2023 KIA K5 problems
Owners have filed 152 complaints about the 2023 KIA K5 with NHTSA. Fuel/propulsion system accounts for 25.7% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of structure at 9.2%.
Complaints152
Crashes10
Fires0
Injuries24
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Fuel/propulsion system 25.7% · 39
Unknown or other 14.5% · 22
Structure 9.2% · 14
Fuel system, gasoline 7.9% · 12
Engine 7.9% · 12
Power train 7.2% · 11
Forward collision avoidance 5.9% · 9
Service brakes 3.9% · 6
Severity
Of those complaints, 10 describe a crash and 24 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 3 model years of the KIA K5 in this data, 2023 ranks 3rd by complaint volume — 2021 draws the most.
Filings are rising — 129 in the last three years against 23 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 27,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The gas tank wii not allow you to put gas in it. When you try to put gas in it won't go down in the tank hose and the fuel gauge is ready a 1/4 tank. The car jerks when pressing on the gas pedal. I have only gone around 200 miles and gauge fluctuates with different reads so you don't know exactly how much gas is in the gas tank. The engine light is on as. This is happening while I am traveling. Fuel/propulsion system
Heard and felt extremely loud BANG under the car while driving then check engine light came on. Vehicle had low power and the gas was decreasing severely fast. The backseat had moved with our 2yr daughter in her car seat above it. Took it to dealership and they said the gas tank expanded and couldn't be fixed. They offered bottom dollar to buy it back Fuel/propulsion system
I started the purchase process of a Kia in 2022 of July. The car was built with a faulty fuel tank and no recalls were made on the vehicle. June 27,2025 I was driving on the freeway when my car started to not accelerate my fuel tank ejected into my backseat and I was forced to jump out of my car on the freeway. Fuel/propulsion system
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…