Hyundai VIN Decoder
Decode any 17-character Hyundai VIN (1981 and newer): year, model, trim, engine, plant and safety equipment from NHTSA's official decoder, plus recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model year.
Popular Hyundai models
All Hyundai models →Hyundai VIN prefixes (WMI codes)
The first three characters of a VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier. These are the codes NHTSA has on file for manufacturers matching “Hyundai”, including related companies and plants abroad.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 145 | Hyundai Steel Industries, Inc. | Trailer | United States (USA) |
| 3H3 | Hyundai De Mexico, S.A. De C.V. | Trailer | Mexico |
| 5NM | Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Llc (Hmma) | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | United States (USA) |
| 5NP | Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc (Hatci) | Passenger Car | United States (USA) |
| 5NT | Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Llc (Hmma) | Truck | United States (USA) |
| 7YA | Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| KM8 | Hyundai Motor Co | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | South Korea |
| KME | Hyundai Motor Co | Truck | |
| KMF | Hyundai Motor Co | Truck | South Korea |
| KMH | Hyundai Motor Co | Passenger Car | South Korea |
| KMT | Hyundai Motor Co | Passenger Car | South Korea |
| KMU | Hyundai Motor Co | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | South Korea |
| KPH | Hyundai Motor Co | Passenger Car | South Korea |
| PFD | Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre In Singapore | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Singapore |
| U5Y | Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc (Hatci) | Passenger Car | United States (USA) |
Source: NHTSA vPIC GetWMIsForManufacturer.
Hyundai in NHTSA’s records
Where the codes point: NHTSA lists Hyundai-related WMI codes for South Korea (6), United States (5), (2), Mexico (1) and Singapore (1). The first character of a VIN usually reflects the country where the vehicle was built, so two cars of the same Hyundai model can start with different characters if they were built in different plants.
Most-recalled Hyundai models
Latest Hyundai recall campaigns
All Hyundai recalls →- Recall26V452000Jul 14, 2026 Seat Belt Buckle May FailHyundai Kona, Kona Electric 47,787 vehicles
- Recall26V432000Jul 2, 2026 Park Outside: High Voltage Battery May Catch FireHyundai Ioniq 5 6 vehicles
- Recall26V400000Jun 23, 2026 Instrument Panel Display Failure/FMVSS 101Hyundai Tucson, Tucson Hybrid 96,310 vehicles
Reading a Hyundai VIN
A Hyundai VIN follows the same federal 17-character format as every vehicle sold in the US since the 1981 model year. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier (145, 3H3, 5NM, 5NP, 5NT, 7YA and others for Hyundai), positions 4–8 are Hyundai's own codes for the model line, body, engine and restraints, position 9 is the check digit, position 10 is the model year and position 11 is the assembly plant.
Because positions 4–8 are maker-specific, the decoder above asks NHTSA's vPIC catalog to translate them, then matches the year, make and model to Hyundai's recall campaigns and owner complaints. For a position-by-position walkthrough see how to read a VIN; for the year letter, use the model-year code chart.
Hyundai VIN decoder FAQ
Where is the VIN on a Hyundai?
On a Hyundai car, SUV or light truck, look through the windshield at the driver's-side corner of the dashboard, or read the label on the driver's door jamb. It is also on the title, registration and insurance card. Our guide shows where to find the VIN on each body type.
How do I find the model year from a Hyundai VIN?
Look at the 10th character. For cars, SUVs and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the 2010–2039 cycle and a number means 1980–2009, so the same letter can point to two years 30 years apart.
Does a Hyundai VIN decoder show recalls?
It shows the recall campaigns NHTSA lists for that Hyundai model year (287 campaigns across the Hyundai models in our data). Whether your specific vehicle still needs a repair is only shown by NHTSA's VIN lookup or a Hyundai dealer.
What do the first three characters of a Hyundai VIN mean?
They are the World Manufacturer Identifier. NHTSA has 15 WMI codes on file for manufacturers matching Hyundai, including 145, 3H3, 5NM, 5NP. The full list is in the table above.
Which Hyundai models have the most complaints filed with NHTSA?
In our data: Sonata (16,078), Elantra (8,727), Santa Fe (7,657). Counts are owner reports across all model years, not failure rates; popular models draw more reports.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder (DecodeVinValues)
Queried live when you decode · public domain - NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Processing
- We send your VIN to NHTSA vPIC and show the fields it returns; empty fields are hidden by default.
- Recalls and complaints are matched by the decoded year, make and model, not by your VIN.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Reference text reviewed by the Vehicle Data Desk.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.