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2026 Kia K5

Gas

Large Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

97 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints1 crash · 2 injured reported 14

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 30 mpg

Starting MSRP5 trims · manufacturer $27,490

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021

The 2026 Kia K5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas large sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K5 w/Stop-Start, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 14 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $27,490 to $34,990 across 5 trims.

2026 Kia K5

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
LXS	Gas	FWD	$27,490	191 hp	181.5 lb-ft	30 mpg	15.6 cu-ft	16 in
GT-Line	Gas	FWD	$28,490	191 hp	181.5 lb-ft	29 mpg	15.6 cu-ft	18 in
GT-Line	Gas	AWD	$30,090	191 hp	181.5 lb-ft	27 mpg	15.6 cu-ft	18 in
EX	Gas	FWD	$34,990	191 hp	181.5 lb-ft	29 mpg	15.6 cu-ft	18 in
GT	Gas	FWD	$33,590	290 hp	311 lb-ft	27 mpg	15.6 cu-ft	19 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
K5 w/Stop-Start	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	26	37	30	$2,250
K5	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	25	36	29	$2,300
K5	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	23	33	27	$2,500
K5 AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	24	33	27	$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49325, 49324, 49326, 49323.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Electrical System

SC361

42,677 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Jul 3, 2025 – Sep 24, 2025

Problem Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System." Risk An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Fix The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V046000 reported Jan 26, 2026 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific K5

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2026 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2026 Kia K5, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

14complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

2.3 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 61,995 K5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2025: 1 · 2026: 13

Most-cited components

Unspecified 5

Engine 5

Electrical System 3

Lane Departure 3

Forward Collision Avoidance 2

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

I was driving my 2026 Kia K5 southbound on at approximately 40–42 mph and proceeding straight through an intersection. I was already in the intersection when another vehicle turned directly in front of me. I did not have sufficient time to avoid the collision and struck the other vehicle with the front of my vehicle.

Air Bags Sep 29, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11767890

This is the 2nd time my tire has blown out. 1st time was in Feb 2026 and now again in Sept 2026 both have been factory tires Pirrelli 235/45 R18. The 1st time was on a interstate at speeds 70 mph the 2nd time on a rural road 45 to 55 mph. Both incidents have almost caused a major accident.

Tires Sep 21, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11765747

The contact owns a 2026 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the front driver's side door independently unlatched and swung open. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact was informed that the door latches were being replaced.

Latches/Locks/Linkages at 15,440 miles Aug 11, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11756235

Submitted by , Authorized Representative for the owner. The vehicle has a physical defect in the ADAS forward-facing camera bracket caused by a dealer-concealed repair using industrial silicone adhesive. The bracket is now visibly sagging, causing misalignment that leads to intermittent Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) failure.

Forward Collision Avoidance Jul 3, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11748152

The display is shows a "Check Oil Level" error. It comes on then goes off regularly. I have verified that the oil level is OK. Took it into the dealer and he said that this is a common issue and a software fix is coming. The car only has less than 2K miles. I depend on the engine displaying error messages, but they need to be real ones.

Engine Apr 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11730905

Kia has a known wiring‑harness defect that causes the low engine oil sensor to trigger incorrectly. Despite this, there has been no recall, and new vehicles are still being sold with the issue. The wiring harness is now on back order, leaving me without a car for weeks or longer.

Electrical System Mar 10, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11723226

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

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 17

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-06-18

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 9 service bulletins, 5 service campaigns, 2 over-the-air updates

Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Engine, Unknown Or Other, Back Over Prevention.

