Your vehicle report
2025 Kia K5
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 54
- Received Aug 2024 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Tires blow out or tread separates17 complaints · 31% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Headlights dim or fail at night5 complaints · 9.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes3 complaints · 5.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #25V493000Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
- Recall #25V351000Kia 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."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Tires blow out or tread separatesFirst signal: Aug 2025
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 4 crashes, 0 fires, 6 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 3 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Month | Complaints |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | 1 |
| September 2024 | 1 |
| October 2024 | 0 |
| November 2024 | 1 |
| December 2024 | 2 |
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 0 |
| March 2025 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 2 |
| June 2025 | 2 |
| July 2025 | 3 |
| August 2025 | 3 |
| September 2025 | 4 |
| October 2025 | 3 |
| November 2025 | 1 |
| December 2025 | 3 |
| January 2026 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 2 |
| March 2026 | 7 |
| April 2026 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 1 |
| June 2026 | 3 |
| July 2026 | 3 |
| August 2026 | 2 |
| September 2026 | 2 |
| October 2026 | 3 |
| Total | 54 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 17 | 31% | 41.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2025 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 8.2% |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 5 | 9.3% | 6.9× | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 3 | 5.6% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #25V493000July 28, 2025100,063 vehicles affected
structure: body: roof and pillars; 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.
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.
NHTSA recall #25V351000May 27, 202582,281 vehicles affected
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."
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2025 Kia K5.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN