2023 Kia K5

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Fuel pump, fuel tank and valve check. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? SEE PHOTO. on turnpike 95. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by the dealer yes. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Bev smith KIA sent my info to KIA America when they saw it. SEE PHOTO. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? It blew up on me.

car taken to Hutchenson Kia of Macon for Kia recall Campaign SC356. I heard loud pop a few days before appointment. The dealership stated the gas tank failed structural inspection and has already expanded. This put me and my children in danger. The dealership kept my vehicle and will not give me me a loaner. They left me stranded without a way to get home or pick up my kids from daycare. the 1800 # said my car isnt under warranty so they arent obligated. If they keep my car an say its a safety hazard they should be obligated. im told i have to wait 3-5 business day to get a case manager to see how they can assist me,

The vehicle is grounded at the dealership due to NHTSA Campaign 25V794 (Kia Recall SC356). The vehicle's fuel tank has critically expanded and swollen, causing permanent structural and chassis deformation inside the vehicle. The dealership service department has documented this structural damage, confirmed the vehicle is entirely unsafe to operate due to an immediate fuel system fire hazard, and stated the vehicle is likely unrepairable. The manufacturer is currently holding the hazardous vehicle but is failing to provide immediate alternative transportation, leaving the consumer stranded and creating severe financial hardship. I do not have the financial means to pay rental car fees up front for an extended and undetermined amount of time while waiting for Kia to decide the next step. All of the issues with the vehicle are directly related to the manufacturer defect. My safety was at risk while operating the vehicle due to a severe fire risk.

I brought my 2023 Kia K5 to Citrus Kia in Ontario, California on 2/20/2026 for two safety recalls, including Recall SC356 involving a defective fuel check valve that can cause the fuel tank to expand, melt, and potentially catch fire. When I picked up my vehicle on XXX, I was given a repair invoice stating that both recalls had been completed. Four months later, I received another recall notice by mail for SC356. After contacting Kia corporate, they confirmed that Citrus Kia had never completed the recall, despite providing me with paperwork stating that it had been done. I made multiple attempts to contact the dealership for an explanation but my calls were never returned. Kia corporate also had difficulty reaching the dealership. They ultimately confirmed with Citrus Kia that the recall had NOT been performed and instructed me to have it completed at another dealership. This was not a minor paperwork error. Citrus Kia falsely represented that a serious safety recall involving a potential fire hazard had been completed when it had not. I have the dealership's own repair invoice documenting that they claimed the work was finished. I also have a voicemail recording from Kia corporate stating they were told by Citrus Kia that the recall was actually not completed. What is most alarming is that Kia corporate never asked the dealership why they provided an invoice stating the safety recall was completed when it had not. Attachments: page 3 of invoice from 2/23/2026 shows Recall SC356 as completed; 2 screenshots from NHTSA and [XXX] on 7/23/2026 shows Recall SC356 as not completed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I am filing this complaint regarding Kia America’s handling of a safety recall and repurchase of my 2023 Kia K5 GT-Line (VIN: [XXX]. I purchased this vehicle used on XXX, and financed it through Capital One. After taking my vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership for the fuel tank valve safety recall, I was informed that my vehicle was unsafe to drive and could not be repaired. The dealership advised me that Kia would be repurchasing the vehicle. Kia has offered to buy back the vehicle, but the settlement being offered does not appear fair under the circumstances. Although Kia has determined that my vehicle is unsafe and unrepairable due to a manufacturer safety defect, I have only been provided with 15 days of rental vehicle coverage while Kia’s own repurchase letter states that the process may take 60 to 90 days to complete. This could leave me without transportation through no fault of my own. Additionally, Kia has refused to reimburse my $4,000 down payment or provide any additional compensation related to the loss of use of my vehicle. Their offer also includes a substantial mileage deduction under certain options, despite the fact that this repurchase is the result of a manufacturer safety defect rather than a voluntary sale or trade-in. I requested written clarification regarding my settlement options, rental coverage, loan payoff, and reimbursement of my expenses. Rather than answering my questions, Kia responded only that the offer was “firm” and compliant with Florida law, without addressing the specific concerns I raised. I am requesting that this matter be reviewed to determine whether Kia is handling this safety recall and repurchase fairly and whether consumers whose vehicles are deemed unsafe and unrepairable should receive adequate transportation assistance and fair compensation while waiting for the manufacturer to complete the repurchase process. I respectfully request assistance in reviewing Kia America’s handling this case. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA

7/20/26 My 17 year old daughter was on the way to work and heard a loud noise like an explosion in her car. She, new to driving, scared and in a panic just assumed this was a blowout on a tire and pulled over to check the tires. All tires were clear so she proceeded to work cautiously, on her way home she noticed her check engine light had come on and noticed there was some road noise coming from the back. She then called me, note this is the first I heard of the situation. While on the phone with her I pulled up the CarFax to check when it had last been maintenanced, while doing that I saw for the first time TWO RECALLS on this car we had just purchased 3 months ago! By this time she was home and I instructed her to get out of the car while I Immediately called our local Kia dealership to schedule an appt to have the two recalls fixed (7/20/26 at 4:38pm). I gave the make and model to the service department and they informed me they couldn’t see me till Wed July 29th,at 8:00 am. When my husband and I further assessed the car after we got home we found that an explosion had occurred around her fuel tank, which was full at the time of the incident! The fuel tank expanded enough to completely rupture and detach her entire backseat! This incident was due to a recall replacing a valve on the fuel tank that was not conducted on the car from prior owners nor communication to the new owners (ME) upon my purchase of the vehicle. This could have been catastrophic to my daughter and anyone else in the vehicle had she kept driving the car and could have very easily been engulfed with flames and loss of life especially with a full tank of gas. The car has been towed to the local Kia dealership and leaked gas all in our driveway as it sat there. We are still awaiting response from Kia on our case it has been over 48 hours now and we have received no communication from them. KIA NEEDS TO DEEM THIS RECALL AS POSSIBLY FATAL AND ACT IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE LIVES!

I DROPPED OFF MY CAR AT THE COVINA KIA DEALERSHIP EXPLAINING THE RECALL AND THE ISSUES I NOTICE SUCH AS A BULGE IN THE VERTICAL PORTION OF THE SEAT NEAR WHERE THE CALVES TOUCH. THE SEAT ALSO FEELS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR. THEY SAID THERE IS A 3 BUSINESS DAY WAIT TO EVEN BE DIAGNOSED AND DID NOT ALLOW A RENTAL CAR. I HAD TO FIGURE OUT TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS VIA THE LINK OR FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IT IS THE END OF DAY 2. I TRIED CALLING BUT THERE IS AN AI MENU THAT I CANNOT GET PAST. I GOT NOTIFICATIONS TODAY FROM THE KIA APP THAT MY DOORS WERE UNLOCKED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF 30 MINUTES AND LEFT UNLOCKED AFTER THAT. I DONT SEE AN UPDATE ON THE SERVICE REPORT LINK AND I RECEIVED NO CALL. THE RECALL HAS ALSO BEEN WIPED FROM MY VIN WITH NO UPDATE.

A recall from Kia a damage check valve and a fuel tank issue. I have called the manufacture Kia company and they have no result, I have called for over a month now and haven’t had my car for a month and an half now, still waiting for a results or a solution for the Kia K5 GT Line. I have called my case manager as well, every time I call it goes straight to voicemail. I am looking to contact anyone from higher up to help me find a solution for my car.

Shortly after refueling, I experienced a serious and sudden vehicle safety-related malfunction involving suspected fuel tank expansion. The event coincided with abnormal fuel behavior and an unexpected structural issue in the rear cabin area, where the rear seat assembly displaced upward without any passenger interaction or impact. The vehicle was inspected at Kia Archer, where I was informed it was unsafe to operate and required escalation to Kia corporate for review. I was advised the issue may involve a fuel system defect consistent with tank expansion potentially affecting surrounding structural or mounting components. Since that inspection, I have made repeated attempts to obtain clarification, safety guidance, and a technical explanation of the failure. These requests have not been meaningfully addressed. Communication from Kia corporate has been limited, delayed, or non-responsive. Instead of receiving a clear diagnostic explanation, repair plan, or safety directive, I was provided a buyback offer without supporting technical documentation, including no defect analysis, no engineering explanation, and no clear justification of valuation. I have also been presented with time-sensitive pressure to sign the buyback agreement despite the absence of disclosed safety findings or complete information regarding the defect. At this time: * The vehicle has been deemed unsafe by a dealership technician * A suspected fuel system defect involving tank expansion has been identified but not explained or resolved * There is concern of associated structural or mounting stress affecting interior components * Manufacturer communication has been insufficient and non-responsive following escalation * A buyback has been offered without transparent technical findings or defect disclosure * There is perceived pressure to accept terms without adequate time or information This was a huge safety risk to myself and any passengers I’ve had in my vehicle.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety defect involving my Kia K5 and the subsequent handling of this matter by Kia America. My vehicle was subject to a voluntary recall and was inspected by an authorized Kia dealership. During inspection, I was informed the vehicle has a defective fuel tank system that allowed air intrusion, resulting in abnormal pressure and structural impact to the vehicle. I was further advised by dealership personnel this condition created a risk the vehicle could catch fire or explode while being operated. As a result, the dealership retained possession of my vehicle and deemed it unsafe to drive. I have been without use of my vehicle and Kia has provided a rental car. For approximately eighteen (18) months prior to this discovery, I unknowingly operated this vehicle under these conditions. During that time, my minor child was a regular passenger in the rear seating area of the vehicle. My child has experienced ongoing neurological symptoms, including persistent headaches over a period of several months, which have required medical evaluation. While no definitive cause has yet been determined, the possibility of prolonged exposure to fuel vapors within the vehicle is a serious concern. In addition to the safety risk, I have incurred substantial financial losses, including: Monthly payments totaling approximately $10,170 Down payment $1,000 Maintenence $1,800 Insurance costs totaling approximately $7,500 Despite the severity of the defect and the fact the vehicle cannot be repaired or returned to me, Kia America has only offered resolution options that: Do not fully reimburse my financial losses In some cases require me to pay out-of-pocket to resolve the issue Do not account for the significant safety risks involved Furthermore, Kia America has imposed a deadline for acceptance of these inadequate offers and has stated that if I do not accept, they will: Discontinue providing a rental vehicle Return the unsafe vehicle to me