2021 Kia K5: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 156 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 6 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
156
Complaints
6
Recalls
7
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
7
Injuries
87.2
Severity index
Severity index 87.2 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Kia K5 ranks 20 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 78% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 44 | 28.2% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 39 | 25.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 31 | 19.9% |
| ENGINE | 26 | 16.7% |
| POWER TRAIN | 16 | 10.3% |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 10 | 6.4% |
| GASOLINE | 10 | 6.4% |
| AIR BAGS | 10 | 6.4% |
The single most-reported system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, cited in 44 of 156 complaints (28.2%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 32 |
| 2025 | 45 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 29 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.6x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V164000 | 11/03/2021 | AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE | 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 |
| 21V519000 | 08/07/2021 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 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. |
| 21V447000 | 14/06/2021 | 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 wi |
| 22V760000 | 11/10/2022 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 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. |
| 23V149000 | 07/03/2023 | AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN | 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. |
| 25V794000 | 17/11/2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.