Most Hyundai Elantra VINs open with KMH (South Korea, 1992–2026) or 5NP (the United States, 2001–2023). Position 11, the plant, shows 8 codes, most often U (64%); a 2026 Elantra carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 57 recall campaigns and 7,813 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Hyundai Elantra VIN
Here is a real 2026 Hyundai Elantra VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN KMHLS4DGXTU168484 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Hyundai Elantra VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Hyundai Elantra VINs on record carry 3 different prefixes. The main one is KMH (South Korea, 1992–2026), then 5NP (the United States, 2001–2023):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMH | 1992–2026 | South Korea | Passenger Car | |
| KM8 | 1994–2016 | South Korea | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| 5NP | 2001–2023 | United States | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Hyundai Elantra it is not one number either — assembly moved between 8 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1992–2026 | 4,992 | |
| H | 2001–2023 | 2,684 | |
| 4 | 1994–2015 | 32 | |
| 0 | 2000–2013 | 16 | |
| V | 1992–2007 | 15 | |
| 8 | 1999–2017 | 11 | |
| 9 | 1995–2020 | 8 | |
| 5 | 1994–2016 | 7 |
Counted from 7,745 dated Hyundai Elantra VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Hyundai Elantra
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which for the Hyundai Elantra has already happened — 1996 and 2026 share the character T. All 35 model years of the Hyundai Elantra, 1992 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | 1996 |
| 2025 | S | 1995 |
| 2024 | R | 1994 |
| 2023 | P | 1993 |
| 2022 | N | 1992 |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
To tell the two apart on a car or light truck, look at position 7: a number for 1980–2009 models, a letter from 2010 on.
Body and engine characters we see on Hyundai Elantra VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 535 VINs the Hyundai Elantra uses 15 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | D (72%) · L (28%) · J (0%) | 3 distinct |
| 5 — series | 8 (26%) · H (24%) · M (11%) · 7 (9%) · N (6%) · L (4%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | F (36%) · E (26%) · G (21%) · D (5%) · J (5%) · H (3%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Hyundai Elantra VIN gets you
Behind a Hyundai Elantra VIN: 7,813 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 57 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 7,813 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 15 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 35 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai Elantra
A Hyundai Elantra VIN normally opens with KMH; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Hyundai Elantra VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 57 recall campaigns and 7,813 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Hyundai Elantra.
Why does my Elantra VIN start differently from another Elantra?
Because the Hyundai Elantra was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Hyundai Elantra VINs on record we see 3 of them: KMH (1992–2026), KM8 (1994–2016), 5NP (2001–2023). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Elantra by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Elantra carries T, a 2025 Elantra carries S, a 2024 Elantra carries R. A 1996 and a 2026 share T; position 7 tells them apart, a number for 1980–2009 and a letter from 2010 on.
Where was my Elantra built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 7,765 dated Hyundai Elantra VINs it reads U 64%, H 35%, 4 0%, 0 0% and 4 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Hyundai Elantra VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 535 Hyundai Elantra VINs here, D is the most common character in position 4, on 72% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Hyundai Elantra check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with KMH or 5NP. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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