2025 KIA K5 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
42
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
11
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2025 KIA K5
The 2025 KIA K5 has received a total of 42 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS. 11 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (6 complaints), Unknown Or Other (5 complaints), and Power Train (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 2025 KIA K5
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2025 KIA K5, potentially affecting up to 564,814 vehicles.
Recall 25V493000 — STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM
| 100,063 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 25V493000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
| 100,063 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 25V493000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
| 100,063 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 25V493000 — STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM
| 100,063 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 25V351000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
| 82,281 vehicles affected
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...
View full details →Recall 25V351000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
| 82,281 vehicles affected
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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2025 KIA K5
42 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2025 KIA K5. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tiressidewall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention Warnings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkages | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at speeds over 55 MPH, the hood vibrated abnormally. The contact stated that while being overtaken by a box truck or semi-truck, the vibration of the hood was more pronounced. The driver's side of the hood had a quarter-inch to a half-inch gap. After arriving to the destination, the hood was closed; however, the hood failed to latch securely. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and the dealer suggested that the two rubber stoppers needed to be tightened. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at speeds over 55 MPH, the hood vibrated abnormally. The contact stated that while being overtaken by a box truck or semi-truck, the vibration of the hood was more pronounced. The driver's side of the hood had a quarter-inch to a half-inch gap. After arriving to the destination, the hood was closed; however, the hood failed to latch securely. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and the dealer suggested that the two rubber stoppers needed to be tightened. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
While driving in the dark this morning with my eight year old in the backseat, my headlights shut off, my entire dash including my speedometer, warning lights, radio, heat, heated seat and steering wheel, lost electricity.
While driving in the dark this morning with my eight year old in the backseat, my headlights shut off, my entire dash including my speedometer, warning lights, radio, heat, heated seat and steering wheel, lost electricity.
While driving in the dark this morning with my eight year old in the backseat, my headlights shut off, my entire dash including my speedometer, warning lights, radio, heat, heated seat and steering wheel, lost electricity.
Safety Rating for the 2025 KIA K5
The 2025 KIA K5 received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2025 KIA K5
Kia America, Inc. has issued 11 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2025 KIA K5. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
OTA_SA630 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SERVICE ACTION: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT (SA630) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Transmission Control Unit of certain 2025 K5 vehicles. This update is designed to improve the performance for smoother gear shifts.
OTA_SA630 — POWER TRAIN
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SERVICE ACTION: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT (SA630) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Transmission Control Unit of certain 2025 K5 vehicles. This update is designed to improve the performance for smoother gear shifts.
TSB_TRA115 — POWER TRAIN
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: 8-SPEED TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA630) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the automatic transmission software on certain 2025MY K5 (DL3) vehicles equipped with a Theta III 2.5L GDI produced from February 20, 2024 through April 23, 2025, which may exhibit abnormal roughness...
OTA_SA609 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SERVICE ACTION SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR ACU (SA609) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) logic of certain 2025 K5 vehicles. This update is designed to reduce the unintended display of warning lights.
OTA_SA609 — AIR BAGS
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SERVICE ACTION SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR ACU (SA609) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) logic of certain 2025 K5 vehicles. This update is designed to reduce the unintended display of warning lights.
TSB_ELE376 — AIR BAGS
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: ACU OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA609) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Airbag Control Unit ‘ACU’ system software on certain 2025MY K5 (DL3) vehicles produced from February 20, 2024 to October 25, 2024. In rare cases when the driver restarts the vehicle within 1.5...
TSB_ELE376 — FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: ACU OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA609) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Airbag Control Unit ‘ACU’ system software on certain 2025MY K5 (DL3) vehicles produced from February 20, 2024 to October 25, 2024. In rare cases when the driver restarts the vehicle within 1.5...
TSB_ELE376 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: ACU OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA609) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Airbag Control Unit ‘ACU’ system software on certain 2025MY K5 (DL3) vehicles produced from February 20, 2024 to October 25, 2024. In rare cases when the driver restarts the vehicle within 1.5...
TSB_ELE363 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: SUNROOF OPERATION SOFTWARE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA595) - This bulletin provides the procedure to update the Roof Control Module (RCM) software on certain 2025MY K4 (CL4) vehicles produced from September 17, 2024 to November 01, 2024 which may exhibit an inoperable (open/close) sunroof operation due to...
PS773 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: K4 KIA CONNECT ACTIVATION STATUS - This pitstop provides information regarding the activation status of Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) and ccNC Lite head units on some 2025MY K4 (CL4) vehicles that may show the Activation status: “Provisioned(1)” instead of “PreRDR-shell(3)” on the Kia Connect screen. Vehicles...
Showing 10 of 11 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2025 KIA K5
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KIA K5
- 2021 KIA K5 — 206 complaints
- 2022 KIA K5 — 187 complaints
- 2023 KIA K5 — 115 complaints
- 2024 KIA K5 — 29 complaints
- 2025 KIA K5 (current)
- 2026 KIA K5 — 2 complaints
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- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints