South Korea · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Kia VIN decoder
Kia Corporation is a South Korean automaker and part of Hyundai Motor Group, alongside Hyundai and Genesis. Its 2026 US fuel economy listings include the K4 and K5 sedans, the Seltos, Sportage, Sorento and Niro SUVs, the Carnival, and the EV6 and EV9 electric models, several of them also offered as hybrids or plug-in hybrids. The three-row Telluride is built in Georgia.
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 40 model pages
- 209 recall campaigns
- 43,658 owner complaints
- model years 1995–2027
- 8 WMI codes in vPIC
- origin: South Korea
| Country of origin | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 1995–2027 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | 8 |
| Model pages | 40 |
| Other model names in NHTSA data | 1 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 209 |
| Owner complaints | 43,658 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 2,429 (5.6%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 1,915 (4.4%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 1,702 (3.9%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 70 (0.2%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
Kia builds many of its US-market vehicles in North America. Kia Georgia in West Point builds the Telluride, the gasoline Sorento and Sportage, and the EV6 and EV9; production of the 2027 Telluride started there on February 24, 2026. Kia's plant in Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico has operated since May 2016 and built its two-millionth vehicle, a 2025 K4, in August 2024. The Sportage Hybrid for the US and Canada is built at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia.
Every Kia carries a 17-character VIN, the North American standard since model year 1981. Kia's VIN decoding guides are filed with NHTSA by the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, and NHTSA's vPIC database usually decodes US-market Kias in detail.
NHTSA’s files hold 209 vehicle recall campaigns and 43,658 owner complaints for Kia vehicles from model years 1995 to 2027, summarised here on 40 model pages. The Sorento has the most complaints (10,159), followed by the Optima (7,499) and the Soul (5,532). Of those complaints, 2,429 report a crash, 1,915 a fire, 1,702 at least one injury and 70 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 8 WMIs to Kia; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3KM | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Hyundai |
| 3KP | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Passenger Car | Hyundai |
| 5XX | KIA GEORGIA, INC | United States | Passenger Car | – |
| 5XY | KIA GEORGIA, INC | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Hyundai |
| 7YA | HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP METAPLANT AMERICA | Not stated | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Hyundai |
| KNA | KIA CORPORATION | South Korea | Passenger Car | – |
| KND | KIA CORPORATION | South Korea | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Hyundai |
| U5Y | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI) | United States | Passenger Car | Hyundai |
Some codes are shared across a manufacturer’s brands; the last column names the other brands in our catalog that vPIC links to the same code. See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 1995–2027.
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorento | 2003–2026 | 40 | 10,159 |
| Optima | 2001–2020 | 22 | 7,499 |
| Soul | 2010–2025 | 15 | 5,532 |
| Sportage | 1995–2026 | 36 | 4,687 |
| Forte | 2009–2024 | 18 | 2,539 |
| Sedona | 2002–2021 | 23 | 2,406 |
| Telluride | 2020–2027 | 19 | 2,009 |
| Sephia | 1995–2003 | 7 | 1,687 |
| Rio | 2000–2023 | 11 | 1,290 |
| Spectra | 2000–2009 | 2 | 906 |
| Seltos | 2021–2026 | 4 | 549 |
| EV6 | 2022–2025 | 5 | 541 |
| K5 | 2021–2026 | 9 | 494 |
| Carnival | 2022–2026 | 7 | 409 |
| Niro | 2017–2026 | 6 | 348 |
| Rondo | 2007–2011 | 5 | 297 |
| Optima Hybrid | 2011–2020 | 5 | 274 |
| EV9 | 2024–2026 | 10 | 250 |
| Amanti | 2004–2009 | 2 | 247 |
| Cadenza | 2014–2020 | 6 | 216 |
| Stinger | 2018–2023 | 7 | 168 |
| Sportage Hybrid | 2023–2027 | 2 | 135 |
| Sedona EX | 2002–2004 | 1 | 121 |
| Sorento Hybrid | 2021–2026 | 6 | 112 |
| Borrego | 2008–2019 | 4 | 92 |
| Niro EV | 2019–2025 | 6 | 90 |
| Carnival Hybrid | 2025–2026 | 1 | 84 |
| K900 | 2015–2020 | 4 | 68 |
| Niro PHEV | 2018–2025 | 3 | 68 |
| K4 | 2025–2026 | 3 | 55 |
Show 10 more Kia modelsHide the other models
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forte Koup | 2010–2017 | 5 | 52 |
| Spectra5 | 2006–2008 | – | 44 |
| Sorento PHEV | 2022–2026 | 8 | 43 |
| Rio Cinco | 2001–2004 | 1 | 41 |
| Soul EV | 2014–2019 | 5 | 39 |
| Sportage PHEV | 2023–2026 | 3 | 35 |
| Optima PHEV | 2017–2020 | 2 | 33 |
| Niro Hybrid | 2017 | 1 | 19 |
| Telluride Hybrid | 2027 | 2 | 8 |
| LD Spectra | 2004–2005 | 1 | 7 |
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Other Kia models in NHTSA data
NHTSA also lists these Kia model names, but with no recall campaign and fewer than 25 complaints each, so they have no page of their own: RIO5.
