First generation (DL3)
2021 Kia K5
The most reported problem on the 2021 Kia K5 is misfire, with 20 complaints, usually around 75,000 miles.
- 167owner complaints
- 6recalls
- 8involved a crash
- 60,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2021 Kia K5 has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2021 Kia K5 reliable?
The 2021 Kia K5 has 167 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 145 for 2021 sedans on this site. Of the 6 K5 model years since 2021, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2022
- At 28 complaints for each year on the road, the 2021 runs close to the 2022 (25). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Misfire has 20 complaints and A/C failure has 20, out of 167 in all. A quarter of the 11 owners who gave a mileage for misfire saw it by about 45,000 miles, and half by about 75,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 11 of the 167 complaints (7%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 8 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 7 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 5 of 8, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 6 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 45, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 40 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: check engine light or misfire, 20 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
167 complaints is about the median for a 2021 model on this site and 1.2 times the median 2021 sedan. Among the 4 K5 model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2021 Kia K5
Kia filed 134 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2021 Kia K5. 9 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car, 3 of those a warranty extension. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Check engine light or misfire 1 bulletin · 20 complaints
1.6L T-GDI WITH MIL ON DTC P00B7 ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT & A/C TORQUE DEMAND This bulletin provides the procedure to update the software logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) system on some 2021-2022MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles equipped with the Gamma 1.6L T-GDI engine produced from March 27, 2020 through January 10, 2022, which may ...
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 8 bulletins · 20 complaints
WARRANTY EXTENSISON CAMPAIGN: HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) BLOWER MOTOR FUSE RELOCATION (WTY037) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY037) to inspect, and if necessary, relocate the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor 40-ampere fuse on certain 2021-2022MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles ...
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY037) This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor in 2021-2022 MY K5 vehicles from 5 years ...
6 more on this problem
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) BLOWER MOTOR FUSE RELOCATION (SC307) This bulletin provides the procedure to relocate the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor 40-ampere fuse on certain 2021-2022MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles produced from February 23, 2021 through May 3, 2021 that were originally sold in one ...
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) BLOWER MOTOR FUSE RELOCATION (WTY037) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY037) to inspect, and if necessary, relocate the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor 40-ampere fuse on certain 2021-2022MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles ...
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY037) This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor in ...
COMBINATION TSB / SERVICE ACTION: CONSOLE SQUEAK NOISE INSPECTION AND REPAIR (SA436) This bulletin provides information regarding a potential squeak noise between the Heating Ventilation Air Condition (HVAC) controller and the floor console upper garnish on some 2021-2022MY K5 (DL3a) produced from March 25, 2020 through June 8, 2021.
SERVICE ACTION: A/C DISCHARGE HOSE AND SUNVISOR CLIP CONFIRMATION (SA441) This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and adjust the clearance between the A/C discharge hose and the A/C compressor pulley. If there is evidence of A/C compressor pulley to discharge hose damage, then replacement of the discharge hose is required.
SERVICE ACTION: CONSOLE SQUEAK NOISE INSPECTION AND REPAIR (SA436) This bulletin provides information regarding a potential squeak noise between the Heating Ventilation Air Condition (HVAC) controller and the floor console upper garnish on some 2021MY K5 (DL3a) produced from March 25, 2020 through September 7, 2020.
Complaints filed by year
45 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2021 Kia K5
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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. (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.
Risk and remedy
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 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.
Risk and remedy
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 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.
Risk and remedy
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 (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.
Risk and remedy
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 (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."
Risk and remedy
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.
All 6 recalls on the 2021 Kia K5, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2021 Kia K5?
Misfire, with 20 of the 167 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 75,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2021 Kia K5 problems start?
Of the 48 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 20,000 miles and half by about 60,000.
Is the 2021 Kia K5 better or worse than the 2022?
Counted per year on the road, the 2021 has about as many complaints as the 2022: 28 a year against 25.
How many 2021 Kia K5 complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
11 of them (7%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for misfire on the 2021 Kia K5?
No recall on file for the 2021 Kia K5 is on the same system as misfire. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.