Kia K5 reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 500 complaints about the Kia K5 with NHTSA since 2021, most often about fuel and propulsion and other or unspecified. Kia has filed 1 warranty extension and 6 service campaigns for it, and there are 9 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Kia K5? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the K5 a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2021 on.
- Owner complaints
- 500
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 1
- Filed by Kia
- Service campaigns
- 6
- Filed by Kia
- Safety recalls
- 9
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the K5 with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | Other or unspecified (36%) | 1 | 2 |
| 2025 | 52 | Tires (29%) | 2 | 1 |
| 2024 | 30 | Engine (30%) | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 108 | Fuel and propulsion (37%) | 4 | 2 |
| 2022 | 129 | Fuel and propulsion (27%) | 5 | 4 |
| 2021 | 167 | Electrical system (28%) | 6 | 3 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single K5 model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Kia
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Kia filed with NHTSA for the K5, in its own words. A warranty extension means Kia pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionAug 2024· Visibility and wipers· model years 2021–2022
OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY037) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor in 2021-2022 MY K5 vehicles…
- Service campaignApr 2026· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2025–2026
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC363) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain 2025-2026 MY Carnival vehicles to inspect the oil level plug and automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for signs…
- Service campaignFeb 2026· Engine· model years 2026
DATA COLLECTION: EXTRACT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS DATA FROM ECU (DC26) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2021–2022
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FORM (SC307) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the voluntary service campaign…
- Service campaignJul 2024· Fuel and propulsion· model years 2021–2024
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC288) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign on certain 2021-2024 MY K5 vehicles equipped with 1.6L Turbo Gas Direct Injection (GDI) engines…
- Service campaignApr 2024· Electrical system· model years 2024
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC304) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to replace the AVN 5.0 Wide head unit in certain 2024 MY K5 vehicles.
- Service campaignDec 2022· Electrical system· model years 2022–2023
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: HECU INSPECTION /REPLACEMENT (SC252A/B/C) - This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) on certain K5 (DL3a) and Telluride (ON) and Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced on the dates…
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every K5 model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Fuel and propulsion118 (24%)
- Other or unspecified93 (19%)
- Electrical system91 (18%)
- Engine82 (16%)
- Transmission and drivetrain59 (12%)
- Body and structure36 (7%)
- Fuel system27 (5%)
- Automatic emergency braking and collision warning23 (5%)
Safety recalls
9 recalls cover at least one K5 model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
A software error in the Power-net Domain Controller (PDC) may cause the parking lights to flicker.
The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
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.
Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
The Rack-Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) system lacks the ability to diagnose communication faults.
The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- DP22003Defect petition· opened Sep 2022, closed Dec 2023· Engine· model years 2023
Loss of Motive Power
NHTSA's own page for the 2026 Kia K5 has the complaint text and every document.
Was the work actually done on the car you're looking at?
Model-year records can't tell you about one car. A Kia service history check returns that vehicle's own dealer records by VIN.
Check a Kia's service historyCommon questions
Is the Kia K5 reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2021 on: 500 owner complaints, 1 warranty extension and 6 service campaigns Kia filed, and 9 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2021 (167), 2022 (129), 2023 (108). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Kia K5?
Across every model year since 2021, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name fuel and propulsion (24%), other or unspecified (19%), electrical system (18%). Kia has filed 1 warranty extension covering the K5, listed on this page.
Which K5 model years have the most complaints?
2021 (167), 2022 (129), 2023 (108). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the K5 with each other rather than with other models.
Has Kia extended the warranty on the K5?
Yes: visibility and wipers (model years 2021–2022). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a K5?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 9 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.