Most Hyundai Santa Cruz VINs open with 5NT (the United States, 2022–2026). Position 11, the plant, reads H; a 2026 Santa Cruz carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 9 recall campaigns and 321 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN
Here is a real 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 5NTJADDE5TH170832 — 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 Santa Cruz VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Hyundai Santa Cruz we have on record, from 2022 to 2026, opens with the same three characters, 5NT:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5NT | 2022–2026 | United States | Truck |
Counted from 321 dated Hyundai Santa Cruz VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Hyundai Santa Cruz
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Hyundai Santa Cruz has not yet outlived: its 5 years still map one-to-one. All 5 model years of the Hyundai Santa Cruz, 2022 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 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Hyundai Santa Cruz VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 55 VINs the Hyundai Santa Cruz uses 8 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | J (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | C (38%) · E (25%) · B (16%) · D (11%) · A (9%) | 5 distinct |
| 8 — engine | E (53%) · F (47%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN gets you
Behind a Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN: 321 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 9 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 321 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 24 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 4 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 5 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai Santa Cruz
A Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN normally opens with 5NT; 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 Santa Cruz VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 9 recall campaigns and 321 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
What year is my Santa Cruz by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Santa Cruz carries T, a 2025 Santa Cruz carries S, a 2024 Santa Cruz carries R.
Where was my Santa Cruz built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 321 dated Hyundai Santa Cruz VINs it reads H 100%.
What does position 4 mean on a Hyundai Santa Cruz VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 55 Hyundai Santa Cruz VINs here, J is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Hyundai Santa Cruz check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 5NT. 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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