Reliable Auto DB

2021 Kia K5 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Kia K5 holds 167 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 17 per year. K5 years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 18 complaints per year. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Fuel system, gasoline, Curtain, and Automatic transmission.

2021 Kia K5
Photo by Throwawayacc222, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Complaints

167

Per year

17

Recalls

6

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (46 of 167), then Fuel and propulsion system (43) and Engine (29). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, 6 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2022

The 2022 K5 has 127 complaints, 18 per year. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Kia K5. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (6)

Recall Fuel system, gasoline 2025-11-17 · NHTSA campaign 25V794000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall air bags, side and window, curtain 2023-03-07 · NHTSA campaign 23V149000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2022-10-11 · NHTSA campaign 22V760000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2021-07-08 · NHTSA campaign 21V519000
Summary Kia 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall Lane-keep steering assist 2021-06-14 · NHTSA campaign 21V447000
Summary Kia 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall air bags, air bag control module 2021-03-11 · NHTSA campaign 21V164000
Summary Kia 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."
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (167 total)

Electrical system
46
Fuel and propulsion system
43
Engine
29
Powertrain
18
Fuel system, gasoline
13
Air bags
10
Structure
10
Forward collision avoidance
9
Lane departure
9
Service brakes
9
Seats
8
Steering
7
Visibility and wipers
5
Back-over prevention
3
Engine and engine cooling
3
Exterior lighting
3
Speed control
2
Tires
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

6

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

32020132021192022152023322024452025402026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "65k miles. Started driving, 20 minutes into driving i was stopped at a round about then I went to accelerate and nothing happened my engine revd really loud and after about 10 seconds my car jolted forward and I was…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system · filed 2026-09-23
  • "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,…"
    Structure, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-21
  • "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…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-16
  • "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…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-27
  • "The contact owned a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The failure was a recurring failure. The message "Not Emissions Ready" was displayed. The vehicle was…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-08-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Kia K5 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
K5 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S8) Front-wheel drive 24 32 27 MPG $2400
K5 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 29 38 32 MPG $2050
K5 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 27 37 31 MPG $2100
K5 all-wheel drive 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 26 34 29 MPG $2250

Specs and fitment

DL3 generation (K5), 2021–present
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 (2.5L and 1.6L turbo where equipped) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R17 to 245/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 21V519000. Kia 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.

Compare

Next year 2022 Kia K5 See every Kia K5 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Kia K5 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Kia K5 holds 167 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 17 per year. K5 years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 18 complaints per year. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Fuel system, gasoline, Curtain, and Automatic transmission.

What are common problems with a 2021 Kia K5?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (46 of 167), then Fuel and propulsion system (43) and Engine (29). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, 6 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2021 Kia K5 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 K5 has 127 complaints, 18 per year. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2022.

Has the 2021 Kia K5 been recalled?

The 2021 Kia K5 has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Kia K5?

Owners have filed 167 complaints about the 2021 Kia K5 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Kia K5 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Kia K5 is 29.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Kia K5 take?

US notes list 0W-20 for the 2.5L and 1.6L turbo where equipped (about 5 qt with filter).

Does NHTSA campaign 21V519000 cover the Kia K5?

It covers certain 2021-2022 K5 vehicles with 2.5L turbo engines (also certain 2021 Sorento): fuel may leak at the pipe-to-rail connection; dealers inspect and repair.

What generation is the Kia K5?

DL3 generation, model year 2021 onward in the US.