Most Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VINs open with 5NM (the United States, 2014–2018). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often G (67%); a 2018 Santa Fe Sport carries J in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 11 recall campaigns and 1,152 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN
Here is a real 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 5XYZW4LA8JG554691 — 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 Fe Sport VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Hyundai Santa Fe Sport we have on record, from 2014 to 2018, opens with the same three characters, 5NM:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5NM | 2014–2018 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | 2013–2018 | 776 | |
| H | 2014–2018 | 368 |
Counted from 369 dated Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has not yet outlived: its 6 years still map one-to-one. All 6 model years of the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, 2013 to 2018, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 74 VINs the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport uses 6 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | Z (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | U (73%) · T (16%) · W (11%) | 3 distinct |
| 8 — engine | B (72%) · A (28%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN gets you
Behind a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN: 1,152 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 11 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,152 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 24 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 6 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 6 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
A Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN normally opens with 5XY; 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 Fe Sport VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 11 recall campaigns and 1,152 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
What year is my Santa Fe Sport by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2018 Santa Fe Sport carries J, a 2017 Santa Fe Sport carries H, a 2016 Santa Fe Sport carries G.
Where was my Santa Fe Sport built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,152 dated Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VINs it reads G 67%, H 32%.
What does position 4 mean on a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 74 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport VINs here, Z 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 Fe Sport check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 5NM. 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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