How to decode a 2005 Kia Sorento VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2005 Kia Sorento VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), uniquely identifying the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of assembly, and vehicle type. For instance, a 2005 Kia Sorento has a WMI that denotes it was manufactured by Kia Corporation, based in Seoul, South Korea, in the Seocho-Gu district. The WMI “KND” specifies that the vehicle is a multipurpose passenger vehicle, commonly referred to as an MPV. This identification is crucial in determining the vehicle’s origin, specifications, and compliance with regulations. The use of WMI is standardized globally to ensure consistency and reliability in vehicle identification.

List of WMI Codes for a 2005 Kia Sorento

WMI: KND

Model Years Covered: 2003-2009, 2021-2024
Example VIN: KNDJD733055339794
Manufacturer Name: Kia Corporation
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: Seoul
State or Province: Seocho-Gu
Country: South Korea

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2005 Kia Sorento 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 2005 Kia Sorento:

Known VDS for a 2005 Kia Sorento
JD733	JC733

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 2005 Kia Sorento 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 2005 Kia Sorento VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
5	2005

11th Character in the 2005 Kia Sorento VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2005 Kia Sorento Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
5	Whasung		South Korea	Kia Motors Corporation	KNDJD733055339794

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2005 Kia Sorento

The final 6 characters in a 2005 Kia Sorento’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Kia Sorento’s VIN below:

How to find a 2005 Kia Sorento’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2005 Kia Sorento is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2005 Kia Sorento. You can typically see the VIN through the lower corner of the windshield.
Look inside the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Kia Sorento for a label that usually displays the VIN where the door latches when closed.
Check under the hood; the VIN may also be found on a sticker or plate on the engine bay’s firewall in your 2005 Kia Sorento.
Inspect the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. Sometimes the VIN is located just above the tire on the frame in Kia models like the Sorento.
Look beneath the spare tire. In some vehicles, including the Kia Sorento, the VIN might be found in the area where the spare tire is stored.
Review your vehicle’s paperwork: the VIN of your Kia Sorento will also be on the title, registration, and insurance documents.

What info can a 2005 Kia Sorento VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2005, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Body Class: The VIN can detail the body class indicating whether the vehicle is a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), giving a glimpse into its design and functionality.
Engine Details: The VIN may provide information on the engine model, displacement in liters (e.g., 3.5 L), and valve train design (e.g., Dual Overhead Cam), offering insights into the vehicle’s powertrain.
Fuel Type: The primary fuel type used by the vehicle, such as Gasoline, can be indicated in the VIN, providing essential information about the vehicle’s fuel requirements.
Drive Type: The VIN may provide information regarding the vehicle’s drive type, for instance, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, offering insights into the vehicle’s traction and drive configuration.
Safety Features: The VIN can potentially indicate the existence of a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), specifically of the Direct type, which may suggest the presence of certain safety features in the vehicle.
Manufacturing Information: Details such as the plant’s city (e.g., Whasung), country (e.g., South Korea), and the manufacturing company (e.g., Kia Motors Corporation) are typically encoded in the VIN, highlighting the production origin of the vehicle.

Don’t have your 2005 Kia Sorento’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2005 Kia Sorento

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Displacement (CC)	3500.0
Displacement (CI)	213.58310433156
Displacement (L)	3.5
Doors	4
Drive Type	4x2
Engine Model	Sigma
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Model	Sorento
Model Year	2005
Plant City	Whasung
Plant Company Name	Kia Motors Corporation
Plant Country	South Korea
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KNDJD733*55
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Sample_VIN	KNDJD733055339794