Kia K5 Complaints

508 consumer complaints on file.

#11663031May 27, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. 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 warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with an erratic gear shift with a grinding sound coming from the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662629May 22, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Having issues with the blower motor and harness which is a known issue with this car. I can’t keep my AC working plus my defroster doesn’t work either with the issue I am having with the blower motor. The issue is ongoing
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662538May 22, 2025
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The contact owns a 2022 Kia K5. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop at the red traffic light, the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that upon shifting to park(P) and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661975May 19, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On Friday 5/16/25 my check engine light was on when I went to leave for work and when I began driving I felt excessive air flow coming from my back seat. I stopped and noticed that the back seat had popped up. I then noticed my gas gauge was showing empty, but my digital reading was correct.. The car was sluggish and my son's father told me that the gas tank was swollen and to stop driving it. I called Kia on Saturday morning and was told I could bring it in today at 9am. I left the car and was given a loaner, but I do not feel it would be safe to ever drive that car again. They immediately knew what the problem was and said it was a recall, but I was never notified about it. It was extremely scary driving it to Kia this morning because they are over 50 miles away from where I live.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661765May 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Main wiring harness melted in my fuse box, had to pay $5000 to replace, turbo leaked into my engine and cause for the engine to blow! Hadn’t even had the car a year !! This is getting ridiculous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661615May 17, 2025
AIR BAGS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I recently purchased a Kia k5 2021 gt line awd one month later I noticed there was recall I take to the dealership they let me know it will only take a few hours (3) and I can pick up later the same they call me 3h later and let me know sorry this case is going to take a few weeks and I should pick up rental car and they will pay for my rental so I did I come back one month later nothing as been done they just tell me to wait and they can’t release due to the safety recall the tank has swelled up it has been 3mont now and they still haven’t done anything to the car and I can’t sell the vehicle cause they won’t release it
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661465May 16, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My a/c has been giving me issues for about a year and a half to two years now. I have a 2021 Kia k5. When I first told Kia about it they told me it’s from the rain, if that’s the case then every car on the road would have this issue. Then they later told me it was my motor blower when I went back. There was a thousand dollar difference between two quotes they gave me for the same issue also. The air used to come on for a few hours or a day then go completely off. Now it’s sometimes will give off cold air if I put my hand to the vent but it’s nothing powerful to make a difference in the summer. I have read up on many other people having this issue. Kia also sent a recall to me last summer for a/c issues but the dealership told me that doesn’t apply to me because they are saying it’s my blower motor. I should not be held responsible for this malfunction at all. I want to request Kia give me an extended hvac warranty up to 180,000 miles at least!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661450May 16, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
All of my check lights are on. All of my sensors are popping up. It says no power steering. No cruise control. No lane departure and a few other lights are popping on every time I turn my car on and they all stay on. So far it isn’t preventing me from driving it but none of my safety features work
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660607May 13, 2025
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The vehicle consistently pulls sharply to the right while driving, creating a serious safety hazard. As soon as I release the steering wheel, the car veers aggressively to the right, making it difficult to stay in the lane. The steering wheel does not center and requires constant correction. The issue feels mechanical and significantly impacts my ability to drive safely.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659496May 7, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHEELS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driving this morning 5/7/2025 at 9:09am and smoke started emitting from the center consol accompanied by a burning smell. My husband noticed the smoke coming from the car charging area, it made a popping/poof sound accompanied with even more smoke. We immediately pulled the charger out of the charger port. My car charger was melted and slightly burned.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658417May 2, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I believe my cars GPS system is having issues where it thinks I’m on the wrong side of the road and proceeds to reducing my speed so I can no longer accelerate. I receive the do not enter traffic sign on my dash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657502April 29, 2025
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SEATS
The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine, when the gas tank expanded, and the back seat popped up. The contact stated that two teenagers were in the back seat, and one was injured. The contact's daughter pulled over and waited for a short while. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle drove slowly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to another dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the seat had moved two inches. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired because the frame of the seats could be damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not been driven since. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11657168April 28, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY, SEATS
