Most Hyundai Kona VINs open with KM8 (South Korea, 2018–2026). Position 11, the plant, reads U; a 2026 Kona carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 9 recall campaigns and 789 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Hyundai Kona VIN
Here is a real 2027 Hyundai Kona VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN KM8HECA39VU509532 — 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 Kona VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Hyundai Kona we have on record, from 2018 to 2026, opens with the same three characters, KM8:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM8 | 2018–2026 | South Korea | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Counted from 787 dated Hyundai Kona VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Hyundai Kona
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Hyundai Kona has not yet outlived: its 9 years still map one-to-one. All 9 model years of the Hyundai Kona, 2018 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Hyundai Kona VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 139 VINs the Hyundai Kona uses 14 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | K (61%) · H (39%) | 2 distinct |
| 5 — series | 2 (18%) · 5 (12%) · 3 (12%) · 1 (11%) · E (10%) · B (10%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | B (32%) · A (25%) · 3 (19%) · G (14%) · 5 (6%) · 6 (3%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Hyundai Kona VIN gets you
Behind a Hyundai Kona VIN: 789 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 9 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 789 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 31 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 8 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 9 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai Kona
A Hyundai Kona VIN normally opens with KM8; 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 Kona VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 9 recall campaigns and 789 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Hyundai Kona.
What year is my Kona by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Kona carries T, a 2025 Kona carries S, a 2024 Kona carries R.
Where was my Kona built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 789 dated Hyundai Kona VINs it reads U 100%.
What does position 4 mean on a Hyundai Kona VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 139 Hyundai Kona VINs here, K is the most common character in position 4, on 61% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Hyundai Kona check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with KM8. 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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