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EnginePart report

2023 Kia K5 Engine Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
12%of 110 total for the year
Median mileage
6,537miles
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the engine of the 2023 Kia K5, 12% of the 110 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 6,537 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“10/25 I was traveling, and my car sudden loss of power, while in traffic.. almost causing accident. 10/28 I was traveling on interstate, and my car sudden loss of power, while in traffic.. almost causing accident. This is ridiculous.. When I hit the gas sometimes, feels like it fluttering and jerking. I’ve reported multiple times over the years and this one having hesitation when driving this car. Manager drove it was concern, mechanic talking about it’s the way the car supposed to be.”

NHTSA complaint #11696198, filed 2025-10

“MPG is lower then number provided by both dealer and manufactorer (my average 24 city 27 highway ) factoring that i rarely even use climate controls and other fuel consuming things and often turn off engine in mcdonald's drive thru lane”

NHTSA complaint #11490250, filed 2022-10

“One day I was driving and my car began to shake really bad. It doesn’t transition smoothly when switching gears in transmission. Sometimes it doesn’t accelerate and I’d have to floor the gas to get it going. Rough acceleration. Car would even shake in idle sometimes. It has been doing this ever since. One day it’ll shake, the next day it might not. It doesn’t matter if I drive slower or faster, the car still shakes, has rough to no acceleration, and shifts gears roughly. Engine light is on and is reading misfire of cylinder 3.”

NHTSA complaint #11613925, filed 2024-09

“I bought a 2023 Kia K5 GT vehicle as a CERTIFIED PREOWNED from Rick Case KIA Sunrise, FL. I paid $30,000.00 + an extended warranty for about $4,000.00, traded in my vehicle (for $9,000.00) and put a down payment of $5,000.00. Within two days of buying the vehicle in April of 2025 my car was back at the dealership in the service department for transmission issues. My vehicle has had 4 total transmissions and it is 3 years old (original transmission, 3 replacement transmissions). SHOCKER - it is STILL having transmission problems. I have NEVER had a good drive in this vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #11772043, filed 2026-10

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11527419, filed 2023-06

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026429%
202536%
2024929%
20231312%
20222822%
20213018%

Other parts of the 2023 Kia K5

Fuel system
55 complaints
Other or unknown
23 complaints
Body and structure
14 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
11 complaints
Brakes
6 complaints
Electrical system
6 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
6 complaints
Seats
5 complaints
Air bags
4 complaints
Lane departure
2 complaints
Suspension
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2023 Kia K5

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology