How to decode a 2021 Kia Sorento VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2021 Kia Sorento VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle globally. For the 2021 Kia Sorento, the WMIs of interest are “5XY” and “KND,” signifying vehicles manufactured by Kia. The “5XY” WMI indicates that the vehicle was produced by Kia Georgia, Inc., in West Point, Georgia, United States, specifically designating it as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV). On the other hand, “KND” identifies vehicles made by Kia Corporation in Seoul, South Korea, also classified as MPVs. These identifiers provide essential information about the vehicle’s origin, manufacturer, and type at a glance.

List of WMI Codes for a 2021 Kia Sorento

WMI: 5XY

Model Years Covered: 2011-2024
Example VIN: 5XYRG4LC0MG001231
Manufacturer Name: Kia Georgia, Inc.
Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
City: West Point
State or Province: Georgia
Country: United States WMI: KND
Model Years Covered: 2003-2009, 2021-2024
Example VIN: KNDRH4LG0M5018877
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 2021 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 2021 Kia Sorento:

Known VDS for a 2021 Kia Sorento
RG4LC	RK4LF	RKDLF	RL4LC	RGDLF	RGDLC	RH4LG	RG4LG	RH4LF	RLDLC
RHDLF

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 2021 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 2021 Kia Sorento VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
M	2021

11th Character in the 2021 Kia Sorento VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2021 Kia Sorento 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 (Kmc)	KNDRH4LG0M5018877
G		Georgia	United States	Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc. (Kmmg)	5XYRG4LC0MG001231

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2021 Kia Sorento

The final 6 characters in a 2021 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 2021 Kia Sorento’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2021 Kia Sorento is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 2021 Kia Sorento. The VIN can usually be seen by looking through the bottom corner of the windshield.
Inspect the door frame on the driver’s side of your Kia Sorento. The VIN might be on a sticker or plate where the door latches when it is closed.
Look under the hood of your Kia Sorento; the VIN might also be stamped on the engine block or on a fixed plate in the engine bay.
Examine the rear wheel well of the driver’s side. Sometimes, the VIN is placed above the tire.
Check your Kia Sorento’s vehicle registration documents, insurance papers, or title; the VIN should be printed there.
Review the section of the chassis above the spare tire which can be accessed by opening the trunk of your Kia Sorento.

What info can a 2021 Kia Sorento VIN reveal?

Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the model year and make of a vehicle, such as a 2021 Kia Sorento, providing essential information for identification and historical data.
Engine and Performance: It may reveal engine specifics like a 1.6L T-GDI Gamma-II engine manufactured by KMC, with a horsepower range starting from 177.2 hp, indicating the vehicle’s power and capabilities.
Safety Features: Critical safety features are encoded, showing that the Kia Sorento comes standard with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW), highlighting the importance of occupant protection in vehicle design.
Fuel and Battery Specifications: The VIN reports not only the primary fuel type, being Gasoline, but also mentions a secondary Electric fuel type and specific battery details like a Lithium-Ion/Li-Ion battery, indicating hybrid technology and electrification level.
Transmission and Drive Type: Details about the transmission style and drive type are specified, such as an 8-speed Automatic transmission and a 4x2 drive type, which could affect the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and performance.
Body Class and Capacity: Information on the body class and capacity, for instance, the vehicle being a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with 3 seat rows and capacity for 7 passengers, can be crucial for buyers looking for space and utility.
Plant and Manufacturing Details: Manufacturing details like the plant city Hwasung, plant country South Korea, and the plant company name Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) are indicated, offering insight into the vehicle’s production origin.

Don’t have your 2021 Kia Sorento’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2021 Kia Sorento

Vehicle Spec	Value
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)	Standard
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)	Standard
Auto-Reverse System for Windows and Sunroofs	Standard
Backup Camera	Standard
Base Price ($)	34990
Battery Type	Lithium-Ion/Li-Ion
Battery Voltage (Volts) From	270
Blind Spot Warning (BSW)	Standard
Body Class	Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Curtain Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Daytime Running Light (DRL)	Standard
Displacement (CC)	1600.0
Displacement (CI)	97.63799055157
Displacement (L)	1.6
Drive Type	4x2
Dynamic Brake Support (DBS)	Standard
Electrification Level	HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) - Level Unknown
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)	Standard
Engine Brake (hp) From	177.2
Engine Manufacturer	KMC
Engine Model	T-GDI Gamma-II
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)	Standard
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Fuel Type - Secondary	Electric
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Headlamp Light Source	LED
Keyless Ignition	Standard
Knee Air Bag Locations	Driver Seat Only
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)	Standard
Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)	Standard
Model	Sorento
Model Year	2021
Number of Seat Rows	3
Number of Seats	7
Number of Wheels	4
Other Battery Info	Battery: Li-ion polymer, 5.5Ah
Other Engine Info	Motor: PMSM 44.2kW
Parking Assist	Standard
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking (PAEB)	Standard
Plant City	Hwasung
Plant Company Name	Kia Motors Corporation (KMC)
Plant Country	South Korea
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Semiautomatic Headlamp Beam Switching	Standard
Series	EX
Series2	Wagon Body Type
Side Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Steering Location	Left-Hand Drive (LHD)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Direct
Traction Control	Standard
Transmission Speeds	8
Transmission Style	Automatic
Trim	Hybrid
Turbo	Yes
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	KNDRH4LG*M5
Vehicle Type	Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
Wheel Base (inches) From	110.8
Wheel Size Front (inches)	18
Wheel Size Rear (inches)	18
Sample_VIN	KNDRH4LG0M5018877