OTA_ELE413_NOTES_R2 Over-the-air update
2026-06-18 · Electrical System
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, EV9, K5 and Sorento vehicles. This update is designed to improve the vehicle’s network communication performance.
TSB_ELE419 Service bulletin
2026-06-02 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: BATTERY WIRING HARNESS COVERING INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (SA645) - This bulletin provides information for inspecting the 12V battery wiring harness on certain 2025-2026 MY K5 (DL3) vehicles equipped with the Theta III 2.5L GDI engine, produced from February 20, 2024, through March 13, 2026. The subject vehicles may exhibit an illuminated Malfunction Indi
TSB_ELE422 Service bulletin
2026-05-28 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE. KIA. COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for sup
SC363_TSB Service bulletin
2026-04-17 · Power Train
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OIL LEVEL PLUG (OLP) INSPECTION, AND OLP GASKET AND/OR ATF FILLER BOLT REPLACEMENT OR A/T REPLACEMENT (SC363) - This bulletin provides information to inspect the oil level plug and automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for signs of leakage and, if necessary, replace the oil level plug gasket and/or ATF filler bolt, or the 8-speed Automatic Trans
TSB_ELE417 Service bulletin
2026-04-14 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software downloads and USB preparation process is similar across all supported platforms; however, in‑vehicle installation procedures vary by head unit type.
TSB_ELE413 Service bulletin
2026-03-20 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DCU COMMUNICATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) system software on some 2025–2026MY vehicles listed in the table below. Kia has identified that Connected Car Services (CCS) functionality may intermittently fail due to temporary DCU communication issues. This condition can impact convenience and conne
TSB_ENG265 Service bulletin
2026-03-13 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: THETA III 2.5 GDI ECM SW LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA642) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Engine Control Module ‘ECM’ system software on certain 2026MY K5 (DL3) vehicles produced from December 03, 2025 through March 09, 2026 equipped with 2.5 GDI Theta III engines. The affected vehicles may exhibit an intermittent “low oil level” message ill
TSB_ENG261_R1 Service campaign
2026-02-10 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DATA COLLECTION: EXTRACT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS DATA FROM ECU (DC26) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information related to extracting “in use monitoring performance tracking” emissions data from the Engine Control Unit (ECU) of

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Compare the 2026 K5 with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2026 Honda Accord · Large Sedan · grade B	Accord +2.1
2026 Hyundai Sonata · Large Sedan · grade A	Sonata +6.7
2026 Lucid Air · Large Sedan · grade C	Toss-up
2026 Dodge Charger · Large Sedan · grade A	Charger +9.5
2026 Genesis G80 · Large Sedan · grade A	G80 +20.1

K5 by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 30 mpg 2026 this page A 1 14 30 mpg 2025 B 2 53 30 mpg 2024 C 2 31 31 mpg 2023 D 4 110 31 mpg 2022 D 5 129 32 mpg 2021 D 6 169 32 mpg

Common questions about the 2026 K5

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2026 Kia K5 cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $27,490 for the LXS FWD to $34,990 for the EX FWD, across 5 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2026 Kia K5 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2026 Kia K5. The most serious on file is 26V046000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 Kia K5?

NHTSA gave the 2026 Kia K5 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (97/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Kia K5?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 Kia K5, the best EPA combined figure is 30 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Kia K5?

Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Kia K5, most often about unspecified, engine, electrical system. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Kia K5?

The manufacturer has filed 17 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 Kia K5, most often covering electrical system, power train, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-06-18. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

Which 2026 Kia K5 trim is the best value?

$7,500 separates the cheapest of the 5 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

Is the 2026 Kia K5 better than the 2026 Honda Accord?

The Honda Accord edges it, 94.5 to 92.4, on fuel & range, space & cargo, performance. The Kia K5 is ahead on tech & comfort and safety. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2026 Kia K5 against the 2026 Honda Accord — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	none	EPA emission certificates	The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	14	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	17	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	5 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API

2026 Kia K5

Trims & pricing

Specs & fuel economy

The cheapest ownership win

Recalls (1)

Electrical System

Whether any of this applies to one specific K5

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2026 Kia K5

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Compare the 2026 K5 with

K5 by model year

Common questions about the 2026 K5

How much does the 2026 Kia K5 cost?

Does the 2026 Kia K5 have any recalls?

How safe is the 2026 Kia K5?

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Kia K5?

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Kia K5?

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Kia K5?

Which 2026 Kia K5 trim is the best value?

Is the 2026 Kia K5 better than the 2026 Honda Accord?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method