Midsize sedans · 4 model years, 2021 to 2026
Kia K5 vs Toyota Camry: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the K5 looks better on 3 and the Camry on 1, with 3 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2021 to 2026 | K5 | Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 7.0% | 13% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 6.8% | 7.3% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 45,000 | 20,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 1 |
| NHTSA investigations | 1 | 1 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system K5 owners complain about most is fuel and propulsion; for the Camry it is airbags. Complaints citing fuel and propulsion make up 28% of all K5 complaints, against 3.9% on the Camry. The Camry leans the other way on airbags: 23% of its complaints, against 5.6% for the K5.
Kia K5Toyota Camry
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the K5 is misfire (13% of its complaints). On the Camry it is airbag problems (23% of its complaints), against 4.6% on the K5.
| Problem | K5 | Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light or recall | 4.6% 19 | 23% 93most in 2021 · 45k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 5.8% 2424k mi | 9.0% 378k mi |
| Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power | 0 | 14% 56most in 2026 · 5k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 13% 5476k mi | 0 |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 9.2% 3824k mi | 1.5% 6 |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 5.6% 23 | 4.6% 19 |
| A/C blows warm or the compressor fails | 7.7% 3260k mi | 0 |
| Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong | 5.6% 23 | 0 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Camry owners report problems earlier. Half the Camry complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles; for the K5 the halfway point is 45,000. 52% of K5 reports and 77% of Camry reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Kia K5Toyota Camry
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 100 for the K5 and 77 for the Camry.
Worst and best years
No K5 model year stands out from the rest. The 2018 Camry draws 3.7 times the complaints of a typical Camry year for its age.
Kia K5Toyota Camry
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The K5 draws more recalls: 2.0 campaigns per model year against 1.5 for the Camry. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Kia K5
8 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (2), fuel system (2) and lane keeping (1).
- 22V-760 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 3 model years
- 23V-149 (airbags) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- DP22003: Loss of motive power (closed)
Toyota Camry
6 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (1), wheels (1) and seats (1).
- Do not drive 23V-432 (wheels), model years 2023
- 23V-865 (airbags) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Camry complaints report a crash: 13%, against 7.0% for the K5. Fire reports: 6 for the K5 and 5 for the Camry. Complaints on file report 3 deaths in the K5 and 1 in the Camry for these model years.
Kia K5Toyota Camry
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Kia K5 or the Toyota Camry more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the K5 looks better on 3 and the Camry on 1, with 3 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the K5 has 413 complaints and the Camry 413 for the 4 model years from 2021 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the K5 or the Camry?
The K5 has 8 recall campaigns and the Camry 6 across the 4 model years from 2021 to 2026 that both have on file. The K5 draws more recalls: 2.0 campaigns per model year against 1.5 for the Camry.
What are the most common problems on the K5 and the Camry?
The most reported problem on the K5 is misfire (13% of its complaints). On the Camry it is airbag problems (23% of its complaints), against 4.6% on the K5.
More comparisons
- Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord2014 to 2025
- Nissan Altima vs Toyota Camry2014 to 2024
- Hyundai Sonata vs Toyota Camry2014 to 2024
- Kia K5 vs Hyundai Sonata2021 to 2023
- Kia K5 vs Honda Accord2021 to 2023