2023 Kia K5 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (27) · Fuel System, Gasoline (14) · Power Train (11)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia K5 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline 2025-11-17 · campaign 25V794000 · 250,547 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Structure:exterior Trim 2025-07-28 · campaign 25V493000 · 100,063 vehicles
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Risk: Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC346.
Air Bags:side/Window:curtain 2023-03-07 · campaign 23V149000 · 188,912 vehicles
Defect: 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 2022-10-11 · campaign 22V760000 · 69,038 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (68)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-05-28 · TSB_ELE422 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: infotainment system software update using update.kia.com - this bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable kia vehicles using the kia navigation updater available at update.kia.com. the software update may impr
Electrical System 2026-04-14 · TSB_ELE417 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: infotainment software update procedure - this bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing usb for installation on applicable kia vehicles. the software downloads and usb preparation process is similar across all
Structure:body 2026-03-11 · TSB_BOD350 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer action: chrome trunk lid molding replacement (ca2514) - this bulletin provides information regarding replacement of the chrome trunk lid molding on certain 2023-2024my k5 (dl3a) vehicles produced from october 3, 2022 through january 23, 2024. the chrome faceplate
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-01-16 · SC288_TSB_R6_CLSD · Emissions
technical service bulletin: voluntary emissions service campaign: fuel tank and/or pcsv check valve inspection/replacement + ecu sw upgrade (sc288/sc288a) closed & superseded - this bulletin is now closed and superseded by sc356. this bulletin provided information to inspect the fuel evaporative sys
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Structure:body 2025-11-21 · TSB_BOD322_R2_SUPERSEDED · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: service action: trunk lid and c-pillar garnish inspection & replacement (sa552) - closed and superseded by sc346 - this bulletin is now closed and superseded. this bulletin provides information to inspect the rear trunk lid chrome garnish trim and the c-pillar(s) chrome g
Showing the 6 most recent of 68 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-27 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 102,000 mi“the contact owns a 2023 kia k5. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v794000 (fuel system, gasoline). while driving approximately 45 - 50 mph, the vehicle shook violently, went into limp mode, and failed to accelerate above 10 mph. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the fue…”
2026-10-19 · Engine“i bought a 2023 kia k5 gt vehicle as a certified preowned from rick case kia sunrise, fl. i paid $30,000.00 + an extended warranty for about $4,000.00, traded in my vehicle (for $9,000.00) and put a down payment of $5,000.00. within two days of buying the vehicle in april of 2025 my car was back at the dealership in the service department for tran…”
2026-10-19 · Fuel/Propulsion System“fuel tank has expanded and is in danger of exploding due to heat from exhaust system. my vehicle has been returned to a local dealer and kia corporate is willing to pay off my loan , but not compensate me for my down payment of $3500 that i put down 6 mths ago.…”
2026-10-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i am filing this complaint regarding the handling of a fuel tank recall involving my 2023 kia k5 gt-line. on xxx, i brought my vehicle to kia rockwall in [xxx], after being informed of an issue related to a fuel tank recall. i was told that my vehicle could not be returned to me and that kia would pursue a buyback instead. before this incident, i h…”
2026-09-17 · Unknown Or Other“my 2023 kia k5 gt has an intermittent and unpredictable audio defect which the vehicle suddenly and spontaneously produces an extremely loud static-like noise through all speakers in the car, immediately upon starting the vehicle. this is not related to the radio, car play, phone connection, weather, etc. adjusting the volume dial does not effect t…”
2026-08-31 · Fuel System, Gasoline“the contact’s son owns a 2023 kia k5. the contact stated the vehicle was previously included in nhtsa campaign number: 25v794000 (fuel system, gasoline), and the vehicle was repaired. a day or two after the recall repair was completed, the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was returned to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contac…”
2026-08-31 · Fuel System, Gasoline“the contact owns a 2023 kia k5. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 25v794000 (fuel system, gasoline). the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the contact was informed that the recall repair was completed and the contact was provided a receipt. however, the contact later received several email recall notifications…”
2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other“the infotainment system in my kia k5 has failed completely. the screen went black, causing the radio, infotainment features, and backup camera display to stop functioning. at times, the system will attempt to reboot on its own, but it does not return to normal operation and continues to malfunction. i have attempted to reset the system multiple tim…”
2026-07-31 · Fuel/Propulsion System“what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? fuel pump, fuel tank and valve check. how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? see photo. on turnpike 95. has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? confirmed by the dealer yes. has the v…”
2026-07-30 · Unknown Or Other“the vehicle is grounded at the dealership due to nhtsa campaign 25v794 (kia recall sc356). the vehicle's fuel tank has critically expanded and swollen, causing permanent structural and chassis deformation inside the vehicle. the dealership service department has documented this structural damage, confirmed the vehicle is entirely unsafe to operate …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.