2021 Kia K5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2021 Kia K5 has 233 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: when filling up the gas tank on 3 separate occasions the station pump failed to cut off causing fuel to leak unto the surrounding surface. the kia k 5 is leased vehicle that i entered into contract in july 2021. the car was used as a demo and i find it suspicious that the dealership wasn’t aware of . ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 7 crash reports 7 injuries

233

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

44 complaints

19%

• When filling up the gas tank on 3 separate occasions the station pump failed to cut off causing fuel to leak unto the surrounding surface. The Kia K 5 is leased vehicle that I entered into contract in July 2021. The car was used as a demo and I find it suspicious that the dealership wasn’t aware of
• One day I was driving my car when suddenly I heard a loud explosion sound from the back. I continued to drive the car until I could pull over to inspect the car. In the midst of pulling the car over I began smelling a strong odor of gas in the cabin of the car. Prior to stopping the car started skip
• Loss of power. Check engine light came on

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“When filling up the gas tank on 3 separate occasions the station pump failed to cut off causing fuel to leak unto the surrounding surface. The Kia K 5 is leased vehicle that I entered into contract in July 2021. The car was used as a demo and I find it suspicious that the dealership wasn’t aware of ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

43 complaints

18%

• KEEP LOST WIRELESS CARPLAY SCINAL.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA K5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER KIA FORT WALTON BEACH (343 MIRACLE STRIP PKWY, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE
• VEHICLE WAS STOPPED A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET WHEN SUDDENLY CUT OFF. SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LESS THAN 1 MINUTE LATER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY INVOLVED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES (ALL HIGHWAY) FROM HOME TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“KEEP LOST WIRELESS CARPLAY SCINAL.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

31 complaints

13%

• I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED IN MY PATH, AND I BROADSIDED HIS VEHICLE. I AM NOT SURE OF MY SPEED AT IMPACT. I WOULD GUESS 30 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ALSO CAME UNLATCHED, FOLDING ITSELF DOWN. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE
• WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD AND ABNORMAL ABOUT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY AS WELL AS A SCRATCH WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ON MARCH 26, 2021 AT 10PM. ON MARCH 29, 2022 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY ENGINE COVER CAME OFF AND WAS THE CAUSE O
• Purchased new Kia K5 LXS few months ago. Originally warning lights appeared on dashboard. At first windows would come down intermittently. Now my windows won't come down at all. My headlights flicker and turn off at night. Car sounds like it's powering down at times. Contacted dealership a number of

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED IN MY PATH, AND I BROADSIDED HIS VEHICLE. I AM NOT SURE OF MY SPEED AT IMPACT. I WOULD GUESS 30 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ALSO CAME UNLATCHED, FOLDING ITSELF DOWN. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

28 complaints

12%

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AFTER IT IS PARKED AND ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE COOLING SYSTEM ( COOLANT RESERVOIR ON UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE ARE) ALLOWS ANTIFREEZE VAPORS AND HIGH PRESSURE TO ESCAPE INTO ENGINE AREA. WHEN PARKING IN A GARAGE THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT. DEALER HAS VERI
• WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD AND ABNORMAL ABOUT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY AS WELL AS A SCRATCH WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ON MARCH 26, 2021 AT 10PM. ON MARCH 29, 2022 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY ENGINE COVER CAME OFF AND WAS THE CAUSE O
• VEHICLE WAS STOPPED A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET WHEN SUDDENLY CUT OFF. SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LESS THAN 1 MINUTE LATER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY INVOLVED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES (ALL HIGHWAY) FROM HOME TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AFTER IT IS PARKED AND ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE COOLING SYSTEM ( COOLANT RESERVOIR ON UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE ARE) ALLOWS ANTIFREEZE VAPORS AND HIGH PRESSURE TO ESCAPE INTO ENGINE AREA. WHEN PARKING IN A GARAGE THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT. DEALER HAS VERI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

20 complaints

• I was driving 35 mph with nobody in front of or behind me and the car slammed on automatic braking for no reason, stopping me in the middle of the road.
• The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 5-10 MPH and making a turn on a road with no lanes, the steering wheel inadvertently started shuddering and became rigid, causing the contact's daughter to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into
• Since October these features have been on and off working when they want to. I don't know what is happening with the safety features but it needs to be fixed or a update is needed for all the safety features.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I was driving 35 mph with nobody in front of or behind me and the car slammed on automatic braking for no reason, stopping me in the middle of the road.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 233 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
FUEL SYSTEM: When filling up the gas tank on 3 separate occasions the station pump failed to cut off causing fuel to leak unto the surrounding surface. The Kia K 5 is leased vehicle that I entered into contract in July 2021. The car was used as a demo and I find it suspicious that the dealership wasn’t aware of
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: KEEP LOST WIRELESS CARPLAY SCINAL.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED IN MY PATH, AND I BROADSIDED HIS VEHICLE. I AM NOT SURE OF MY SPEED AT IMPACT. I WOULD GUESS 30 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ALSO CAME UNLATCHED, FOLDING ITSELF DOWN. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AFTER IT IS PARKED AND ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE COOLING SYSTEM ( COOLANT RESERVOIR ON UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE ARE) ALLOWS ANTIFREEZE VAPORS AND HIGH PRESSURE TO ESCAPE INTO ENGINE AREA. WHEN PARKING IN A GARAGE THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT. DEALER HAS VERI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)