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: 14 of 106 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 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
106 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2023
Unknown Or OtherVisibility
I noticed several internal markings like streaks on the left windshield. I presented this issue to KIA ASAP. KIA service managers examined the windshield and refused to acknowledge that it was internal, possibly due to a manufacturing defect from a containment during the manufacturing process from the windshield company. They do…
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I noticed several internal markings like streaks on the left windshield. I presented this issue to KIA ASAP. KIA service managers examined the windshield and refused to acknowledge that it was internal, possibly due to a manufacturing defect from a containment during the manufacturing process from the windshield company. They do claim that they feel pits on the windshield, which was due to another dealership scraping the object to see if it was external or internal. KIA told me to file a claim with my auto insurance company and that it is not covered under warranty. I am concerned that the windshield integrity is compromised and a possible danger to someone hitting the windshield which could cause additional injuries from the safety glass deficiency.
NHTSA ODI #11541647
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2023
EnginePower Train
Received an oil change as part of normal service schedule on a 2023 Kia K5 vehicle purchased August of 2022 (from different dealership). 4 days after this service was conducted, the drain plug in the oil system of the vehicle fell out of my car, therefore draining my vehicle of the oil it needs to operate normally, causing the c…
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Received an oil change as part of normal service schedule on a 2023 Kia K5 vehicle purchased August of 2022 (from different dealership). 4 days after this service was conducted, the drain plug in the oil system of the vehicle fell out of my car, therefore draining my vehicle of the oil it needs to operate normally, causing the car to completely stall near my home. I had to pay out of pocket at a nearby Express Oil Change facility to have a new drain plug and oil put into car, after which I immediately brought my vehicle back to this dealership to ascertain what happened. This is the SECOND time this same exact issue has occurred with my vehicle (the first time occurring after an oil change at a different Kia dealership in Charlotte, NC), which I brought to my service advisor's attention prior to them beginning the oil change service. I expressed to this service department that I am extremely concerned there is something malfunctioning or defective within the vehicle that has caused this issue TWICE in an almost-new vehicle, and that I was now concerned there could be possible damage to my engine from this reoccurring issue. The service department at Kia Wesley Chapel did absolutely nothing to address my concerns or the issue other than replacing the drain plug (yet again). This Kia service department, and KIA overall, refuses to recognize or admit to any issue within the vehicle, and I was told to "wait and see if it happens again".
NHTSA ODI #11536967
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2023
Tires
Tire: Pirelli P Zero All Season M+S (235/45/18) Tire experienced a catastrophic failure while driving entire tire came a loose from rim leaving the car incapacitated and unable to maintain control. Luckily it was a rear tire which allowed partial control until able to safely stop the car.
NHTSA ODI #11536749
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2023
Air BagsCrashInjury
I was in a car accident on 6/30/23. I was side swiped and the front airbag deployed and exploded in my face, knocking me unconscious and leaving me with chemical burns. I had a grade 2 concussion so it's hard to remember a lot. I was taken to the hospital. And drivers and passengers from 3 other vehicles were also taken to area…
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I was in a car accident on 6/30/23. I was side swiped and the front airbag deployed and exploded in my face, knocking me unconscious and leaving me with chemical burns. I had a grade 2 concussion so it's hard to remember a lot. I was taken to the hospital. And drivers and passengers from 3 other vehicles were also taken to area hospitals.
NHTSA ODI #11532035
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2023
Unknown Or Other
Was driving on the highway at roughly about 70 MPH and all of a sudden heard a big explosion and found out my sunroof blew open with glass all over the back seat and inside of my car. Luckily no one was in the back seat, if there was, they would have been injured very badly.
NHTSA ODI #11530243
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2023
Engine
The car was 4 months old when I was trying to get home when all of a sudden I noticed all the engine lights started to go out. With a few minutes on the road, the car automatically shut down in the middle of the road. My head almost hit the steering wheel and I was so close to hitting another car. I tried to start the car but it…
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The car was 4 months old when I was trying to get home when all of a sudden I noticed all the engine lights started to go out. With a few minutes on the road, the car automatically shut down in the middle of the road. My head almost hit the steering wheel and I was so close to hitting another car. I tried to start the car but it wouldn't start, the engine was making a strange noise and it smelled like burning. I waited 45 minutes on the side of the road and started the car. I drove the car to Kia and the fastest the car will go was 25 miles. When I got to Kia I explained everything that had happened to the car. They did not assure me that the Kia warranty was going to pay for everything and that they were going to investigate what was wrong with the car. It was a wiring issue and was covered under warranty. I brought the car home around 6:300 p.m. m. From the Kia body shop and before I pulled out of the parking lot, I had the same problem again! The check engine light came on and the car came to a screeching halt again. I drove the car back to the body shop. I didn't tell him anything about what was wrong with the car. The car was serviced, however you should have no problem with a new 2023 car.
NHTSA ODI #11527419
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2023
Air BagsStructureUnknown Or OtherCrash
I was involved in a traffic accident on May 29 2023. I was hit on the passenger side sustaining $18,000 in damages. My side air bag never went off.
NHTSA ODI #11526279
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2023
Unknown Or Other
Unknown
NHTSA ODI #11517696
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2023
Unknown Or Other
My sunroof exploded while driving on Lakeshore drive. I hear a loud boom and I almost crashed. I thought it was my tire or something else look up its my sunroof, I could have hit some one or hit something. It hasn't been inspected or anything as of yet it just happened at 6:30am. This is crazy because there was no warnings no cr…
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My sunroof exploded while driving on Lakeshore drive. I hear a loud boom and I almost crashed. I thought it was my tire or something else look up its my sunroof, I could have hit some one or hit something. It hasn't been inspected or anything as of yet it just happened at 6:30am. This is crazy because there was no warnings no cracks no anything. I ride with my sunroof cracked open every morning. so I don't understand.
NHTSA ODI #11516448
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceCrash
Went through automatic car wash, in neutral. The gear shifted and the car sped up, bumping the back of another car in front. No warning sound, and no auto break.
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC346.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure:exterior Trim
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Consequence: Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC346.
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Consequence: Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC346.
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.
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.
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
1
DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power
Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing. There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
2023 Kia K5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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