Most Hyundai Tucson VINs open with KM8 (South Korea, 2005–2026) or 5NM (the United States, 2022–2026). Position 11, the plant, shows 6 codes, most often U (88%); a 2026 Tucson carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 36 recall campaigns and 6,090 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Hyundai Tucson VIN
Here is a real 2026 Hyundai Tucson VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN KM8JEDD1XTU403038 — 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 Tucson VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Hyundai Tucson VINs on record carry 3 different prefixes. The main one is KM8 (South Korea, 2005–2026), then 5NM (the United States, 2022–2026):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KM8 | 2005–2026 | South Korea | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | |
| KMH | 2005–2025 | South Korea | Passenger Car | |
| 5NM | 2022–2026 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Hyundai Tucson it is not one number either — assembly moved between 6 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| U | 2005–2026 | 5,344 | |
| H | 2011–2026 | 700 | |
| E | 2025–2025 | 20 | |
| 0 | 2006–2016 | 6 | |
| 9 | 2015–2022 | 4 | |
| 4 | 2005–2017 | 3 |
Counted from 6,048 dated Hyundai Tucson VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Hyundai Tucson
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Hyundai Tucson has not yet outlived: its 22 years still map one-to-one. All 22 model years of the Hyundai Tucson, 2005 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Hyundai Tucson VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 412 VINs the Hyundai Tucson uses 13 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | J (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | 3 (25%) · B (19%) · E (18%) · C (9%) · F (9%) · U (6%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | E (42%) · 4 (16%) · 1 (16%) · 2 (8%) · L (6%) · C (5%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Hyundai Tucson VIN gets you
Behind a Hyundai Tucson VIN: 6,090 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 36 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 6,090 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 28 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 15 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 22 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Hyundai Tucson
A Hyundai Tucson 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 Tucson VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 36 recall campaigns and 6,090 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Hyundai Tucson.
Why does my Tucson VIN start differently from another Tucson?
Because the Hyundai Tucson was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Hyundai Tucson VINs on record we see 3 of them: KM8 (2005–2026), KMH (2005–2025), 5NM (2022–2026). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Tucson by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Tucson carries T, a 2025 Tucson carries S, a 2024 Tucson carries R.
Where was my Tucson built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 6,081 dated Hyundai Tucson VINs it reads U 88%, H 12%, E 0%, 0 0% and 2 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Hyundai Tucson VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 412 Hyundai Tucson 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 Tucson check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with KM8 or 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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