2008 Hyundai Tucson 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 2008 Hyundai Tucson:

Known VDS for a 2008 Hyundai Tucson
JN12D	JN12B	JM12B	JN72D

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 2008 Hyundai Tucson 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 2008 Hyundai Tucson VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
8	2008

11th Character in the 2008 Hyundai Tucson VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2008 Hyundai Tucson Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
U	Ulsan		South Korea	Hyundai Motor Company	KM8JN12D08U733760

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2008 Hyundai Tucson

The final 6 characters in a 2008 Hyundai Tucson’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Hyundai Tucson’s VIN below:

How to find a 2008 Hyundai Tucson’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2008 Hyundai Tucson is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Hyundai Tucson, right where it meets the windshield; this is one of the most common places for the VIN to be displayed and can usually be seen from outside the vehicle.
Open the driver’s side door to find the door jamb sticker on your Hyundai Tucson; the VIN is typically listed here on a label or plate where the door latches when it is closed.
Check under the hood; sometimes the VIN can be found on one of the front engine mounts or on the firewall in your Hyundai Tucson.
Inspect the rear wheel well; occasionally, the VIN might be located above the tire in the wheel housing of your Hyundai Tucson.
Look in your Hyundai Tucson’s trunk; the VIN may also be located on the floor right below where the spare tire is kept.

What info can a 2008 Hyundai Tucson VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2008, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class: It could describe the vehicle as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), providing insight into its design and intended use.
Engine Type: The VIN can provide detailed engine information, such as it having a V-shaped configuration with 6 cylinders and producing 173 horsepower, with a displacement of 2.7 liters.
Fuel Type: It generally specifies the primary fuel type the vehicle is designed to use, such as gasoline.
Safety Features: Safety equipment, including airbag locations like all rows for curtain airbags and 1st row for front and side airbags, may be identifiable through the VIN.
Drive Type: The VIN may indicate the drive type of the vehicle, such as Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).
Manufacturing Details: It can often offer details on the manufacturing, including the plant city (Ulsan), country (South Korea), and the company name (Hyundai Motor Company), which assembled the vehicle.

Don’t have your 2008 Hyundai Tucson’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2008 Hyundai Tucson

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Curtain Air Bag Locations	All Rows
Displacement (CC)	2000.0
Displacement (CI)	122.04748818946
Displacement (L)	2.0
Doors	4
Drive Type	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Engine Brake (hp) From	140
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
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)
Model	Tucson
Model Year	2008
Plant City	Ulsan
Plant Company Name	Hyundai Motor Company
Plant Country	South Korea
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series2	Wagon body style
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KM8JN12B*8U
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	KM8JN12B28U872500