CSR

Kia · NHTSA safety record

2022 Kia K5

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

123

Complaints

14

Crashes

3

Fires

18

Injuries

2

Deaths

Owners of the 2022 Kia K5 have filed 123 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2021 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the fuel and propulsion system, named in 34 of them (28%). The typical failure was reported at 54,970 miles, the median across the 20 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints more than doubled year on year: 51 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 24 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

25V794000 · November 17, 2025

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

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

23V149000 · March 7, 2023

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

22V760000 · October 11, 2022

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

21V519000 · July 8, 2021

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

LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST

21V447000 · June 14, 2021

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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 123.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 34 28%
ENGINE 25 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 19%
POWER TRAIN 20 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19 15%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11 9%
AIR BAGS 9 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 8 7%
SEATS 8 7%
STRUCTURE 8 7%
STEERING 6 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 47.

2021 2025 2026
2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 deaths · 2 injured · crash · towed

My son owned the 2022 Kia s-K5 and lost his life in the same car ...him and my nephew died in this car last [XXX] one month after his [XXX] birthday...he was driving the car hit maybe black ice or the car lock up and went sideways on the payment for .3 of a mile and couldn't pick straits or gain control of the car and then hit a ditch n tree and satellites 2 total with the front of the car rolled the car over into a canal with water in drown and died ..the front air bags never deployed the side ones did but it took a lot of damage on the front were it showed them air bags was defaults and did not perform as a safe device as they are designed for ...then the seat belts were locked and that's

NHTSA complaint 11706904, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 5,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH with the driver-assist feature, activated, there was another vehicle driving slower at approximately 50 MPH was in front however the vehicle's feature did not automatically decrease in speed causing the contact to rear the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact had his daughter and her husband at the time of the incident where both sustained a concussion, fractured nose, and arm injuries. Both passengers were taken to the hospital. A police report was filed. The contact was unaware of the passengers in the other vehicle sustained any injuries. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot due to it not

NHTSA complaint 11454925, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

2 injured · crash · towed

I was traveling normally, exiting a highway ramp when my car acceleration system malfunctioned. It seemed as if it was a power train issue or engine issue. I was not able to accelerate or slow down properly due to this malfunction and it caused me to crash. My car was totaled.

NHTSA complaint 11502223. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

I was involved in an accident where my lane departure warning did not work! I was hit twice, causing significant body damage over19,000 in which my air bags did not deploy!

NHTSA complaint 11572809. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

76,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving 50-65 MPH, the vehicle was jerking and came to a sudden stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that there was an issue with the water pressure cooling system. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that there was no warranty coverage for the repair on the vehicle. The contact called the warranty company and informed the contact that the warranty mileage was 100,000. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the

NHTSA complaint 11753069, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
As I was driving down the road, I began to hear a loud, forceful noise. I assumed it was something in my trunk rolling against the rear seats. The noise kept getting louder, and I pulled over, very frightened, as several warning lights came on, including the low fuel light and check engine light, and the fuel gauge needle was past “E.” Before the incident, the GPM reading was 400. After a while, I made it home, but the car started making loud noises and then died. That’s when I noticed my back seats were lifted. I called Kia customer service and had the car towed to the Kia dealership on Seigan Lane, where it is now. Something needs to be done about this.

NHTSA complaint 11753188. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS
Driving anywhere in general and which ever speed my gas would leak and smell would over take the car and I have a [XXX] and [XXX] babies. This is not the first but the third recall and this is a fire hazard I can’t imagine my car going in flames while we’re already suffering with a leaking gas smell every time we drive the car I can loose my whole family I will soon being filing a lawsuit against this I want a new vehicle completely I do not feel safe in this car with my kids at all there’s always an issue and my dealership is over 40min away to be going so often throughout the years of having this car this is completely unsafe dangerous and just out right unexpectedable and will be filing

NHTSA complaint 11748609, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

91,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Kia K5. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse her vehicle and then shifting the gear shift into drive, the contact noticed her check engine warning illuminated, and she heard an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact then parked the vehicle, went into the dealer, and let them know about the failure, but they offered no assistance. The vehicle was initially taken to the dealer, where NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) was completed. It was after the recall was completed that it was discovered that the check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle was not driving properly. The dealer took the vehicle back

NHTSA complaint 11747936, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

9,000 miles

The contact owns a 2022 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the automatic front collision avoidance system abruptly engaged while there was a vehicle was parked on the passenger-side of the roadway. The contact stated the parked vehicle did not present a safety hazard to the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.

NHTSA complaint 11743707. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
In XXX 2026, I brought my 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line (VIN: [XXX] ) to Jim Click Kia in Tucson, AZ for routine maintenance. Fuel system testing revealed my vehicle failed inspection due to an active federal recall affecting the fuel tank/fuel valve system. Kia America confirmed the recall defect caused cascading damage to additional components, rendering the vehicle completely unrepairable and unsafe to drive. My safety was put at risk because the vehicle cannot be operated and Kia has confirmed no repair is possible. I have been without my vehicle for over two months. Kia America has proposed a buyback at $10,550 (KBB value), which does not reimburse me for the approximately $35,000+ I paid into

NHTSA complaint 11740880, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Kia K5

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 11 1
2025 49 2
2024 28 2
2023 104 4
2021 161 6 1

Other 2022 Kia models

Every Kia on this site — 176 vehicles, 208 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst