Vehicle Recall IndexVIN decoding & NHTSA recall records

Model year 2021 · Kia

2021 Kia K5 recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia K5. The most recent was reported on November 17, 2025. Campaigns are matched by the model names in NHTSA's records: K5.

NHTSA data through October 6, 2026 · How these pages are built

Campaigns at a glance

Recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia K5, newest first
NHTSA numberReportedComponent
25V794000November 17, 2025Fuel System, Gasoline
23V149000March 7, 2023Air Bags › Side/Window › Curtain
22V760000October 11, 2022Power Train › Automatic Transmission
21V519000July 8, 2021Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
21V447000June 14, 2021Lane Departure › Lane Keep › Steering Assist
21V164000March 11, 2021Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

Systems involved: Air Bags (2) · Fuel System, Gasoline (2) · Lane Departure (1) · Power Train (1) · Steering (1)

Recall records

NHTSA 25V794000Manufacturer no. SC356

Fuel System, Gasoline

Report received by NHTSA
November 17, 2025
Owner notification
January 16, 2026
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
250,547 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2021 Kia K5
March 27, 2020 – Not reported
Model names in the NHTSA record
K5

Defect summary

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2024 K5 vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.

Safety risk

A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the check valve. The fuel tank will be inspected for damage and replaced as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC356. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 1, 2025.

Source: NHTSA recall 25V794000, filed by Kia America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 23V149000Manufacturer no. SC263

Air Bags › Side/Window › Curtain

Report received by NHTSA
March 7, 2023
Owner notification
April 7, 2023
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
188,912 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
K5

Defect summary

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.

Safety risk

Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC263.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 23V149000, filed by Kia America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 22V760000Manufacturer no. SC250

Power Train › Automatic Transmission

Report received by NHTSA
October 11, 2022
Owner notification
December 9, 2022
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
69,038 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
K5

Defect summary

Kia 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 impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.

Safety risk

Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 22V760000, filed by Kia America, Inc.. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 21V519000Manufacturer no. SC214

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Report received by NHTSA
July 8, 2021
Owner notification
July 21, 2021
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
21,575 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
K5

Defect summary

Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.

Safety risk

A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 21V519000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 21V447000Manufacturer no. SC213

Lane Departure › Lane Keep › Steering Assist

Report received by NHTSA
June 14, 2021
Owner notification
June 24, 2021
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
846 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
K5

Components: Lane Departure › Lane Keep › Steering Assist; Steering

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L T-GDI engines. The Rack-Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) system lacks the ability to diagnose communication faults. If a communication fault occurs while driving around a curve with Lane Following Assist (LFA) engaged, the steering assist level may not adjust properly, causing a sudden increase in the steering effort required.

Safety risk

A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the R-MDPS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 24, 2021. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC213.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 21V447000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 21V164000Manufacturer no. SC207

Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

Report received by NHTSA
March 11, 2021
Owner notification
March 18, 2021
Recall initiated by
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected
142 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record
K5

Components: Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module; Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger

Defect summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Safety risk

In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

Remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 21V164000, filed by Kia Motors America. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

Records reproduce NHTSA's published text for each campaign. Last record date for this page: November 18, 2025.