2023 Kia K5 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 10%of 111 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 26,000miles
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2023 Kia K5, 10% of the 111 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 26,000 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“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“When driving my car will send off all dashboard lights, sounds. Lose acceleration. Pull over, rmps fly up and won. Turn car off and turn back on to regain acceleration. Engine light remains on. I know there is a recall for this for my exact car type, but the recall does not show up under my VIN. After a phone call with NHTSA, I was told to report my vehicle to the website. My safety and others is at risk for obvious reasons. This can easily cause a crash. This happened once at 5k miles, dealership supposedly fixed it. But it happened again the other day at 19k miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #11563677, filed 2024-01“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 to ascertain what happened. …”
NHTSA complaint #11536967, filed 2023-08“The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, while the transmission was changing gear, the vehicle hesitated and jerked abnormally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11608506, filed 2024-08, 34,000 miles“Transmission is itself in neutral while driving. Resulting in irratic RPMs, hesitating acceleration and rough transition to gears. Took care into dealership service department. They seemed that I would need a transmission replacement. Kia approved the request. Still waiting on transmission to be put in.”
NHTSA complaint #11609954, filed 2024-08Related recalls
- 22V760000Oct 11, 2022Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be…Covers: Kia K5 2021–2023, Sorento 2021–2022
Related service bulletins
- 11017172Apr 17, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- 11010702Nov 14, 2024TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION EOP SENSORLESS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised…
- 11006664Aug 22, 2024TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION EOP SENSORLESS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised…
- 11005430Jul 31, 2024TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION EOP SENSORLESS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information to improve the Electric Oil Pump ‘EOP’…
- 11000787May 16, 2024This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission…
- 10253812Apr 25, 2024TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin…
- 10242937Sep 28, 2023TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to replace the AWD coupling actuator assembly on some 2021-2023MY Kia…
- 10242913Sep 25, 2023PITSTOP: AWD SYSTEM CONCERN DUE TO TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE - This Pitstop provides information regarding potential concerns with the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system due to tire sizes of…
- 10233316Mar 29, 2023PITSTOP: PRECAUTIONS FOR WET 8-SPEED DCT: This Pitstop provides information related to the replacement of an 8-Speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission (WDCT) assembly on some…
- 10233315Mar 8, 2023TSB_TRA101_CLSD: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION (DCT) S/W LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA502) - SA502 superseded by SA526, TSB CLOSED.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2023 Kia K5
56 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsEngine
13 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsForward collision avoidance
6 complaintsSeats
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsLane departure
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsTires
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2023 Kia K5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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