Genesis VIN Decoder: How to Read a Genesis VIN (KMT, KMU, 5NM)

A Genesis VIN usually starts with KMT on Korean-built sedans (G70, 2021-and-newer G80, 2020-and-newer G90), KMU on Korean-built SUVs (GV60, GV70, GV80), or 5NM on GV70s built in Montgomery, Alabama. Early cars are the trap: a 2017 G80 or 2017-2018 G90 can still start with KMH, Hyundai's car code, because the brand was brand new. Positions 4-8 hold model, body and engine, 9 is the check digit, 10 is the year and 11 is the plant. Decode it on vPIC, then run recalls and history before you pay.

We ran Genesis patterns through NHTSA's free vPIC decoder on October 13, 2026, because a lot of mid October 2026 listings blur the line between a Hyundai Genesis sedan and a Genesis G80. The sister brand's codes are in our Hyundai VIN decoder, and the basics of all 17 positions are in how to decode a VIN.

Why early Genesis VINs look like Hyundais

Genesis started as a Hyundai model. On November 4, 2015, Hyundai announced Genesis as a stand-alone luxury brand, and Yonhap reported that the second-generation Genesis sedan would become the G80 and the Equus successor would be sold overseas as the G90 (EQ900 in Korea). Genesis's own release from that day describes the G-plus-number naming. The VINs show the handoff. A 2015 pattern starting KMHGN4JE decoded as a Hyundai Genesis with the 3.8-liter Lambda V6 from Ulsan. The same KMHGN4JE start on a 2017 decoded as make Genesis, model G80, still 3.8, still Ulsan. A 2016 KMHGN4JF came back as a Hyundai Genesis 5.0 V8. So on a 2015-2017 car, the WMI alone will not tell you the badge. Read the model field.

Positions 1-3: KMT, KMU, KMH and 5NM

vPIC lists KMT as Hyundai Motor Co, passenger car, make Genesis. KMU is the Hyundai Motor Co multipurpose code covering Genesis SUVs, and 5NM is Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, listed for both Hyundai and Genesis. In our runs a 2019 G70 starting KMTG34LA, a 2021 G80 starting KMTGB4SC and a 2020 G90 starting KMTF54JH all decoded to Ulsan. So did a 2021 GV80 starting KMUHBDSB and a 2022 GV70 starting KMUMADTB. A 2025 GV70 starting 5NMMADTB decoded to Montgomery, Alabama. That matters for one reason: two GV70s of the same year can come from different countries, and the plant letter settles it.

Positions 4-8: model and engine

The engine field is the useful one. Our 2019 G70 pattern returned the 2.0-liter T-GDI Theta II, the 2021 G80 and GV80 2.5T patterns returned the 2.5-liter T-GDI Theta III, a GV80 starting KMUHCESC returned the 3.5-liter T-GDI Lambda III V6, a 2017 G90 starting KMHG34JA returned the 3.3-liter twin-turbo Lambda II, and a 2018 G90 starting KMHG54JH returned the 5.0-liter Tau V8. A 2023 GV60 pattern came back as a battery-electric SUV. Some newer patterns came back with partial data in vPIC, so check the door-jamb label when the engine field is empty. If you see Theta in the engine field and get nervous, our Hyundai-Kia engine recall check explains how to verify that family by VIN. For what it is worth, the G70 recall list we pulled for 2019-2025 had no Theta engine-failure campaign.

Positions 9-11: check digit, year, plant

Position 9 is the check digit from 49 CFR 565.15, a typo filter that a cloned VIN will pass. Position 10 is the year (F 2015, G 2016, H 2017, J 2018, K 2019, L 2020, M 2021, N 2022, P 2023, S 2025). Position 11 was U for Ulsan and H for Montgomery in our decodes.

Genesis recalls that follow the VIN

Several big ones reach back to the Hyundai-badged cars. Recall 21V-160 covered 94,646 2015-2016 Genesis and 2017-2020 G80 sedans whose ABS module could short circuit, with owners told to park outside until a dealer replaced the ABS module fuse. Recall 24V-107 covered 90,907 2015-2016 Genesis, 2017-2019 G80 and G90, and 2019 G70 cars where water can get into the starter solenoid and cause an engine compartment fire, again with park-outside advice. Recall 24V-191 covered 28,439 3.3-liter twin-turbo G80, G90 and G70 cars whose left turbo oil feed pipe can leak oil, and it replaced the older 19V-538. On newer cars, 23V-094 covered 65,517 GV80, G80, GV70 and GV60 vehicles whose front seat belt pretensioners may explode in a crash, and 23V-630 covered 19,272 2021-2022 G80, GV80 and 2022 GV70 vehicles with fuel pumps that can fail.

Look, a 2016 Genesis with two open park-outside recalls is a fire risk you would be parking next to your house. Ask for the dealer repair orders with the VIN printed on them.

After the decode: history and money

A decode tells you what left Ulsan or Montgomery. It does not show the accident, the flood claim or the lease return with 60,000 hard miles. CARFAX describes its reports as built from DMV, insurer, auction and shop records, so order your own rather than trusting a seller PDF. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, compared with roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian.

Sources

• NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
• 49 CFR 565.15 VIN requirements
• Yonhap: Hyundai launches Genesis brand (Nov. 2015)
• Genesis Newsroom: brand launch release
• NHTSA: recall 21V-160 (ABS module)
• NHTSA: recall 24V-107 (starter solenoid fire)
• NHTSA: recall 24V-191 (3.3T turbo oil feed pipe)
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports