repaired · 2026 Q3
Fuel system, gasoline
NewRisk. A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
2021 Kia K5Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 171 owner complaints about the 2021 Kia K5, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-149 the manufacturer reports only 79% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Kia K5 has problems
171 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
46Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
45Fuel/propulsion system
30Engine1 crash/fire/injury
19Power train
14Fuel system, gasoline
10Structure
10Air bags
10Service brakes
9Lane departure
419 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 46 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 45 | 0 |
| Engine | 30 | 1 |
| Power train | 19 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 14 | 1 |
| Structure | 10 | 0 |
| Air bags | 10 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 9 | 1 |
| 9 other systems | 41 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2021 Kia K5 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2025 Q4
Side/window: curtain
Risk. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q3
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2023 Q1
Lane keep: steering assist
Risk. A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk. 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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other K5 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the K5 median. How we score
'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What K5 owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
65k miles. Started driving, 20 minutes into driving i was stopped at a round about then I went to accelerate and nothing happened my engine revd really loud and after about 10 seconds my car jolted forward and I was able to accelerate, this would happen every time I stopped and anytime a wanted to…
I am submitting this complaint regarding a leaking evaporator core in my 2021 Kia K5. The evaporator core failed at approximately 59,600 miles, causing the air conditioning system to stop cooling properly. The vehicle was diagnosed by a repair facility, which determined that the evaporator core was…
I am writing to formally complain about the ongoing issues with my vehicle, specifically the repeated failure of the air conditioning system and the excessive number of recalls that have caused major inconvenience and lost work time. The air conditioning unit in my vehicle has failed three separate…
Own a 2021 K5?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.