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Published October 16, 2026

Decoding the Model Year and Build Details From a Kia VIN

Decode a Kia's model year, assembly plant, and build details from its VIN. Full year-code chart, plant codes, and how the free decoder resolves them.

The 10th character of a Kia VIN is the model year code and the 11th is the assembly plant code, together with the WMI they reveal when and where the car was built. Because year codes repeat every 30 years, a free VIN decoder resolves the right year from the full VIN, and also returns the plant, engine, and trim.

The model year code (position 10)

The 10th character of every Kia VIN encodes the model year on a standardized 30-year cycle. Letters I, O, Q, U, and Z are skipped. Recent Kia model years:

Code Model year Code Model year
B 2011 N 2022
C 2012 P 2023
D 2013 R 2024
E 2014 S 2025
F 2015 T 2026
G 2016 V 2027
H 2017 W 2028
J 2018 X 2029
K 2019 Y 2030
L 2020 1 2031
M 2021 2 2032

A handy rule: if the 7th VIN character is a letter, the car was built in 2010 or later; if it's a number, it predates 2010. Our decoder applies this automatically, so "S" resolves to 2025, not 1995.

The assembly plant code (position 11)

Position 11 names the factory. On US-built Kias (VINs starting 5XY), the plant code corresponds to Kia's West Point, Georgia plant, home of the Telluride, Sorento, Sportage, and K5 for the North American market. On Korean-built Kias (KN-series WMIs), the code maps to Kia's Korean plants.

The plant matters because recalls and campaigns are issued by plant and production range: two identical-looking Sorentos can carry different recall status. The plant code also corroborates the WMI, a 5XY VIN should show the Georgia plant, and anything else suggests a misread or altered VIN.

What the serial number (positions 12–17) tells you

The final six characters are the unique production sequence number. They don't encode options, but they make the VIN one-of-a-kind and roughly reflect build order within that plant and model year, higher numbers generally mean later builds. Paired with the door-jamb label's build month/year, you can narrow the car's birthday to a specific window.

Putting it together: a worked Kia example

Take a VIN beginning 5XYK33DF with 10th character S and the Georgia plant code:

  • 5XY, Kia built in the USA (West Point, Georgia)
  • K33DF, Sportage model line with body, engine, and restraint details (the decoder translates these)
  • Check digit, position 9, validates the VIN
  • S (10th), 2025 model year
  • Plant code (11th), West Point, Georgia
  • Last six digits, unique serial number

In plain English: a 2025 Kia Sportage built in West Point, Georgia. The free decoder adds the trim (LX, EX, SX…), engine, drivetrain, and open NHTSA recalls for that exact VIN, worth running on any Sportage, since even new-generation models can have early-production campaigns.

Kia build-detail FAQ

Can the VIN give me the exact build date?

The VIN gives model year and plant; the precise build month/year is on the driver's door-jamb certification label. Use both together.

Why do model year codes repeat every 30 years?

It's the federal standard, the usable character set is limited, so codes cycle. The decoder disambiguates using the full VIN.

Does the build plant affect a Kia's value?

Not directly. But plant determines recall applicability, and some buyers have a preference for Georgia- vs Korean-built examples of models made in both places (like the K5). Verify with the VIN.

What if the plant code doesn't match the WMI country?

On a genuine VIN it always matches, a 5XY (USA) Kia with a Korean plant code would indicate a doctored or misread VIN. Get it inspected.

Conclusion

The 10th and 11th characters of your Kia's VIN pin down when and where it was built, facts that determine recalls, parts, and value. Decode the full VIN free, verify it against the door-jamb label, and you'll know exactly what you're buying.

References

Decoding the Model Year and Build Details From a Kia VIN