Which WMI codes appear on Kia VINs?
Korean-built Kias start with KN, Georgia-built models with 5X and Mexican-built models with 3K. Some WMIs are shared within Hyundai Motor Group: vPIC lists 5XY, KND and 7YA with both the Kia and Hyundai makes.
| WMI | Manufacturer (NHTSA vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNA | KIA CORPORATION | South Korea | Passenger car |
| KND | KIA CORPORATION | South Korea | MPV |
| 5XX | KIA GEORGIA, INC | United States | Passenger car |
| 5XY | KIA GEORGIA, INC | United States | MPV |
| 3KP | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | Passenger car |
| 3KM | KIA MEXICO S.A. DE C.V. | Mexico | MPV |
| 7YA | HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP METAPLANT AMERICA | United States | MPV |
What do positions 4 to 11 mean on a Kia VIN?
Kia's decoding guides follow the same layout as Hyundai's. The guide for the model-year 2027 EV6 built in Georgia (NHTSA Manufacturer Information Database file ORG26889, August 2026) shows it:
| Position | Meaning | 2027 EV6 example |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI | 5XY (Kia MPV, Georgia) |
| 4 | Make and line | C = Kia EV6 |
| 5 | Model series | 3 = Light, Light Long Range, Wind; 4 = GT-Line |
| 6 | Body type | 4 = wagon 2WD; D = wagon 4WD |
| 7 | Restraint system | J (see restraint table in the guide) |
| 8 | Engine or motor and battery | A, B or C by motor and battery |
| 10 | Model year | V = 2027 |
| 11 | Plant | G = Georgia, USA |
Position 9 is the check digit and positions 12 to 17 the serial number. Codes differ between models and years, so check the model year first.
How can I tell if my Kia was built in Georgia?
Look at the WMI and position 11. Georgia-built Kias use WMIs such as 5XY or 5XX, and Kia's 2027 EV6 guide lists plant code G for Georgia. VINs starting with K were built in South Korea and those starting with 3K in Mexico.
Why does a Kia VIN share codes with Hyundai?
Both brands belong to Hyundai Motor Group, and some WMIs are registered to shared plants or companies. vPIC lists 7YA, the Metaplant America code, with both makes; the brand itself is carried in position 4 and the decoded make.
Can I check Kia recalls with this decoder?
The decoder lists recalls NHTSA has issued for your Kia's make, model and model year, using NHTSA's public data for US-market vehicles. For one VIN's open-recall status, use NHTSA's VIN search or a Kia dealer. See recalls.
Does a Kia VIN decode show accident history?
No. It shows factory data such as line, series, body, restraints, powertrain, model year and plant. Accident, title and ownership records come from state agencies and licensed history providers, which this site does not connect to.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other Asian brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Hyundai (49) South Korea · 285 recall campaigns
- Genesis (12) South Korea · 34 recall campaigns
- Acura (22) Japan · 117 recall campaigns
- Honda (127) Japan · 363 recall campaigns
- Infiniti (36) Japan · 104 recall campaigns
- Isuzu (36) Japan · 112 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.