- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 4
- on record
- MPG
- 27
- combined
Open recalls on record
4 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2023 Kia K5
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- Owner complaints
- 99
- Complaints citing a crash
- 6
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
4 Recalls on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
4 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 22V760000high
Drivetrain issue
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
Consequence
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
- 23V149000high
Airbag system issue
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
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.
Consequence
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
- 25V493000high
Body/structure issue
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Consequence
Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC346.
- 25V794000high
Fuel system issue
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
Consequence
A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2023 Kia K5.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 4 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 10.7%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard & Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2023 Kia K5 5 out of 5 stars overall, level with the 5-star median for the 5 comparable 2023 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 10.7% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2023 Kia K5, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
24
City
32
Hwy
27
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,300
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 332 g/mi
How this compares
At 27 MPG combined, the 2023 Kia K5 ranks 5th of 9 large cars EPA rated for 2023 — exactly the 27 MPG median for that group.
That places it a little below the middle of its class. If annual mileage is high, the running-cost gap against a class-average rival compounds quickly.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,300, within $0 of the $2,300 typical for the class — roughly $11,500 over five years.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 332 grams per mile — about 5 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
99 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 99
- Total
- 6
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 17
- Injuries
Most reported components
- FUEL SYSTEM42
- ENGINE20
- STRUCTURE11
- OTHER9
- BRAKES6
Notable Issues
99 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 17 reports involve injuries. 6 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2023 Kia K5, newest first.
- Recall
A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Recall
Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
- Recall
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Recall
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Sedan
- Drive type
- FWD
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Seats
- 5
Fuel economy
24
City
32
Hwy
27
Comb
- Annual cost
- $2,300
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Compare with
Systems recalled
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Recall
Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
- Recall
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Recall
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.