NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 112 owner complaints for the 2023 Kia K5.
Recalled components: fuel system, body structure, air bags, and powertrain. Most-described problem: the check engine light coming on (18 complaints, 16%), then loss of power or limp mode (13). Most-reported area: fuel and propulsion system (41 complaints, 37%).
4Safety recalls
112Owner complaints
6Complaints citing a crash
0Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated
The K5 replaced the Optima for 2021.
4 safety recalls for the 2023 Kia K5
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2024 K5 vehicles.
The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Risk: Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles.
NHTSA listing: K5. Components: Body structure: body, roof and pillars; Body structure: exterior trim. Kia campaign SC346.
The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 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.
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles.
NHTSA listing: K5. Kia campaign SC250.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Kia K5.
What owners report
Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 K5. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Kia K5 recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2023 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2023 K5 drew the most (75).
Owner complaints
2023: 112 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia K5
Model year
Complaints
2021
171
2022
130
2023
112
2024
32
2025
54
2026
14
Safety recalls
2023: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia K5
Model year
Recalls
2021
6
2022
5
2023
4
2024
2
2025
2
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 112 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Kia K5, the problems described most are the check engine light coming on (18), loss of power or limp mode (13), and hesitation or slow acceleration (8). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2023 Kia K5 safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2023 Kia K5 earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2023 Kia K5?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Kia K5.
How do I check if my K5 has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: K5.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.