NHTSA Complaint #11674710 — 2023 KIA K5

In June 2025, while driving my 2023 Kia K5 (VIN: [XXX] ) at highway speeds on [XXX], the fuel tank suddenly imploded. A loud bang caused the rear seats to lift, startling me and my passengers. The car lost power, and braking too hard risked leaving us stranded in fast-moving traffic. I narrowly avoided a crash while trying to maneuver us to safety. This vehicle was previously recalled by Kia in April 2024 for a fuel tank defect affecting ~236,000 vehicles. I took it to Gunther Kia in Davie, FL for inspection, and they claimed it was fixed. In March 2025, I returned to Hollywood Kia because of popping sounds and a check engine light. They diagnosed and “repaired” a purge control valve but failed to address the underlying defect. Despite these repairs, the catastrophic failure still occurred. The vehicle is now completely inoperable and irreparable. Kia later offered to buy back the vehicle but failed to respond to over 200 calls and dozens of emails from me, allowing their offer to expire without explanation. This left me paying for a vehicle I can no longer use. This defect poses a serious danger not only to me and my passengers but also to thousands of other K5 owners nationwide. I urge NHTSA to investigate Kia’s recall handling and ensure affected vehicles are properly repaired to prevent injury or death. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)