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Kia K5Model year report

2026 Kia K5 Problems

Compared with other Kia K5 years

Too new to compare

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2023

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
14filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
110miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
29 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 36 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2026 Kia K5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 2026 Kia K5. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by engine (4) and electrical system (3). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 110 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 17 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “I was traveling approximately 60 MPH while entering turnpike. Ambient temperature approximately 62-65 degrees F. I heard sudden loud explosive bang, looked around. And no vehicles were immediately nearby and I did not observe or hear any object strike the vehicle prior to glass failure. I heard air coming from somewhere. I checked my windows and all of them were up, still heard the air noise opened the Moonroof and the Panoramic glass exhibited extensive damage and tempered-glass fragmentation with a large section missing.”

NHTSA complaint #11768869, filed 2026-10

Engine: “The display is shows a Check Oil Level error. It comes on then goes off regularly. I have verified that the oil level is OK. Took it into the dealer and he said that this is a common issue and a software fix is coming. The car only has less than 2K miles. I depend on the engine displaying error messages, but they need to be real ones. Online complaints indicate that this is a common error and there seems to be no fix.”

NHTSA complaint #11730905, filed 2026-04

Electrical system: “Kia has a known wiring‑harness defect that causes the low engine oil sensor to trigger incorrectly. Despite this, there has been no recall, and new vehicles are still being sold with the issue. The wiring harness is now on back order, leaving me without a car for weeks or longer. The vehicle has plenty of oil, and the dealership confirmed there are no engine problems, yet the warning light keeps coming back because of the faulty harness. This happened 1 day after buying this car new from the dealership lot.”

NHTSA complaint #11723226, filed 2026-03

Lane departure: “Driver awareness warning goes off frequently. There is no way to desensitize it. As a result warnings are ignored. Dealer and manufacturer says there is not way to prevent this issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11739815, filed 2026-05

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 89 and 15,440 miles.

67%0–1033%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 110 miles.

Complaints by year filed

This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

2025202613
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2026 Kia K5. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
K5 · sedan AWD★★★★★5 / 4554 · 10.7% risk
K5 · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 4554 · 10.7% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2026 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2025: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2026 Kia K5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
K5 FWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic253629$2,300
K5 FWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic233327$2,500
K5 AWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic243327$2,500
K5 w/Stop-Start FWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic263730$2,250

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2026 Kia K5 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 17 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 17 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia K5

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026141101529—Too new
2025544,3582529Too new to compareToo new
20243112,7802531Too new to compareToo new
202311037,000453147 · TypicalToo new
202212957,000553150 · TypicalRising
202116945,000653156 · TypicalRising

All Kia K5 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2026 Kia K5 have?

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 2026 Kia K5 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2026 Kia K5 is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by engine with 4.

Has the 2026 Kia K5 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2026 Kia K5 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2026 Kia K5 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2026 Kia K5 get?

The EPA rates the 2026 Kia K5 (K5, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 25 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2026 Kia K5 reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 110 miles and the middle half falls between 89 and 15,440 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.