2021 Kia K5 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia K5. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (45), Fuel/Propulsion System (43), Unknown Or Other (32).
Key takeaways
- 166 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 45 | 27% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 43 | 26% |
| Unknown Or Other | 32 | 19% |
| Engine | 29 | 17% |
| Power Train | 17 | 10% |
| Fuel System | 13 | 8% |
| Gasoline | 13 | 8% |
| Structure | 10 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 10 | 6% |
| Lane Departure | 9 | 5% |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 5% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 5% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia K5 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Structure,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-21
2021 Kia K5 99K1ZRECALL Gas tank expanded and deformed the body, noticeable under back seat. Risk of gas leak or fire Kia of Mckinney service center has vehicle unrepairable SC356 KIA has case # 26282908 No symptoms, driver complained stopping was jerky CAN'T FIX CAR AND WON'T REPLACE IT.
Engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-16
Vehicle experienced a severe engine misfire (P0302), rough running, and loss of power while driving. Dealership confirmed the Purge Control / PCV valve failed (replaced under Recall SC356 / 25V-794), but charged out-of-pocket for the Cylinder 2 ignition coil that failed as a direct result of the PCV valve failure. Th...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-08-27
The panoramic glass of the sunroof exploded out while driving on the freeway. A large piece of the glass exploded outwards and could not be retrieved. It was not damaged by external impact as other cars were not close enough to kick back rocks, debris, etc. The sunroof glass had no damage prior to shattering. Hazard li...
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More for the 2021 Kia K5
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.