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2021 Kia K5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most K5 years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Kia K5 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 78.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 31 of 165 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

165 reports
98,000 miles · May 27, 2025
Power Train

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, while the transmission was shifting gear, the vehicle started sputtering and jerking. The contact stated that the failure occurred while shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear, and from 2nd gear to 3rd gear. There were no warning lights illumin…

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The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, while the transmission was shifting gear, the vehicle started sputtering and jerking. The contact stated that the failure occurred while shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear, and from 2nd gear to 3rd gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with an erratic gear shift with a grinding sound coming from the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #11663031

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

Having issues with the blower motor and harness which is a known issue with this car. I can’t keep my AC working plus my defroster doesn’t work either with the issue I am having with the blower motor. The issue is ongoing

NHTSA ODI #11662629

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2025
Electrical SystemEngine

Main wiring harness melted in my fuse box, had to pay $5000 to replace, turbo leaked into my engine and cause for the engine to blow! Hadn’t even had the car a year !! This is getting ridiculous.

NHTSA ODI #11661765

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2025
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I recently purchased a Kia k5 2021 gt line awd one month later I noticed there was recall I take to the dealership they let me know it will only take a few hours (3) and I can pick up later the same they call me 3h later and let me know sorry this case is going to take a few weeks and I should pick up rental car and they will pa…

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I recently purchased a Kia k5 2021 gt line awd one month later I noticed there was recall I take to the dealership they let me know it will only take a few hours (3) and I can pick up later the same they call me 3h later and let me know sorry this case is going to take a few weeks and I should pick up rental car and they will pay for my rental so I did I come back one month later nothing as been done they just tell me to wait and they can’t release due to the safety recall the tank has swelled up it has been 3mont now and they still haven’t done anything to the car and I can’t sell the vehicle cause they won’t release it

NHTSA ODI #11661615

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2025
Unknown Or Other

My a/c has been giving me issues for about a year and a half to two years now. I have a 2021 Kia k5. When I first told Kia about it they told me it’s from the rain, if that’s the case then every car on the road would have this issue. Then they later told me it was my motor blower when I went back. There was a thousand dollar dif…

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My a/c has been giving me issues for about a year and a half to two years now. I have a 2021 Kia k5. When I first told Kia about it they told me it’s from the rain, if that’s the case then every car on the road would have this issue. Then they later told me it was my motor blower when I went back. There was a thousand dollar difference between two quotes they gave me for the same issue also. The air used to come on for a few hours or a day then go completely off. Now it’s sometimes will give off cold air if I put my hand to the vent but it’s nothing powerful to make a difference in the summer. I have read up on many other people having this issue. Kia also sent a recall to me last summer for a/c issues but the dealership told me that doesn’t apply to me because they are saying it’s my blower motor. I should not be held responsible for this malfunction at all. I want to request Kia give me an extended hvac warranty up to 180,000 miles at least!

NHTSA ODI #11661465

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceLane DepartureSteering

The vehicle consistently pulls sharply to the right while driving, creating a serious safety hazard. As soon as I release the steering wheel, the car veers aggressively to the right, making it difficult to stay in the lane. The steering wheel does not center and requires constant correction. The issue feels mechanical and signif…

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The vehicle consistently pulls sharply to the right while driving, creating a serious safety hazard. As soon as I release the steering wheel, the car veers aggressively to the right, making it difficult to stay in the lane. The steering wheel does not center and requires constant correction. The issue feels mechanical and significantly impacts my ability to drive safely.

NHTSA ODI #11660607

86,000 miles · Apr 29, 2025
Fuel System, GasolineSeatsInjury

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine, when the gas tank expanded, and the back seat popped up. The contact stated that two teenagers were in the back seat, and one was injured. The contact's daughter pulled over and waited for…

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The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine, when the gas tank expanded, and the back seat popped up. The contact stated that two teenagers were in the back seat, and one was injured. The contact's daughter pulled over and waited for a short while. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle drove slowly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to another dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the seat had moved two inches. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired because the frame of the seats could be damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not been driven since. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #11657502

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2025
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

My current 2021 Kia K5 FUEL TANK EXPLODED while driving. I’ve had this car for about 5 years and since driving it off the lot have experience issues with the vehicle and just a few hours ago, the fuel gas tank explode raising the back seat with passengers in the vehicle. It was extremely scary and something out of the blew. My f…

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My current 2021 Kia K5 FUEL TANK EXPLODED while driving. I’ve had this car for about 5 years and since driving it off the lot have experience issues with the vehicle and just a few hours ago, the fuel gas tank explode raising the back seat with passengers in the vehicle. It was extremely scary and something out of the blew. My friends and I were driving and I noticed the car engine light turn on (which was so odd to me as I keep a close eye to the car maintenance) and within 20 minutes we heard two EXTREMELY loud explosions sounds come from the car with the feeling of the car shake and rise a bit and felt as a tire exploded. I did not find this usual and we pulled over and the the seat my friend was sitting on was rose and unlatched. We then did some google searches and when looking into it, it appears there have been previous issues with this situation for other K5 Kia owners but KIA has done nothing regarding the matter. A few months ago I also went due to an internal thermostat exploding and causing the engine to overheat and smoke on the freeway and because they deemed it was not under the warranty, I left car-less for a week and a high bill. I don’t understand why I have to pay and endure these service costs when this is BASIC CAR FUNCTIONS. I do not appreciate the lack of empathy from dealer and service staff and feel unsafe and concerned for my safety for driving this vehicle. And now II have to endure the costs of being car less for 14 days per the dealer. Absurd.

NHTSA ODI #11650792

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2025
Power Train

very bad antifreeze smell under hood dealer said normal not healthy to smell that its in all of this model car in multiple years needs a recall to force kia to fix this unhealthy problem. 3/1/25 is when i bought this car. thankyou

NHTSA ODI #11649917

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2025
Structure

The steel trim running underneath the rear window is beginning to lift up There is a recall for this for vehicles produced sometime in 2023 but it doesn’t include my vehicle

NHTSA ODI #11646897

Official recalls

6

25V794000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Nov 17, 2025

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Dealers will replace the check valve. The fuel tank will be inspected for damage and replaced as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC356. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 1, 2025.

23V149000 · Air Bags:side/window:curtain

Mar 7, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC263.

22V760000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 11, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.

21V519000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jul 8, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.

21V447000 · Lane Departure: Lane Keep: Steering Assist; Steering

Jun 14, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the R-MDPS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 24, 2021. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC213.

Additional source detail variants (2)

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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the R-MDPS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 24, 2021. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC213.

Steering

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.

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

Remedy: Dealers will update the R-MDPS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 24, 2021. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC213.

21V164000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module; Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

Mar 11, 2021

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

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."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.