Kia K5 recalls

9 official safety recalls for the Kia K5 from NHTSA (United States), DVSA (United Kingdom) and the EU Safety Gate, newest first. Recall repairs are normally free at the maker’s dealers.

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

  1. Instrument panel display may fail

    Reported January 26, 2026Model years 2026NHTSA campaign 26V04600042,677 vehicles affected

    A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail, hiding safety information such as speed, tyre pressure or warning lights and increasing crash risk. The display software will be updated over the air or by a dealer, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
    Defect
    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
    Consequence
    An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy
    The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.

  2. Damaged check valve may cause fuel tank to melt

    Reported November 17, 2025Model years 2021–2024NHTSA campaign 25V794000250,547 vehicles affected

    A damaged check valve may let air into the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust parts. The tank may melt and leak, increasing fire risk. Dealers will replace the valve, inspect the tank, and replace it if damaged, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    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.
    Consequence
    A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
    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.

  3. Rear window trim may detach

    Reported July 28, 2025Model years 2023–2025NHTSA campaign 25V493000100,063 vehicles affected

    The rear window trim may loosen and detach, creating a road hazard and increasing crash risk. Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM
    Defect
    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
    Consequence
    Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy
    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.

  4. Parking lights may flicker

    Reported May 27, 2025Model years 2025NHTSA campaign 25V35100082,281 vehicles affected

    A software error may cause the parking lights to flicker, reducing visibility and increasing crash risk. A dealer will update the power-net domain controller software, or it can be updated over the air, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
    Defect
    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K5 vehicles. A software error in the Power-net Domain Controller (PDC) may cause the parking lights to flicker. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
    Consequence
    Parking lights that fail to illuminate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy
    The PDC software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC341.

  5. Side curtain air bags may not deploy properly

    Reported March 7, 2023Model years 2021–2023NHTSA campaign 23V149000188,912 vehicles affected

    Side curtain air bags may be installed incorrectly and may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will inspect and reinstall them as necessary, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
    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.
    Consequence
    Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

  6. Transmission fault may cause loss of drive power

    Reported October 11, 2022Model years 2021–2023NHTSA campaign 22V76000069,038 vehicles affected

    A transmission oil pump malfunction may impair the limited-mobility drive mode and cause a complete loss of drive power, increasing crash risk. Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission as needed, and update its control unit software, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
    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.
    Consequence
    Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

  7. Fuel pipe connection may leak

    Reported July 8, 2021Model years 2021–2022NHTSA campaign 21V51900021,575 vehicles affected

    Fuel may leak at the connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail, increasing fire risk. Dealers will inspect and tighten or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
    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.
    Consequence
    A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

  8. Steering assist may suddenly require more effort

    Reported June 14, 2021Model years 2021–2022NHTSA campaign 21V447000846 vehicles affected

    If a communication fault occurs while driving around a curve with lane following assist engaged, steering assist may not adjust properly, causing a sudden increase in steering effort and crash risk. Dealers will update the steering software free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST
    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.
    Consequence
    A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

  9. Occupant detection system may not detect a child seat

    Reported March 11, 2021Model years 2021NHTSA campaign 21V164000142 vehicles affected

    The system may fail to detect a child restraint in the front passenger seat, allowing the air bag to deploy in a crash and increasing the child’s injury risk. Dealers will replace the occupant classification and detection unit, free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
    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."
    Consequence
    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.
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.

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