What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 KIA K5

Typical pattern

10.5% of complaints about the 2021 KIA K5 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (45 complaints), typically at 3.8 yr or about 17,951 miles.

Complaints
257
Median age at failure
4.2 yr
Median mileage
52,000 n=49
Crash / fire / tow
7.4% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
45 reports · 17,951 mi
3.8 yr
4.4%
Fuel / propulsion
42 reports
4.8 yr
0%
Other
32 reports · 10,400 mi
4.2 yr
6.2%
Engine
29 reports · 56,000 mi
4.3 yr
3.4%
Power train
17 reports · 56,000 mi
3.7 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

25V794000 2025-11-17
Fuel system

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2024 K5 vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.

A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

23V149000 2023-03-07
Air bags:side/window:curtain

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.

Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

22V760000 2022-10-11
Power train:automatic transmission

Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

21V519000 2021-07-08
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.

A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

21V447000 2021-06-14
Lane departure: lane keep: steering assist

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L T-GDI engines. The Rack-Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) system lacks the ability to diagnose communication faults. If a communication fault occurs while driving around a curve with Lane Following Assist (LFA) engaged, the steering assist level may not adjust properly, causing a sudden increase in the steering effort required.

A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.

21V164000 2021-03-11
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 600 mi 3 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA K5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER KIA FORT WALTON BEACH (343 MIRACLE STRIP PKWY, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH TWO OF THE COMPUTER CHIPS IN THE VEHICLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.
Electrical system 3,000 mi 8 mo in service crash / fire / tow
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET WHEN SUDDENLY CUT OFF. SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LESS THAN 1 MINUTE LATER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY INVOLVED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES (ALL HIGHWAY) FROM HOME TOWARDS WORK WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED.
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service
The front seats electrical adjustments do not work properly, I have had ir switch mid drive and stying to adjust them is a hassle. They do not work properly.
Power train 298 mi 3 mo in service
TRANSMISSION REQUIRES TOTAL REPLACEMENT WITHIN 5 DAYS OF PURCHASE OF NEW CAR. VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. IT WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHICH IS NEARBY, BUT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS SHAKEN OUR FAITH IN THE SAFETY AND BUILD QUALITY OF THIS 2021 KIA K5 GT-LINE.

Other K5 model years

202320222021

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