2021 Kia K5: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2021 / kia / k5
known issues6 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-21)
complaints165 on file (2020-11-11 → 2026-09-16)
recalls6
investigations0
fars38 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Fuel tank expansion, leaking, and fire riskFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY36 complaints2021-08 → 2026-08k5-2021-fuel-tank-expansion-recall
  • 11711403 While driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud explosion coming from the rear of the vehicle, and there was a dragging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear seat raised up into the air with children seated in the seat. The contact…
  • 11720940 while driving 65-70 MPH, the fuel gauge displayed zero miles to empty. The contact pulled into the nearest gas station, and while attempting to add fuel to the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was fuel leaking out of the fuel tank outlet, and the gas pump nozzle was…
  • 11675207 My fuel tank expanded while I was driving on the highway, causing my car to stall and would not respond to me pushing on the gas. I pulled over on the side of the highway and looked back and saw my rear seats were pushed up. Got it towed to the Kia dealership and they informed…
HVAC blower motor fuse and wiring harness meltingELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 complaints2024-06 → 2026-05k5-2021-hvac-blower-fuse-melt
  • 11601796 The fuse pin melted into the wire harness. Kia is not recognizing this as a safety issue although they acknowledge that the melting pin could cause a fire
  • 11603609 AC stopped blowing, vehicle had 62k miles. Took to an autoshop and they indicated that the AC blower and resistor needed to be replaced. I have both of these replaced, the AC work for a few minutes and then stopped again. I took it back to the same shop and the mechanic…
  • 11597863 main body wiring harness grounding problem ... hvac blower motor works only some times at dealeship they found fuse melted at fuse block they want customers to pay for a new wire harness when is obvious a factory defect this can cause a fire or an accident if anything else fails…
Air bag non-deployment in crashesAIR BAGS7 complaints2021-01 → 2023-11k5-2021-airbag-non-deployment
  • 11557151 While on her way from work, my mother was involved in an accident in her 2021 Kia K5 LXS where she was rear ended at a high speed by a driver not paying attention to the road and she ended up hitting the car in front of her. During the accident NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEVELOPED
  • 11504460 I was rearended into another vehicle at a speed of about 50mph, then rearended again by and SUV, not one of my 9 airbags deployed
  • 11399278 I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH IN MY 2021 K5 GT LINE WHEN AN OLDER TOYOTA CAMRY CROSSED MY PATH. I APPLIED BRAKES BUT THERE WAS NO AVOIDING THE COLLISION. I BROADSIDED THE CAMRY AT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH KNEES, NECK AND BACK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
Transmission shift failure and loss of motive powerPOWER TRAIN10 complaints2021-09 → 2026-05k5-2021-transmission-power-loss
  • 11488885 Car has completely lost power during normal driving. Transmission failure. Loss of Motive power. It is available for inspection upon request 2. Car lost all motive power while on the highway, car had to coast to a stop. This was very dangerous. 3. Car was taken to the Kia…
  • 11663031 The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, while the transmission was shifting gear, the vehicle started sputtering and jerking. The contact stated that the failure occurred while shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear, and from 2nd gear to 3rd gear. There were no…
  • 11693378 The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 15-20 MPH, the engine revved and the gears in the transmission unexpectedly failed. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning lights were…
Sunroof spontaneous shattering while drivingUNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY3 complaints2021-07 → 2025-07k5-2021-sunroof-shattering
  • 11737928 My sunroof glass spontaneously shattered causing glass to be everywhere inside my car while I was driving. It scared me and now my car is undrivable until the glass is repaired. I see many thread online of other Kia K5 owners have experienced the same issue. My initial thought…
  • 11674500 I was driving down the highway when I heard a loud explosion like a gunshot that caused me to slow down and almost getting into an accident. It was scary; I came to a stop and realized that my sunroof had exploded. There is a large hole in my sunroof bigger than a watermelon…
  • 11423530 Sunroof exploded while driving. Only had the car 2 months
Premature brake rotor warpingSERVICE BRAKES4 complaints2022-07 → 2025-02k5-2021-brake-rotor-warping
  • 11550888 My vehicle is a 2021 Kia K5 GT (2.5L-T), mechanically identical to Hyundai Sonata N-Line (2.5L-T). My car has 24000 miles on it and I have replaced the rotors on my car five times now due to premature warping. KIA OEM rotors, R1 Concepts, Brakenetic Rotors, all have warped
  • 11602951 Rotors warp after only a few months. I’ve replaced them multiple times since I got my vehicle 2 1/2yrs ago. Steering wheel will shake really bad while braking and that’s how I know I need new rotors again. Many people with this year/make/model have had the same issue

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
1652020-11-112026-09-1682ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:45; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:42; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:32; ENGINE:29; POWER TRAIN:17

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
21V16400011/03/2021AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEKia 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."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.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.
21V51900008/07/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSKia 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.A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.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.
21V44700014/06/2021LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSISTKia 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.A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.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.
22V76000011/10/2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONKia 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.Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.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.
23V14900007/03/2023AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAINKia 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.Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.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.
25V79400017/11/2025FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEKia 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.A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202438legacy-code38

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2021 Kia K5 vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/kia/k5
@misc{wrenchpro_2021_kia_k5_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2021 Kia K5},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/kia/k5}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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