YearToAvoid

2025 Kia K5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#4 most-complained of 5 K5 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2025 Kia K5 has 51 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 25 out of 100 — #4 highest of 5 K5 model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is suspension, wheels & tires (19 complaints, 37% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 6 injuries.

Complaints
51
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
24.5 city / 34.5 hwy

Top 2025 Kia K5 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (37%)
  2. Electrical System12 (24%)
  3. Other6 (12%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain6 (12%)
  5. Structure & Body5 (10%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers5 (10%)
  7. Engine4 (8%)
  8. Airbags3 (6%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (6%)
  10. Brakes1 (2%)
2025 Kia K5 complaints: complaints filed per month8Aug 2024Dec 2024Jun 2025Sep 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2024 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2026 (8).

2025 Kia K5 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V493000Jul 28, 2025Structure & Body100,063 vehicles

    Structure:exterior trim

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 25V351000May 27, 2025Electrical System82,281 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Exterior lighting:lighting control module:software

    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."

    Risk: 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.

2025 Kia K5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
34.5 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other K5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2023Avoid75107428
2024Best030228
2025Good2551228

All Kia K5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Kia K5 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Kia K5 ranks #4 of 5 among K5 model years (Complaint Index 25/100, verdict: Good). It has 51 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Kia K5?
The most reported problem areas are suspension, wheels & tires (19 complaints), electrical system (12 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (6 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 4,358 miles.
Does the 2025 Kia K5 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2025 Kia K5, most recently reported 2025, covering structure & body and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia K5?
EPA rates the 2025 Kia K5 at 28 MPG combined (24.5 city / 34.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,325. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.