How to Read Hyundai / Kia Part Numbers

A Simple (and Slightly Fun) Guide from the Team at CRDI.ONLINE

If you have ever tried to buy parts for your Hyundai or Kia, you probably noticed something strange:

Two cars.
Same model.
Same year.
Same engine size.

But… different parts.

Welcome to the real world of Hyundai / Kia spare parts 🙂

At CRDI.ONLINE, we work with genuine Korean car parts every day, and we often see customers confused by part numbers. So we decided to write this short and simple guide to help you understand how the system works.

Good news: it’s not complicated once you know the logic.

1. The Basic Structure of a Part Number

Most Hyundai / Kia part numbers (produced after 2004) look like this:

12345-67890

Very simple:

10 main characters
A dash in the middle
5 + 5 structure

Sometimes you may see extra letters at the end. These letters can mean:

Color (for interior parts, mirrors, handles)
Material type
Special warranty replacement version (for example “FFF”)

But the core number is always 10 characters.

2. First 5 Digits – What Type of Part Is It?

The first 5 digits tell you what kind of part it is.

The first digit shows the main category:

First Digit	Part Group
0	Accessories, fluids
1	Bolts, nuts, small items
2	Engine parts
3	Fuel system
4	Transmission
5	Suspension, steering, brakes
6	Body metal parts
7	Body parts
8	Plastic parts, bumpers, glass
9	Electrical parts

For example:

51712-xxxxx → usually front brake disc
58101-xxxxx → usually brake pads

If the number starts with 5, it is usually brakes or suspension.
If it starts with 2, you are dealing with engine parts.

Once you know this, part numbers stop looking scary.

3. Last 5 Digits – Model and Version

Now we go deeper.

The last 5 characters usually show:

The car model
or
The engine type
and
The specific version of the part

Very often, the first 2 characters in this second group represent the model.

For example:

2P → Santa Fe (facelift)
3X → Elantra MD
1R → Accent / Solaris (Korean production)
4L → Solaris (localized production)

Let’s decode this example:

28113-2P100

28113 → Engine air filter
2P → Santa Fe
100 → Specific version (for example petrol engine)

Another version might be:

28113-2P300 → Diesel engine

Same model. Different engine. Different number.

This is why choosing parts by photo is risky.
Two filters may look identical — but only one is correct for your VIN.

4. Updated Versions – When Numbers Change

Hyundai and Kia constantly improve their parts.

For example:

55300-4L000
55300-4L001
55300-4L002

The last digits change when the factory updates or improves the part.

Usually, the higher number means a newer version.
Yes — spare parts also get “updates,” just like software 🙂

5. Does Packaging Matter?

You may see:

“Genuine Parts” sticker
Korean labels
Different box designs

But the most important thing is always the part number.

European-market parts and Korean domestic parts may have different packaging — but if the part number is the same, the part itself is the same.

Different Markets = Different Parts

Cars built for different markets (Europe, Korea, USA, etc.) may have small differences.

That is why checking by VIN in official catalogs like Microcat or EPC is always the safest method.

At CRDI.ONLINE, we help customers check part numbers carefully before shipping, because sending the wrong part internationally is expensive and frustrating.

The Golden Rule

Do not trust:

Photos
“Looks the same”
“Should fit”

Trust the part number.

If the part number matches your VIN — you are safe.
If it does not match — even if it looks identical — don’t risk it.

Final Words from CRDI.ONLINE

At CRDI.ONLINE, we specialize in genuine Korean Hyundai and Kia parts shipped worldwide.

If you are unsure about a part number, send us:

Your VIN
The part number you found
Or even a photo

We will help you decode it and make sure you get exactly what your car needs.

Because in the Hyundai / Kia world, the part number is king 👑
And we speak its language every day.