MODELYEARINDEX

Kia K5

638 complaints across 1 scored model years and 8 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Kia K5 Full report
C
Grade 2021–2021
2021 vs model median 1.0×
Model median3× median
Electrical 30
Fuel System 23
Driver Assist 19
Weakest

2021

Best

2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2021
1.00× 166 C
2022 P
1.76× 212 D
2023 P
1.02× 152 C
2024 P
0.23× 40 A
2025 P
0.51× 68 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG28
City / Highway24.5 / 34.5
Engine2.5L, 4 cyl
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,200

Recalls

8 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
25V794000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2021–2024 250,547
23V149000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN 2021–2023 188,912
25V493000 STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS 2023–2025 100,063
25V351000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE 2025 82,281
22V760000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2021–2023 69,038
21V519000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2021, 2022 21,575
21V447000 LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST 2021, 2022 846
21V164000 AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE 2021 142

Others in Midsize Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura TL
2012
C
Acura TLX
20152020
C
Acura TSX
2010
C
Alfa Romeo Giulia
2017
C
Audi A4
none flagged
B
Audi A4 Allroad
2013
C
Audi A5
none flagged
C
Audi S4
none flagged
B

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2021 K5
Complaints in window
166
Severity-weighted
215
Model median (weighted)
215
vs model median
1.00×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
6
Open investigations
0
Score 60 C