2021 Kia K5

The defect

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.

The risk

A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

The 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.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 250,547 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

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.

The risk

Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

The 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.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 188,912 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

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.

The risk

Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

The 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.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 69,038 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

Kia 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.

The risk

A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

The 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.

Kia Motors America · up to 21,575 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

Kia 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.

The risk

A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.

The 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.

Kia Motors America · up to 846 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

Kia 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."

The risk

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.

The 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.

Kia Motors America · up to 142 vehicles across all model years covered

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 …

NHTSA complaint 11757545, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Wiring harness has melted at the HVAC connection point.

NHTSA complaint 11755313. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Recall NNK post-repair failure. Dealership: Kia of Valdosta (RO# XXX). After ECU update NNK-02-0118, my K5 suffered a severe loss of acceleration and torque. The car cannot safely merge on highways. The dealer’s own live scan data sheet proves that at 4,997 RPM under full load, the Turbo Recirculation (Dump) Valve reads "OFF". The factory tool key explicitly states (OFF = Open). The service manager is misreading the tool, claiming "OFF" means closed, and refuses to fix it. The boost gauge only rises under heavy floor acceleration, proving an uncalibrated boost leak. I have uploaded a photo of the technician's data sheet directly to the attachments and will also drop link to videos of my car …

NHTSA complaint 11753897, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

119,185 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the fuel gauge suddenly went from one-half tank to empty. The fuel level displayed 120 miles to empty. The contact attempted to refuel the vehicle but was unable to add fuel to the tank. The contact also stated that the oil warning light and the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,185.

NHTSA complaint 11752335. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

120,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that there were failures with the spark plugs. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered, and the engine sputtered. The contact stated that fuel spewed out of the filler neck while refueling the vehicle, and the fuel gauge incorrectly indicated that the fuel tank was empty after refueling. Additionally, there was an abnormal egg and sulfur odor coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer and inspected under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). During the inspection, the seats were damaged. The …

NHTSA complaint 11752163, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

towed · 115,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the fuel tank expanded. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was determined that the fuel tank had expanded, and that the vehicle was unrepairable. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer offered a buyback. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA complaint 11751470. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.