Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2026.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 K5 | 14 | 1 |
| 2025 K5 | 53 | 2 |
| 2024 K5 | 31 | 2 |
| 2023 K5 | 110 | 4 |
| 2022 K5 | 129 | 5 |
| 2021 K5 | 169 | 6 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Fuel/propulsion system123
- Electrical system97
- Unknown or other93
- Engine87
- Power train60
- Structure44
- Fuel system, gasoline38
- Forward collision avoidance35
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 110 K5 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 54 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | 13 | 10 |
| 2022 | 36 | 13 |
| 2021 | 58 | 30 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 7 model-year variants; 7 of 7 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2027 KIA K5 4 DR ICE AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2026 | 2026 KIA K5 4 DR N/A AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2025 | 2025 Kia K5 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2024 | 2024 Kia K5 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2023 | 2023 Kia K5 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2022 | 2022 Kia K5 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2021 | 2021 Kia K5 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 4 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 8.2–8.3 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | K5 AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 7.0 | 8.3 |
| 2023 | K5 AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 7.0 | 8.3 |
| 2022 | K5 AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.2 | 7.0 | 8.2 |
| 2021 | K5 AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.2 | 6.9 | 8.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
New registrations in Europe
1 new Kia K5 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2017 and 2017, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2017 the largest markets were Bulgaria (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 145 (NEDC) |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
9 campaigns cover the K5.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K5 vehicles. A software error in the Power-net Domain Controller (PDC) may cause the parking lights to flicker. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
NHTSA recalls