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2021 Kia K5

Gas
Large Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
38 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical6
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA164
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA32 mpg
2027202620252024202320222021

The 2021 Kia K5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas large car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K5, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 164 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
K5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo293832$1,950
K5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo273731$2,000
K5 AWDGasAWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo263429$2,150
K5GasFWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo243227$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42635, 42636, 43058, 43491.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Kia K5 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC356
250,547 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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 campaign 25V794000reported Nov 17, 2025Kia America, Inc.
▲high

Air Bags

SC263
188,912 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskAir bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V149000reported Mar 7, 2023Kia America, Inc.
▲high

Power Train

SC250
69,038 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskLoss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V760000reported Oct 11, 2022Kia America, Inc.
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC214
21,575 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V519000reported Jul 8, 2021Kia Motors America
▲high

Steering

SC213
846 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V447000reported Jun 14, 2021Kia Motors America
▲high

Air Bags

SC207
142 vehicles
ProblemKia 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."RiskIn 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.FixKia 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V164000reported Mar 11, 2021Kia Motors America

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
164complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 7 injuries · 1 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2020: 3 · 2021: 13 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 32 · 2025: 45 · 2026: 37

Most-cited components

Electrical System45
Fuel/Propulsion System41
Unspecified32
Engine28
Power Train17
Fuel System, Gasoline13

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel failed to turn in either direction. Additionally, during the failure several unknown warning lights were displayed. After turning off and restarting the vehicle, the failure …”Oct 24, 2022 · Steering · NHTSA owner report
“1. Car has completely lost power during normal driving. Transmission failure. Loss of Motive power. It is available for inspection upon request 2. Car lost all motive power while on the highway, car had to coast to a stop. This was very dangerous. 3. Car was taken to the Kia dealership, diagnosed by their techs, and tr…”Oct 12, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“This report is being filed as a duplicate to 11488885, as this issue occurred twice. Please see 11488885 for details, as issue was exactly the same. I have attached the dealership repair invoices for both incidents as I forgot to do so in 11488885.”Oct 12, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: lane departure warning.

Other K5 model years

A

2027 Kia K5

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Kia K5

1 recalls · 11 complaints

B

2025 Kia K5

2 recalls · 51 complaints

C

2024 Kia K5

2 recalls · 29 complaints

D

2023 Kia K5

4 recalls · 106 complaints

F

2022 Kia K5

5 recalls · 124 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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