2021 KIA K5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other K5 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 KIA K5. That is the most of any K5 model year in the database (6 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (46 complaints, 27%), typically at around 10,476 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 169owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 KIA K5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 46 | 27% | 10,476 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 44 | 26% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 32 | 19% | 6,843 | — | — |
| Engine | 30 | 18% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 19 | 11% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 13 | 8% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 10 | 6% | 5,550 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 10 | 6% | 1,815 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 5% | 17,951 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 9 | 5% | 17,951 | — | — |
| Seats | 8 | 5% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 4% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 119,185 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 KIA K5 recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: 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.
Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:side/window:curtain
Problem: 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.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Lane departure: lane keep: steering assist
Problem: 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.
Risk: A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger; air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Problem: 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."
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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
From the get-go seemed to have trouble with transmission once in a while Little jerk when shifting gears, reported this, they could find nothing. It has become a lot worse. It has caused the car to shut down into limp mode with engine light on. So I had a problem from the beginning with my new car…
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my Kia K5 because I am concerned about a potentially dangerous mechanical defect. I purchased this vehicle used from CarMax approximately two years ago. Within the first 30 days of ownership, the steering wheel began shaking. CarMax repaired the problem at…
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…
2021 Kia K5 [redacted] Gas tank expanded and deformed the body, noticeable under back seat. Risk of gas leak or fire Kia of Mckinney service center has vehicle unrepairable SC356 KIA has case # 26282908 No symptoms, driver complained stopping was jerky CAN'T FIX CAR AND WON'T REPLACE IT.
Vehicle experienced a severe engine misfire (P0302), rough running, and loss of power while driving. Dealership confirmed the Purge Control / PCV valve failed (replaced under Recall SC356 / 25V-794), but charged out-of-pocket for the Cylinder 2 ignition coil that failed as a direct result of the…
Other KIA K5 years
See all KIA K5 problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 KIA K5?
Owners most often report electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, unknown or other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 46 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 KIA K5?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 KIA K5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other K5 model years, the 2021 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.