Kia K5 years to avoid (and the best years)
489 NHTSA owner complaints and 9 recalls across 6 model years, 2021 to 2026. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 489complaints
- 9recalls
- 33reported crashes
- 6reported fires
- 50reported injuries
- 3reported deaths
Which Kia K5 years should you avoid?
No Kia K5 model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Kia K5 year has 79 complaints on file. The busiest years are the 2021 (165) and 2022 (125).
What are the best Kia K5 years?
The Kia K5 year with the fewest complaints on file is the 2023 (107). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0.1× | 1 | 0 | 1 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2025 | 51 | 0.6× | 2 | 4 | 6 | Few red flags | Tires |
| 2024 | 30 | 0.4× | 2 | 1 | 1 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2023 | 107 | 1.4× | 4 | 6 | 17 | Few red flags | Fuel system |
| 2022 | 125 | 1.6× | 5 | 14 | 18 | Some concerns to check | Fuel system |
| 2021 | 165 | 2.1× | 6 | 8 | 7 | Some concerns to check | Fuel system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 489 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain232 (47%)
- Electrical & infotainment72 (15%)
- Structure & body48 (10%)
- Other systems46 (9%)
- Steering, suspension & tires40 (8%)
Recalls (9)
Electrical system · 26V046000 · Jan 2026 · model year 2026
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 25V794000 · Nov 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Structure · 25V493000 · Jul 2025 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 25V351000 · May 2025 · model year 2025
Parking lights that fail to illuminate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 23V149000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Transmission · 22V760000 · Oct 2022 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 21V519000 · Jul 2021 · model years 2021, 2022
A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Safety · 21V447000 · Jun 2021 · model years 2021, 2022
A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 21V164000 · Mar 2021 · model year 2021
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.