NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
A damaged check valve allows air to enter the fuel tank. The tank expands and contacts hot exhaust components, which can melt the tank.
What the fix does
This page covers 5 recalls, 116 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2022 Kia K5.
27–32 mpg combined
7.4–8.7 L/100km
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2022 Kia K5, the fuel and propulsion system draws the most owner complaints, with many reports centered on the 2.5T engine's thermal management system. Owners of the GT trim describe a recurring failure where the integrated thermal management component malfunctions, causing the cooling system to either over-cool or fail to circulate coolant properly at operating temperature, and several owners report the same component failing multiple times. Check engine lights tied to exhaust pressure sensor faults and idle control irregularities also show up repeatedly, with some owners describing the same diagnostic code returning across tens of thousands of miles and multiple dealer visits without a lasting fix. Powertrain and electrical complaints follow at lower volume, with electrical reports including intermittent horn failures that owners say recur after repair.
116
Total Complaints
14
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
12
With Injuries
By System
The 2022 KIA K5 has 5 recalls, the most serious being two separate fire risks: a fuel leak at the high-pressure fuel pump connection on turbocharged models, and a damaged check valve that allows the fuel tank to expand, contact hot exhaust components, and melt.
On the drivetrain side, a transmission oil pump malfunction can knock out the vehicle's limited-mobility fail-safe mode entirely, leaving the car with no drive power rather than the reduced-but-functional mode intended to get the vehicle off the road. Losing drive power unexpectedly at speed raises the risk of a crash.
Two additional concerns affect steering and occupant protection. On vehicles with the 2.5L turbocharged engine, the electric power steering system cannot detect certain internal communication faults, which means steering effort can increase sharply without warning and leave the driver fighting the wheel. The side curtain airbags on some vehicles may have been installed incorrectly and can fail to deploy fully in a crash, reducing the protection they are designed to provide to occupants during a side impact.
At a glance
What can fail
A damaged check valve allows air to enter the fuel tank. The tank expands and contacts hot exhaust components, which can melt the tank.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The check valve will be replaced. The fuel tank will be inspected and replaced if damaged.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side curtain air bags may be installed incorrectly, preventing them from deploying properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission oil pump may malfunction, impairing the vehicle's fail-safe limited-mobility drive mode and potentially causing complete loss of drive power.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission if needed, and update the transmission control unit software. All repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 models with 2.5L turbocharged engines, fuel may leak where the high-pressure fuel pump connects to the fuel rail.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the fuel pipe connection and tighten or replace it as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power steering system cannot detect communication failures. If a fault occurs while using lane-keeping assist on a curve, steering assistance may not adjust correctly, suddenly requiring more steering effort.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the power steering system's software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.