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2021 Kia K5 Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 149 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is a known problem year for the Kia K5

The 2021 model year has significantly more owner complaints than average for this model. Consider a different year if possible.

D
40/100

Buyer Beware — 2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 shows a notably poor reliability profile for this model year. Consider an alternative year or have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

6
NHTSA Recalls
6 recalls on record
149
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
7
Crashes + Injuries
2 fire reports

Own or buying a 2021 Kia K5?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Kia K5 (6)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Kia dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V164000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V519000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V447000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #22V760000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #23V149000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #25V794000
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Kia K5

Based on 149 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
39
Unknown Or Other
22
Fuel/propulsion System
16
Power Train
15
Engine
9
Structure
9
Air Bags
8
Fuel System
7
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Kia K5 — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 0 complaints 2016 0 complaints 2017 0 complaints 2018 0 complaints 2019 0 complaints 2020 0 complaints 2021 149 complaints 2022 118 complaints 2023 95 complaints 2024 24 complaints 2025 42 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2021, 2022, 2023 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2015, 2016, 2017 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Kia K5

Is the 2021 Kia K5 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Kia K5 has 6 recalls and 149 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia K5 have?
The 2021 Kia K5 has 6 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia K5?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Kia K5 are: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Fuel/propulsion System, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Kia K5 safe to buy?
The 2021 Kia K5 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Kia K5 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Kia K5 are: 2015, 2016, 2017. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2021, 2022, 2023.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.