AI Damage2025 KIA K5: common problems
Owners of the 2025 KIA K5 filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about tires and electrical system. The maker issued 27 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 53
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 27
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Tires 28% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 7 Wheels 9% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- Tires: 15 complaints (28% of all).
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (21% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
- Powertrain: 6 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Exterior lighting: 5 complaints (9% of all).
- Structure: 5 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 8-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 53 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 18 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Engine | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Now it’s just hanging off and shaking badly because of the poor material, it isn’t stuff enough to keep in place.
In the days prior to the crash, I experienced recurring issues including screen reboots while driving and temporary power loss. I do not remember the moment of the accident, and I am currently under medical care for head trauma.
The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated while driving 55 MPH six days later, the service, the battery, the low-pressure oil warning lights, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated.
While driving on a rural road, a cow ran in front of my vehicle and I collided with it. The car was towed to a repair shop and the estimated cost of repairs was $15,000. The impact was on the front corner of the drivers side of the vehicle. No airbags deployed.
I have had my vehicle for about 4 and 1/2 months since the first week or so I have an alert pop up say my front camera is obstructed only during the daytime it takes away 4 of my safety features, it has happened a couple dozen times I have been to the dealership they did not know what is wrong they are waiting for Kia…
The ESC/traction control system is enabled and there are no warning lights displayed. Tire pressures have been checked and are approximately 33–34 PSI, and I have not observed abnormal tire wear or visible tire damage.
The first time the collision warning lights and sounds came on when I was parked but had my engine on in the morning of 7/21/2026. The second time was when I was merging on a busy highway with cars going 65+mph...
Last week I discovered that the front driver-side tire has also developed a visible bulge/bubble in the sidewall, which indicates internal structural failure and an imminent risk of sudden blowout. There were no warning lights, no impact event, and no inflation problem before the bulge appeared.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 847 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 40% most complained about).
On average one model year of the K5 has 82 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 53, below average.
What to check before buying
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
SERVICE ACTION: BATTERY WIRING HARNESS COVERING INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (SA645) - This bulletin provides information for inspecting the 12V battery wiring harness on certain 2025-2026 MY K5 (DL3) vehicles equipped…
- RELEASE NOTES
OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, EV9, K5…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater…
- RELEASE NOTES
OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 1) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, 2025…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OIL LEVEL PLUG (OLP) INSPECTION, AND OLP GASKET AND/OR ATF FILLER BOLT REPLACEMENT OR A/T REPLACEMENT (SC363) - This bulletin provides information to inspect the oil level plug and automatic…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC363) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Service Campaign SC363.
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC363) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain 2025-2026 MY K5 vehicles to inspect the oil level plug and automatic…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC363) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect the oil level plug and…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC363) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect the oil level plug and automatic transmission fluid…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER ACTION: ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P2B59F0 (CA2516) - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Engine Control Unit (ECU) software on certain 2024–2025MY vehicles equipped with 2.5 GDI or 2.5 T-GDI…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
DCU COMMUNICATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) system software on some 2025–2026MY vehicles listed in the table below. Kia has identified that…
NHTSA lists 27 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2025 KIA K5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: tires, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 53. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (23%), tires: bulges, blowouts (13%), infotainment or screen glitches (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2025 KIA K5?
NHTSA lists 27 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2025 KIA K5 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2025 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.