How to decode a 2011 Kia Forte VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2011 Kia Forte VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences used to identify the manufacturer of motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds as defined by the ISO 3780 standard. The WMI for a 2011 Kia Forte, which begins with “KNA,” specifies the country of origin, manufacturer name, and vehicle type. In this case, the “KNA” WMI indicates that the vehicle was made by Kia Corporation, a well-known automotive company. This vehicle is classified as a passenger car and was manufactured in Seoul, South Korea, specifically in the Seocho-Gu district. The WMI is an essential component of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), providing vital information about the vehicle’s origins and manufacturer.

List of WMI Codes for a 2011 Kia Forte

WMI: KNA

Model Years Covered: 2010-2018
Example VIN: KNAFU4A20B5319391
Manufacturer Name: Kia Corporation
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Seoul
State or Province: Seocho-Gu
Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2011 Kia Forte 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 2011 Kia Forte:

Known VDS for a 2011 Kia Forte
FU4A2	FW5A3	FU6A2	FW6A3	FU5A2	FW4A3	FT4A2

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 2011 Kia Forte 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 2011 Kia Forte VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
B	2011

11th Character in the 2011 Kia Forte VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2011 Kia Forte Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
5	Hwasung		South Korea	Kia Motors Corporation	KNAFU4A20B5319391

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2011 Kia Forte

The final 6 characters in a 2011 Kia Forte’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 2011 Kia Forte’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2011 Kia Forte is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2011 Kia Forte, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. You can usually see the VIN by looking through the windshield from outside the vehicle.
Examine the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side of your Kia Forte. It is common to find a sticker with the VIN here.
Check under the hood of your Kia Forte; the VIN might be located on the front engine block.
Inspect the frame of the car near the windshield washer fluid tank, as the VIN can sometimes be found in this area on Kia vehicles.
Look in the trunk area, often where the spare tire is kept, as there could be a VIN sticker located there on your 2011 Kia Forte.

What info can a 2011 Kia Forte VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 2011, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN specifies the body class as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, detailing the vehicle’s general body style and accessibility.
Engine Displacement and Design: The VIN provides detailed information about the engine’s displacement of 2.4 liters or equivalently, 2400 cc or 146.46 ci, with a valve train design of Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC), indicating the engine’s size and configuration.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle is Gasoline, informing on the energy source it is designed to use.
Safety Features: The VIN highlights included safety features, such as curtain airbags in the 1st and 2nd rows, front airbags for both driver and passenger in the 1st row, and side airbags for the 1st row occupants, underscoring the vehicle’s commitment to passenger safety.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: Classified as Class 1, the vehicle’s gross weight is rated at 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less), providing information on its weight classification and potential load capacity.
Manufacturing Details: The Vehicle Identification Number indicates it was manufactured in Hwasung, South Korea by Kia Motors Corporation, offering insights into its production origin and manufacturer.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2011 Kia Forte

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Displacement (CC)	2000.0
Displacement (CI)	122.04748818946
Displacement (L)	2.0
Doors	4
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Model	Forte
Model Year	2011
Plant City	Hwasung
Plant Company Name	Kia Motors Corporation
Plant Country	South Korea
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	GL
Series2	TD
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	KNAFT4A2*B5
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	KNAFT4A20B5325453