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Kia K5 VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Kia K5 you are looking at. Then check its model year against 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefix5XXKNA

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Kia K5

About the Kia K5

Kia has sold the K5 in the US since the 2021 model year. Across those years NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recall campaigns and 497 owner complaints. The 2021 has the most complaints of any model year (167). EPA rates it at 27–32 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2021–2026
EPA classLarge Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns9
Owner complaints497 at NHTSA
Kia K5 photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Kia K5 at a glance

One generation in the data, 2021–2026: 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 497 owner complaints.

1 / 1
DL3
2021–2026Large Cars
Kia K5 (2021–2026)

Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20212025
2021–2026

Kia K5

PlatformHyundai-Kia N3
EPA combined mpg27–32
NHTSA recalls9

Engines (EPA)

  • 1.6 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2021–2024
  • 2.5 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2021–2026
  • 2.5 L 4-cyl · 2025–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, FWD
  • automatic (2021–2026), automated manual/dual-clutch (2021–2026)

Known issues to check

Fuel system (158)Electrical system (97)Engine and cooling (87)2 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 497 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · DL35XXG64J2?NG······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2022 Kia K5 GT-Line, built in Buford, Georgia
Check a K5 VIN

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which K5 model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 9 campaigns on file for K5 model years 2021–2026, and the 2021 shows up in more of them than any other year (6), ahead of the 2022 (5). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2021
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recall
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Transport Canada recalls for these model years were checked against this list; each one matches an NHTSA campaign shown here. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Kia K5 owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2021 and 2022 hold 296 of the 497 complaints, or 60%. Tap any bar or generation.

497NHTSA complaints, 2021–2026
35mention a crash
6mention a fire
53injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearDL3: 497 complaints · most for the 2021 (167)

Top complaint areas · DL3

Mentions in 497 complaints, 2021–2026.

Fuel system158
Electrical system97
Engine and cooling87
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)59
Structure and body44
Forward collision avoidance42
Crashes 35Fires 6Injuries 53

2021–2026

NHTSA data summary

The 2021 is the outlier. On its own it has 167 of the DL3’s 497 complaints (34%), more than any other K5 model year, and owners across the generation name fuel system most often (158 mentions), then electrical system (97).

What K5 owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2021–present (1st generation)

Owner complaints are moderate, and CarComplaints has only a handful of reports, citing a sulfur smell in the cabin, a fuel tank expanding and a pull when turning for 2022. On the 2021 and 2022, NHTSA complaints often involve fuel system trouble, check engine lights and fire concerns. Recalls cover fuel tanks on 2021–2024 models that can swell from a damaged check valve and touch hot exhaust parts, fuel leaks on 2021–2022 models with the 2.5L turbo and a transmission fail safe mode on 2021–2023 models that may not work, leading to a loss of drive power. [1] [2] [3]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the fuel tank, fuel leak and transmission recalls.
  • Ask the seller whether the fuel tank inspection has been done.
  • Look under the rear seat area and around the tank for any bulging, check for a fuel or sulfur smell and on the drive watch for a check engine light or any loss of power.
Sources (3) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2021 Kia K5
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2022 Kia K5 problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2022 Kia K5

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner opinions · Reddit

What Kia K5 owners say on Reddit

Summarized from public threads

K5 owners on Reddit mostly report a good experience, with several GT and GT-Line owners describing tens of thousands of miles and no engine trouble, plus praise for the features, power and price compared with a Camry or Accord. Shoppers still worry about the engine failures tied to older Kia engines, and owners answer that the newer 2.5 engines have not shown the same oil consumption. The GT's dual-clutch gearbox can feel jerky in stop-and-go traffic, and one AWD owner calls the undercarriage cover fragile.

Pros

  • Many owners report high mileage with no engine problems
  • Lots of features and power for the price
  • Strong highway fuel economy on the base engine

Cons

  • Worries carried over from older Kia engine failures
  • GT dual-clutch gearbox can feel jerky in traffic
  • Fragile undercarriage cover on some AWD cars

Opinions of individual owners, summarized in our own words. Not verified data; check recalls and complaints above.

Owner complaints · by model year

K5 complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every K5 version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

497complaints, 2021–2026
35mention a crash
6mention a fire
53injuries reported
2complaints report a death
Most complaints: 2021 (167), 2022 (129), 2023 (107)
167’21129’22107’23’25

2021 · 167 complaints

Crashes 8 · fires 2 · injuries 7 · complaints reporting a death 1

Electrical system46
Fuel/propulsion system43
Unknown or other32
Engine29
Power train18

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

K5 CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 22 K5 versions for model years 2021–2026. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 277 g/mi (2022). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

DL32021–2026

27–32 mpg · CO₂ 277–332 g/mi

2025
30combined MPG
298CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$2,250EPA yearly fuel cost
6/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
6/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2025: K5 · Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L — 30 MPG · 298 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
20025030035040020252021 · Gas: 2772022 · Gas: 2772023 · Gas: 2932024 · Gas: 2932025 · Gas: 2982026 · Gas: 298
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

K5 vs Hyundai Sonata vs Honda Accord

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2021–2026. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the K5, against 7 for the Hyundai Sonata and 12 for the Honda Accord. Pick a range to compare.

Kia K5

Model years 2021–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
9
NHTSA owner complaints
497
EPA combined mpg
27–32
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.6, 2.5 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Fuel system 158
  2. Electrical system 97
  3. Engine and cooling 87

Hyundai Sonata

Model years 2021–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
7
NHTSA owner complaints
491
EPA combined mpg
27–52
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.6, 2.0, 2.5 L
Also listed
turbo, hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 126
  2. Fuel system 120
  3. Electrical system 107

Honda Accord

Model years 2021–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
12
NHTSA owner complaints
1,152
EPA combined mpg
26–48
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.5, 2.0 L
Also listed
turbo, hybrid
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Forward collision avoidance 315
  2. Electrical system 309
  3. Steering 165

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Kia K5 VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a K5

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver Kia K5 (third generation) sedan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The K5 sedan carries its VIN on a plate at the lower driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker and trunk lid label near the latch are the secondary locations. K5 replaced the Optima, verify the VIN decode uses the correct model name for the year being sold, as some databases still list 2021+ K5 variants under the Optima nameplate in partial records.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Kia K5 VIN questions

Which Kia K5 model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2021 leads with 167, ahead of the 2022 (129) and 2023 (107). Those first two alone make up 60% of the 497 K5 complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Kia K5 had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 9 vehicle campaigns for model years 2021–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Kia K5 recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 21V-519 and 25V-794. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Kia K5 get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2021–2026 K5 at 27–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Kia K5 compare with the Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord on recalls?

For 2021–2026 models the K5 has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Hyundai Sonata has 7, the Honda Accord 12. Complaints run 497, 491 and 1,152 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Kia K5 have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 K5 5 stars overall. Both rated versions, FWD and AWD, get that score.

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