While accelerating in response to a green light I made a right hand turn and as I accelerated up to the speed limit of 55 mph I heard and felt a very loud “bang or pop”. I proceeded to pull the car over anticipating a tire blow out or something damaging the rear end of my car and upon a full visual inspection of all tires, undercarriage, under the hood and in the truck and main cabin of the car I was unable to locate and issues and there were zero codes or lights. After careful assessment I proceeded to get myself and child home but on the way the car started stumbling and there was a strong Oder of gas. A check engine Illuminated giving us an error code referencing our solenoid that works in pair with our fuel system. After checking the car and going inside for about two hours, my husband came to me and asked what happened to the backseat as the entire thing had been pulled up and underneath it was a very pressurized and round fuel system. I proceeded to call the car dealership service department and told them the codes and everything I was showing and what was happening and asked when I could get the car to them, and if it was safe to ride, they said if it’s still ran to go smoothly to the dealership which was a 10 minute drive. As directed by the dealership I brought the car for service and I also located a voluntary emissions report that Kia issued in April of 2024 along with a copy of letters said to be sent to each owner of my make and model. I never received these letters and update not completed. Kia failed to effectively notify all owners of this potential issue with an over pressurized fuel system, putting myself and my children in great risk. Kia America stated they needed to study my car. A recall still has not been issued, although there are several complaints of the same thing in their cars and now I’m forced into a very unfair buyback and I am being penalized due to Kia failing to alert All parties. There is still no recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656652April 24, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle has experienced repeated transmission-related issues, including erratic shifting, delayed response, slippage, and sudden loss of power while driving. These symptoms significantly impact drivability and pose a safety risk, especially when accelerating or merging in traffic. The issue was previously addressed by the dealership under a recall repair. However, the same transmission behavior has returned approximately 3–4 months after the repair. The dealership performed repairs multiple times before, and the symptoms have now recurred. The problem has been confirmed by the authorized dealership and is scheduled for another inspection. There have been warning symptoms such as hesitation during gear shifts and intermittent power dips while in motion, which began reappearing recently. The component remains available for inspection. Given the repeat nature of the issue following an official recall, I believe this may be part of a broader unresolved defect in the vehicle’s transmission system. The issue initially reappeared briefly after the recall repair, then subsided. However, it returned more consistently and noticeably after a couple of months, and is now ongoing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655970April 21, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving with no other cars around, and i heard what sounded to be an explosion, come to find out my sunroof had exploded. I had glass fly all over the back windshield, and onto the road behind me. This could have caused an accident or damage to other vehicles if someone was around me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11655337April 18, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN. When the vehicle is turned on and parked with the vent opened letting outside air circulate into the cabin. there is a foul smell like coolant or engine fume that come with the air flow. I did change my air filter multiple times but the suffocating smell does not stop. it gives headaches. there are reddit threads on this issue with Kias. please take a look into it. thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11654429April 14, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving on [XXX] and I heard a really loud sound like a Gun Shot in my Car I couldn't just pull over I had to get off at the next exit when I did I checked myself and then I checked my Windows then I opened my back door on the passenger side and saw that behind the seat had swollen up. I drove to work and call KIA where I purchased the car and told them what happened my husband carried the car to them and to make a long story short. After Months of back & forth it was determined that the GAS TANK had EXPANDED!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652524April 3, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving, thankfully not with my [XXX] son, the vehicle made a real big bang noise and lost power. Looked back and the whole back seat was lifted. Towed to dealer and tech found that fuel tank had expanded and exploded seat back. Incident happened in November 2024, and to this day, Kia has been the most difficult to deal with. They offered to buy vehicle back, but we have been waiting for a long time for answers and resolution of this issue. Its impossible to get someone on the phone and we keep getting the run around with a loaner/rental while trying to continue to live normal life going to work and dropping kid at school INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651455March 29, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
2023 Kia K5 GT1, once at 16k miles and now again at 26k miles, while driving, the dashboard console flickered on me and the car lost complete acceleration and power, fortunately on urban roads or else would have been extremely unsafe and dangerous if high speed, especially since I have a child. Pulled over and turned off vehicle, and turned back on acceleration regained but check engine light remains solid. Took it to dealer at 16k miles and they checked it out and just reset the codes, advised if it happened again to bring it back right away. I am aware of the open recall on this Kia model, but my specific vehicle VIN is not impacted. However, I suspect the sudden power loss issue is the exact same issue. This is an extremely dangerous and unsafe issue with this vehicle, particularly if you have kids or are driving high-speeds on the highway!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651047March 27, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
The back chrome cover around the rear windshield all 3 pieces are coming loose and I had the one on my passenger side fly off while I was going down the highway and the piece almost hit the truck behind me thankfully traffic wasn’t to bad on the highway so he was able to hit his breaks and maneuver out of the way before. I currently have 2 more pieces trying to come off. After doing further research I have seen hundreds of other post from k5 owners years 23&24 all having the exact same issue of the chrome pieces coming off and or flying off while driving. In the pictures you can see the one missing piece and the other 2 you can see where the other 2 pieces are starting to loosen up. If you physically touch it they both will move and feel loose. I believe this should be a recall before one of the pieces fly off and cause a accident by hitting another car like what almost happened in my case or just flying off and hitting a person. I bought my car used but it was a single owner my car was a little over a year old I’ve personally had it for I believe 10-11 months and I keep it in the carport daily so I shouldn’t be having these issues already.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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