How to decode a 2002 Kia Rio VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2002 Kia Rio VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle globally. For the 2002 Kia Rio, the WMI is “KNA,” indicating that this car was produced by Kia Corporation. These first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) provide crucial details about the vehicle, including the manufacturer’s name, vehicle type, and the location of manufacture. In the case of the 2002 Kia Rio, the vehicle was manufactured in Seoul, Seocho-Gu, South Korea, denoting Kia’s headquarters and primary manufacturing location. WMIs are instrumental in tracking, registering, and recalling vehicles worldwide, ensuring a standardized identification system across the automotive industry.

List of WMI Codes for a 2002 Kia Rio

WMI: KNA

Model Years Covered: 2001-2017
Example VIN: KNADC123026145929
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 2002 Kia Rio 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 2002 Kia Rio:

Known VDS for a 2002 Kia Rio
DC123	DC163

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 2002 Kia Rio 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 2002 Kia Rio VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
2	2002

11th Character in the 2002 Kia Rio VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2002 Kia Rio Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
6	Sohari		South Korea		KNADC123026145929

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2002 Kia Rio

The final 6 characters in a 2002 Kia Rio’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 2002 Kia Rio’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2002 Kia Rio is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Kia Rio, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN can be viewed from outside the vehicle.
Inspect the driver’s side door jamb on your Kia Rio. The VIN should be present on a label or sticker where the door latches when closed.
Check under the hood of your Kia Rio; the VIN might be located on the engine block or on a metal plate fixed to the engine compartment.
Examine the trunk area of your Kia Rio, sometimes the VIN is placed on or around the spare tire well or on the trunk lid itself.

What info can a 2002 Kia Rio VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year to be the year 2002, possibly indicating the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: It may indicate the vehicle type as a Passenger Car and further specify its body class as a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, which could offer insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Engine Specifications: The VIN can possibly provide details about the engine, such as it being a 1.5 Liter (1500.0 CC or 91.53561614209 CI), 4-cylinder engine with a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) valve train design.
Safety Features: Key safety features, including front airbag locations (1st Row for both Driver and Passenger), might be discernible from the VIN.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle, in this case, Gasoline, is possibly noted in the VIN, providing possible insights into the vehicle’s operational design and fuel efficiency.
Manufacturing Details: Detailed information about the vehicle’s manufacturing, such as the Plant City being Sohari and Plant Country as South Korea, is potentially encoded within the VIN.
Vehicle Weight Class: The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating could be classified as Class 1, indicating it is 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less), which might provide a general idea of the vehicle’s size and weight bracket.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2002 Kia Rio

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Displacement (CC)	1500.0
Displacement (CI)	91.53561614209
Displacement (L)	1.5
Doors	5
Engine Number of Cylinders	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	Rio
Model Year	2002
Other Restraint System Info	Air bags
Plant City	Sohari
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	South Korea
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KNADC163*26
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	KNADC163026056498