2021 KIA K5 Problems and Recalls (163 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2021 KIA K5 is Fuel system (21% of 163 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 163 complaints · 6 recalls

What problems show up on the 2021 KIA K5?

35 of 163 filings named Fuel system (21% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (27 reports).

There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Lane keeping, Fuel system, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 2021 KIA K5

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 6 campaigns on file below.
  2. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Fuel system. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Fuel system 35 complaints · 21.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 8
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 7
  • Deaths 1
All KIA K5 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) appears in 35 of 163 owner complaints (21.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 35 complaints, 21.5% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 35 · 21.5% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 27 complaints, 16.6% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 27 · 16.6% Engine (ENGINE): 17 complaints, 10.4% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 17 · 10.4% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 13 complaints, 8.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 13 · 8.0% Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE): 6 complaints, 3.7% of reports Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 6 · 3.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 6 complaints, 3.7% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 6 · 3.7% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 5 complaints, 3.1% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 4 crash reports 5 · 3.1% Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE): 5 complaints, 3.1% of reports Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 1 crash reports 5 · 3.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 5 complaints, 3.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 · 3.1% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 64 complaints, 39.3% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 4 crash reports 64 · 39.3% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 35 21.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 27 16.6% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 17 10.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 13 8.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 6 3.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 6 3.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 5 3.1% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 5 3.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 3.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 64 39.3% 4 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2020; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 2021. 2020-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2021-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2023-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2024-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2024-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2025-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2025-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2026-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2026-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2026-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 Owner reports Oct 2020 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 21V164000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V164000 Recall campaign 21V447000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V447000 Recall campaign 21V519000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V519000 Recall campaign 22V760000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V760000 Recall campaign 23V149000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V149000 Recall campaign 25V794000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V794000
  • Campaign 21V164000 was reported 120 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V760000 was reported 652 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V149000 was reported 846 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2020-Q4 Owner reports 3
2021-Q1 Owner reports 6
2021-Q2 Owner reports 2
2021-Q3 Owner reports 4
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 3
2022-Q2 Owner reports 6
2022-Q3 Owner reports 6
2022-Q4 Owner reports 4
2023-Q1 Owner reports 3
2023-Q2 Owner reports 5
2023-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q4 Owner reports 5
2024-Q1 Owner reports 2
2024-Q2 Owner reports 9
2024-Q3 Owner reports 13
2024-Q4 Owner reports 7
2025-Q1 Owner reports 6
2025-Q2 Owner reports 9
2025-Q3 Owner reports 16
2025-Q4 Owner reports 14
2026-Q1 Owner reports 12
2026-Q2 Owner reports 13
2026-Q3 Owner reports 12
Recall campaign 1 21V164000
Recall campaign 1 21V447000
Recall campaign 1 21V519000
Recall campaign 1 22V760000
Recall campaign 1 23V149000
Recall campaign 1 25V794000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (6)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Lane keeping, Fuel system, and Transmission / driveline.

  1. Recall campaign 21V164000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 21V447000

    Lane keeping

    Report date
    Component:
    Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE)
    Consequence:
    A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 21V519000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 22V760000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 23V149000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in 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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 25V794000

    Safety recall 25V794000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 5 of 163 complaints · page 1 of 7
2026-08-27Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11760175
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 lights were turned on to drive to the nearest exit, and subsequent accident happened when a speeding vehicle crashed into my vehicle. This happened on the freeway driving 75 mph causing a road hazard, the glass that shattered out could have hit vehicles behind my vehicle, causing damage or a crash. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealership or insurance company as of yet. There were no warning signs or symptoms of failure.
2026-08-24Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11759133
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 towed. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
2026-08-17Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11757545
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am reporting a violation of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act by Ball Kia (National City, CA). The dealer tried to deny service for recall 25V794000 (SC356) for a melted, leaking fuel tank, fabricated a false diagnostic narrative of road impact to exploit me, and tried to charge $3,000 out-of-pocket for a federally mandated free repair.My vehicle has a severe fuel leak from a compromised fuel tank. Ball Kia service refused the recall, claiming "external aesthetic factors" or "road debris impact" caused it, and pressured me to tow it away.Using my military infantry experience in mechanical damage assessment, I inspected the vehicle in the service bay. I verified there is absolutely no puncture, tear, scrape, or kinetic impact on the fuel tank assembly. The dealer pointed to a split in the fuel tank protector panel, but a professional assessment shows this is false. The plastic protector panel failed due to extreme thermal exposure; the expanding tank pressed it against the hot exhaust, causing it to melt and tear under heat/pressure, not a kinetic strike.The tank itself is structurally melted and deformed with zero signs of road impact. This physical evidence matches the exact defect mechanism in the NHTSA recall: a deteriorated check valve allows intake pressure into the fuel tank, causing it to expand, hit hot exhaust components, melt, and leak.Only after I read the exact NHTSA safety risk and remedy text verbatim did the service manager back down and open a manufacturer Tech Line.Because I had to fight a fraudulent diagnosis to get this safety mandate acknowledged, I fear internal dealership retaliation, being blacklisted, or receiving a subpar, dangerous repair. Leaving a high-risk fire defect unaddressed is a public safety hazard. Please audit Ball Kia's handling of campaign 25V794000 to ensure they are not endangering or defrauding other affected Kia K5 owners.
2026-08-17Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11757490
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to a dealer for the recall repair. The contact was struggling to receive updates on the status of the vehicle. The contact spoke with a service clerk and was informed that the repair was going well and that only one recall test remained. However, a supervisor later called and stated that the recall repair could not be completed. The vehicle could not be repaired. The vehicle was no longer functional due to a high risk of catching fire from fuel tank swelling caused by the recall defect. The contact stated that prior to the dealer visit, the vehicle had no issues but became inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired, and the dealer stated that the vehicle could not be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
2026-08-06Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11755313
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Wiring harness has melted at the HVAC connection point.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2021 KIA K5?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 35 of 163 reports (21%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2021 KIA K5?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Lane keeping, Fuel system, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2021 KIA K5?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources