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2022 Kia K5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2022 Kia K5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 20 of 125 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.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports4 fire reports12 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2025
Back Over PreventionUnknown Or Other

All my lights on my dash keep lighting up for no reason. When I bought my car it did it and premier Kia said they fixed it but it keeps happening. We pay too much money for cars to act like this.

NHTSA ODI #11682352

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

Blower motor failure, available for inspection upon request. The failure occurred while driving in muggy conditions, resulting in rapid fogging of the windshield and front side windows. With no functioning airflow, the vehicle’s defrost/defog system was inoperable, and visibility through the windshield became significantly impai…

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Blower motor failure, available for inspection upon request. The failure occurred while driving in muggy conditions, resulting in rapid fogging of the windshield and front side windows. With no functioning airflow, the vehicle’s defrost/defog system was inoperable, and visibility through the windshield became significantly impaired. This required me to reduce speed and open windows in inclement weather to maintain a minimal view of the road, creating additional distraction and exposure to hazardous conditions. The blower motor produces no airflow at any fan speed setting. Failure was confirmed during inspection. No warning lights, messages, or other indicators appeared before, during, or after the failure. This is not an isolated incident. A brief search reveals numerous reports from Kia K5 owners describing the same sudden blower motor failure, indicating a likely systemic defect in the HVAC system design. Kia has not issued a recall, technical service bulletin, or other remedy despite repeated reports from vehicle owners. Kia’s continued inaction in the face of widespread, well-documented blower motor failures represents a disregard for both driver safety and basic manufacturing responsibility. Numerous Kia K5 owners have already been victimized by this defect, and doubtlessly many more will be as long as these vehicles remain on the road unrepaired. The loss of climate control directly compromises a driver’s ability to maintain a clear windshield, safely see the road, and operate the vehicle in adverse weather. These are not “comfort” issues, they are safety-critical failures. By ignoring the mounting evidence and leaving affected vehicles on the road without a remedy, Kia is willfully allowing a known hazard to persist, exposing thousands of drivers and passengers to unnecessary and avoidable risk.

NHTSA ODI #11679373

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherWheelsFire

Driving this morning 5/7/2025 at 9:09am and smoke started emitting from the center consol accompanied by a burning smell. My husband noticed the smoke coming from the car charging area, it made a popping/poof sound accompanied with even more smoke. We immediately pulled the charger out of the charger port. My car charger was me…

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Driving this morning 5/7/2025 at 9:09am and smoke started emitting from the center consol accompanied by a burning smell. My husband noticed the smoke coming from the car charging area, it made a popping/poof sound accompanied with even more smoke. We immediately pulled the charger out of the charger port. My car charger was melted and slightly burned.

NHTSA ODI #11659496

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2025
Unknown Or Other

UNKNOWN. When the vehicle is turned on and parked with the vent opened letting outside air circulate into the cabin. there is a foul smell like coolant or engine fume that come with the air flow. I did change my air filter multiple times but the suffocating smell does not stop. it gives headaches. there are reddit threads on t…

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UNKNOWN. When the vehicle is turned on and parked with the vent opened letting outside air circulate into the cabin. there is a foul smell like coolant or engine fume that come with the air flow. I did change my air filter multiple times but the suffocating smell does not stop. it gives headaches. there are reddit threads on this issue with Kias. please take a look into it. thank you

NHTSA ODI #11655337

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2024
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

A/C has gone completely out on vehicle. Fuse has melted into fuse box and destroyed the electrical harness causing the blower motor and resistor to malfunction. Second time this incident has occurred and is a know problem to my local KIA dealership.

NHTSA ODI #11601775

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2023
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

Within 2 months of buying the car, it has stalled in traffic twice with engine revving. During the first time, it was unnoticeable until my car did not react when pushing the gas pedal. The car stayed at a stop until I restarted it twice. Kia dealership was informed, however, they could not find an issue or code. Recently, the s…

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Within 2 months of buying the car, it has stalled in traffic twice with engine revving. During the first time, it was unnoticeable until my car did not react when pushing the gas pedal. The car stayed at a stop until I restarted it twice. Kia dealership was informed, however, they could not find an issue or code. Recently, the second time was different and more scary. It stalled once again and as soon as I noticed, my car would not accelerate and started rolling and revving with high rpms. I immediately put my hazards on in the middle of a 5 lane road in heavy traffic and was able to let the car roll into a parking lot. I left the car there, turned off, for 30 minutes before restarting it to have someone follow me back home. During this scary trip, the car shook violently and my foot was to the floor on the gas pedal and the car still would not accelerate unless on a slope. A five minute drive turned into a 25 minute trip while backing up traffic. (So, very high rpm’s, slow to almost no acceleration, shaking and revving, NO engine light or warning lights triggered). Engine continued loud revving and moving idle in park that evening. Since then, car has been in mechanic once again with no solutions, codes, or lights to help the dealership figure out the issue because they say “it’s driving perfectly now”. They are the only ones to inspect the vehicle each time.

NHTSA ODI #11520795

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2023
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

I was traveling normally, exiting a highway ramp when my car acceleration system malfunctioned. It seemed as if it was a power train issue or engine issue. I was not able to accelerate or slow down properly due to this malfunction and it caused me to crash. My car was totaled.

NHTSA ODI #11502223

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2022
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

On 11/24/22 my car would not start, and I kept getting a message to check ESC- electronic stability control. I pressed the ESC button on my dashboard but nothing changed. Eventually a relative jumped off the car, bypassing the warning, so I could drive home. The car started correctly the next day and for several days after. Then…

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On 11/24/22 my car would not start, and I kept getting a message to check ESC- electronic stability control. I pressed the ESC button on my dashboard but nothing changed. Eventually a relative jumped off the car, bypassing the warning, so I could drive home. The car started correctly the next day and for several days after. Then, on 11/28/22, I got the same warning, then the car would not start. This continued through 11/29/22 at which point I had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. It's still there and I have not heard if this has been resolved. At one point the car also said no key detected, although the key was in my hand. Remote start would not work as well. The car has 5800 miles on it. I'm concerned that this could happen while driving the car.

NHTSA ODI #11495436

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2022
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

2022 KIA K5 REMOTE CONTROL/ENTRY/START KEY FOB BATTERIES CONTINUALLY DYING EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. ONCE KEY IS DEAD, THE DRIVER IS LOCKED OUT OF VEHICLE AND CANNOT START IT. DRIVER IS GETTING STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD CONSTANTLY, POSING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. IF VEHICLE STALLS, DRIVER CANNOT RESTART THE VEHICLE SINCE KEYT FOB IS D…

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2022 KIA K5 REMOTE CONTROL/ENTRY/START KEY FOB BATTERIES CONTINUALLY DYING EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. ONCE KEY IS DEAD, THE DRIVER IS LOCKED OUT OF VEHICLE AND CANNOT START IT. DRIVER IS GETTING STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD CONSTANTLY, POSING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. IF VEHICLE STALLS, DRIVER CANNOT RESTART THE VEHICLE SINCE KEYT FOB IS DEAD. VEHICLE COULD THEN BE STUCK ON AN ACTIVE ROADWAY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. KIA CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE AND HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAILING VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11457390

Official recalls

5

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.

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.