2023 Kia K5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
37,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 106 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 44 | 41.5% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 39 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 39; Unknown Or Other: 22; Fuel System, Gasoline: 14; Engine: 12; Power Train: 11; Structure:Body: 10; Service Brakes: 6; Electrical System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 92 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 38 |
| 2026 | 31 |
2022: 3; 2023: 15; 2024: 19; 2025: 38; 2026: 31
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 44 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11574622 · 2024-02-29 (February 29, 2024)
I was driving on [XXX] Orlando Florida on [xxx] doing approximately 70 miles an hour when a large explosion occurred out and within my car the whole car shook this happened twice within a 5 mile radius. The car was eventually brought to Kia city in Orlando, where they determined that the fuel system had failed . the valve had failed, and the fuel system tank and fuel pump had swelled and blew .This could lead to catastrophic explosion in the vehicle, and or someone catching on fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11574622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11591023 · 2024-05-28 (May 28, 2024)
Gas tank expanded and bent the undercarriage up so much it blew off the fuel pump cover and pushed up the back seat.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11591023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11488746 · 2022-10-11 (October 11, 2022)
Purchased a 2023 Kia K5 in August 2022 and as of Oct 2022 it has 800 miles. Four times within that period when I was either stopped or coming to a stop the acceleration excessively increased to 4 or more RPMs. I held my brake hard and put it in Neutral in which the RPMs got higher so I proceeded to Park. The first 3 times (while in traffic) it lowered the RPMs back down to normal. The 4th time (today) when stopped and shifting to Park the RPMs did not lower so while in Park, i slowly took my foot off the brake and it slowly lowered the RPMs.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11488746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11512736 · 2023-03-20 (March 20, 2023)
This is the letter I sent to Kia: Dear Sirs, I own a 2023 Kia K5 EX that I bought new and currently has about 8500 miles on it. Today, while driving on I95 in Florida, I had my right rear tire blow out. I could tell by the feel of the car that I had a flat before the systems warned me, but that is not why I’m writing you today. While I was working my way over to the right shoulder to stop, all of the waring lights came on and the brakes stopped working. Now I want to be clear. It wasn’t a failure of the brakes themselves. It was not the a…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11512736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11502507 · 2023-01-18 (January 18, 2023)
My wife was driving down the highway with her cruise control set to 75. She noticed she was only doing 71 and pushed the gas pedal manually. The rpm's increased to between 4000-5000 but there was no acceleration with the car. The car then dropped to 68 mph and would not accelerate at all. After pulling over and turning the car off and then restarting it started working ok. This seems to match the transmission recall of the 2023 Kia K5 GT-Line but this car is not currently included in that recall. This recall should be investigated and pos…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11502507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11536967 · 2023-08-07 (August 7, 2023)
Received an oil change as part of normal service schedule on a 2023 Kia K5 vehicle purchased August of 2022 (from different dealership). 4 days after this service was conducted, the drain plug in the oil system of the vehicle fell out of my car, therefore draining my vehicle of the oil it needs to operate normally, causing the car to completely stall near my home. I had to pay out of pocket at a nearby Express Oil Change facility to have a new drain plug and oil put into car, after which I immediately brought my vehicle back to this dealership …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11536967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11547805 · 2023-10-02 (October 2, 2023)
Loss of power even hitting the gas. Sputters and does not accelerate. Had spark plugs changed thinking it will resolve the problem and it didn't. Severe safety hazard even needed to get up speed
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11547805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11527419 · 2023-06-16 (June 16, 2023)
The car was 4 months old when I was trying to get home when all of a sudden I noticed all the engine lights started to go out. With a few minutes on the road, the car automatically shut down in the middle of the road. My head almost hit the steering wheel and I was so close to hitting another car. I tried to start the car but it wouldn't start, the engine was making a strange noise and it smelled like burning. I waited 45 minutes on the side of the road and started the car. I drove the car to Kia and the fastest the car will go was 25 miles. Wh…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11527419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11661450 · 2025-05-16 (May 16, 2025)
All of my check lights are on. All of my sensors are popping up. It says no power steering. No cruise control. No lane departure and a few other lights are popping on every time I turn my car on and they all stay on. So far it isn’t preventing me from driving it but none of my safety features work
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11661450 at NHTSA ↗