Hyundai VIN Decoder: 6 Common WMI Codes
Decode any Hyundai VIN free: the first three characters (KMH, KM8, 5NP, 5NM, 5NT, 7YA) identify the assigned manufacturer and vehicle type, position 10 encodes the model year and position 11 commonly identifies the assembly plant. Then check that vehicle's recalls and history separately.
Run the exact 17-character VIN, compare the physical vehicle, and keep each history category separate.
A Hyundai VIN check can identify a Hyundai car, crossover, SUV, pickup, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel-cell vehicle, or EV from available NHTSA data. The decode can clarify propulsion and body identity, but it cannot prove current battery condition, warranty eligibility, theft history, software status, or completed repairs.
Buying a used Hyundai? Enter its VIN.
Confirm the Hyundai identity free. For a purchase decision, the optional history report can show returned title, mileage and auction records; coverage varies by VIN.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
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See what the paid report includes →Hyundai WMI codes (VIN positions 1–3)
The first three VIN characters identify the assigned manufacturer and vehicle type. These common World Manufacturer Identifier patterns were checked against NHTSA vPIC data, but a prefix alone does not prove final assembly country; confirm the complete VIN’s returned plant fields and vehicle-specific records.
| WMI | What it identifies |
|---|---|
| KMH | Hyundai passenger cars built in South Korea |
| KM8 | Hyundai SUVs built in South Korea |
| 5NP | Hyundai passenger cars assembled in the United States |
| 5NM | Hyundai SUVs built by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama |
| 5NT | Hyundai trucks built by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama |
| 7YA | Hyundai vehicles built at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America |
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai
On a Hyundai, the VIN sits on a plate at the driver's side of the dashboard, readable through the windshield. It's repeated on the certification label on the driver's door jamb and stamped into the body in the engine compartment. Your registration, title, and insurance documents carry the same number.
Check Hyundai warranty coverage by VIN
Hyundai's current coverage is a 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for the original owner; details are published at hyundaiusa.com/us/en/assurance/america-best-warranty. To see what remains on a specific car, add the VIN to a MyHyundai account at owners.hyundaiusa.com or ask any Hyundai dealer to run it.
In November 2020, NHTSA announced consent orders against Hyundai and Kia with combined penalties of $210 million over untimely recalls of more than 1.6 million vehicles equipped with Theta II engines — a reason to run any used Hyundai VIN through NHTSA's free recall lookup before buying.
What to verify on a Hyundai
- Pay close attention to fuel and electrification fields across gasoline, hybrid, plug-in, fuel-cell, and battery-electric variants.
- Confirm the decoded model and body against the vehicle and title.
- Use the VIN for current recall checks; do not treat a model-year campaign list as VIN-specific proof.
- Verify warranty and service questions directly with Hyundai using the vehicle’s records.
Among the six Hyundai models with at least three model years of NHTSA complaint data (2015–2022), the Tucson drew the most owner complaints per model year — a median of 385 across its eight model years with enough complaints to compare — a figure that tracks sales volume as much as reliability. The Accent drew the fewest, a median of 69 per model year. On recall campaigns the Sonata leads, with 24 across the period. Medians per model year keep a model with more years on record from outranking one with fewer, but complaint counts still rise with sales volume and time on the road, so this orders models within one make rather than measuring build quality.
Which Hyundai model year to avoid
Every Hyundai model with several years on record, ranked year against year on NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns. The comparison is within one model only — a year is called out when it stands clear of that model’s other years.
Hyundai recalls and reported problems by model year
Each page below reports the NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints on record for one Hyundai model year. Model-year data narrows where to look; only a VIN lookup tells you whether a specific vehicle still has open recall work.
Hyundai VIN and buyer checklist
- Match the VIN on vehicle, title, and seller documents.
- Confirm propulsion type, charging or fueling hardware, and drivetrain.
- Request battery, software, warranty, and service records when relevant.
- Check recalls, theft, title, mileage, damage, and inspect independently.
What a Hyundai VIN check cannot prove
- A VIN alone does not prove accident, title-brand, theft, lien, ownership, service, or complete mileage history.
- Decoded equipment can be incomplete or broad; confirm trim, options, and installed hardware on the vehicle and its documents.
- A “no open recalls” result is time-specific and is not a mechanical inspection or a promise that every past recall was completed correctly.
Sources reviewed
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- NHTSA VIN DecoderU.S. government VIN identity and manufacturer-submitted vehicle data.
- NHTSA vPICNHTSA vehicle-product information and decoding resources.
- NHTSA RecallsVIN-specific open safety recall lookup and recall campaign details.
- Hyundai official websiteHyundai manufacturer resource
- 49 CFR Part 565 - Vehicle Identification Number requirementseCFR, U.S. Government Publishing Office
Hyundai VIN check questions
What can a Hyundai VIN tell me?
A valid 17-character Hyundai VIN can identify the vehicle and may return manufacturer-submitted attributes such as model year, model, body class, engine, drive type, or restraint details. Returned fields vary, so compare them with the vehicle and title instead of treating every blank as a defect.
Can a VIN check confirm the exact Hyundai trim and options?
Not always. NHTSA decoding can return useful factory identity data, but exact packages, optional equipment, and later modifications may require the original window sticker, build record, dealer documentation, or a physical inspection.
Does a Hyundai VIN check include recall information?
VIN identity and recall status are separate checks. Use NHTSA’s recall lookup and Hyundai’s official owner or recall resources, because recall status can change and some newly announced campaigns may not appear immediately.
What should I verify for this Hyundai?
Match the VIN on vehicle, title, and seller documents. Confirm propulsion type, charging or fueling hardware, and drivetrain. Request battery, software, warranty, and service records when relevant. Check recalls, theft, title, mileage, damage, and inspect independently.
Is Hyundai's 10-year warranty transferable to a second owner?
No. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty applies to the original owner only. Subsequent owners get powertrain coverage for the remainder of the 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty, per Hyundai Motor America's published warranty terms.
What does a Hyundai VIN starting with 5NP mean?
5NP is a Hyundai WMI associated with U.S.-built passenger-car examples, while 5NM appears on Hyundai SUVs from its Alabama operation. The first character alone does not prove where a particular vehicle was assembled. Decode the full VIN and confirm the plant in manufacturer records. This is a common registered or decoded pattern, not standalone proof of final assembly; confirm the specific vehicle’s complete NHTSA plant fields and manufacturer records.