2023 KIA K5

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2024· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Engine came on and off twice, car was smelling like gas and driving rough. Tried to put gas in car and it would not take the gas, it wasted all over car. I checked my back seat and felt it was hard and sitting right so I looked under and the seat was lifted. After doing research, I learned I have an expanded fuel tank. Not only that but there has been a recall on it that I was unaware of, I took the car immediately to the nearest dealership and they acknowledged there’s a recall and I can’t drive the car because the backseat can explode anytime now.

• 12/22/2025· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light intermittently flashed on the instrument panel. The contact used a code reader to diagnose the failure and received a code for a defective valve with an excessive amount of air. The contact then stated that while driving 80 MPH, there were three loud booming sounds coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle but found no external damage; however, the vehicle was hesitating while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact then received a call from the dealer and was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact was instructed to bring the vehicle to the dealer for immediate service. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and remained with the dealer after the contact was informed that the vehicle had failed the recall inspection. The contact was provided a rental vehicle and was informed that he would be updated on what the manufacturer had decided about the vehicle. The contact called the manufacturer but had not yet received an update about the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

• 12/19/2025· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES

  The kia since bought brand new would have alignment issues even after getting alignments every 3-4 months and the dealership claim that they don’t whats causing constant misalignment after seeing theres no signs of external damage. Due to the misalignment it wears down the tires and made one of my tires explode on the road. Also the door seal on the driver side gets a chunk ripped out from just opening and closing the door over time. Also the breaks, whenever I break from speeding to slow down the speed the steering wheel shakes as well

• 12/16/2025· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  The contact owns a 2023 KIA K5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000(Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

• 12/16/2025· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, the fuel level was lowering, and a fuel odor was entering the cabin of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. Upon further inspection, the contact became aware that fuel was leaking from the vehicle onto the ground. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Two local dealers were contacted: Boniface Hiers Kia (3890 W New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32904). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

• 12/15/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I am submitting this complaint regarding unresolved safety recalls affecting my Kia K5: Recall SC356 and Recall SC346. I have contacted my authorized Kia dealer multiple times over the past several months, yet no remedy has been provided. Most alarmingly, I was informed today that my recall “ticket” was closed without any repairs being completed, which is unacceptable. Recall SC356 involves a damaged fuel tank check valve that can allow air to enter the tank, causing it to expand and potentially contact hot exhaust components. This defect creates a serious fire hazard and poses a risk of injury, death, or property damage. Recall SC346 involves a supplier defect where the C-pillar garnish face plate may delaminate and detach from the vehicle. According to NHTSA (25V493), a detached face plate may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Warning signs include looseness, rattling, or wind noise. Both recalls represent clear safety risks, yet Kia and its dealer network have failed to provide a timely remedy or interim solution. Closing a recall case without performing mandated safety repairs is deeply concerning and exposes me and other road users to unnecessary danger. Due to the prolonged delay, repeated dealer contact, and continued exposure to known safety hazards, I am requesting: 1.Immediate reopening and escalation of my recall case 2.Prompt completion of all recall repairs or a clear timeline 3.Consideration of compensation or goodwill due to extended delay and safety risk

• 12/09/2025· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,STRUCTURE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 25V493000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available and were on back order. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure.

• 12/04/2024· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  The contact owned a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated that while her son and daughter-in-law were driving, three loud bangs were heard coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and inspected; however, no cause for the banging sounds were found. The vehicle was then taken to a gas station to be inspected, but no cause for the sounds were found. The contact’s son then added fuel to the vehicle, but the fuel spilled from the filler neck. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was determined that the gas tank had expanded and damaged a part underneath of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to be inspected after being deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

• 11/10/2024· VISIBILITY

  I was driving down the road and I heard a loud boom noise and it was my sunroof burst it pieces. It was raining and it was not hot. Nothing fell on it.

• 11/06/2022· WHEELS

  Wheel resonance ducting separated from wheel inside of the tire. Broken pieces, threw off the balance of the wheel/tire resulting in very excessive vehicle vibration.

• 11/03/2023· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated that the interior of the vehicle had an abnormal gasoline odor. The contact stated that the gasoline odor was inside and surrounding the outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated the vehicle was previously taken to a dealer a month prior, but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

• 10/28/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  10/25 I was traveling, and my car sudden loss of power, while in traffic.. almost causing accident. 10/28 I was traveling on interstate, and my car sudden loss of power, while in traffic.. almost causing accident. This is ridiculous.. When I hit the gas sometimes, feels like it fluttering and jerking. I’ve reported multiple times over the years and this one having hesitation when driving this car. Manager drove it was concern, mechanic talking about it’s the way the car supposed to be.

• 10/27/2025· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  While driving my car i heard a loud pop come from the rear of the car. Vehicle began driving poorly as if it could not get proper fuel. I took car to dealership on October 3, 2025 where fuel system was tested and failed all 3 stages of recall for fuel system. Fuel tank had expanded straps and clips had broken and was deemed unsafe to drive. Kia placed the vehicle on hold.at the dealership with a do not repair until further notice. As of today October 27, 2025 the car has still not been repaired and is still on hold at the dealership. Kia has not determined if it is safe to repair the vehicle and return to owner (myself). I however do not feel safe to drive this car as I am lucky to be alive and that it didnt explode when the fuel tank expanded. Hopefully my case can help save someone else from being placed in danger with this issue.

• 10/26/2024· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I submitted a previous report NHTSA ID: 11488746 and have not heard anything. I continue to have this problem and am afraid it could cause a severe accident. When I come to a stop with the "Auto Hold" engaged the acceleration increases to 4 rpms or a little higher so I hold the brake down hard with my foot in fear that the Auto Hold will not work. I proceed to shift it in Park then as i take my foot off the brake the acceleration returns to normal. This is very alarming and has occurred to me at least 20 times since I've had the car. I have had the car in the dealership but they do not see anything wrong with it and does not register any Error codes. The car has less than 10k miles on it.

• 10/22/2025· POWER TRAIN

  I’m loosing power when i drive

• 10/21/2025· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact had received an unknown Emissions/Fuel Tank recall. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the vehicle was inspected and failed the inspection. The vehicle was deemed unsafe and inoperable due to an expanded fuel tank. The vehicle was not repaired due to the recall not being honored by the dealer and manufacturer because the vehicle failed the inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

• 10/21/2022· ENGINE

  MPG is lower then number provided by both dealer and manufactorer (my average 24 city 27 highway ) factoring that i rarely even use climate controls and other fuel consuming things and often turn off engine in mcdonald's drive thru lane

• 10/11/2022· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  Purchased a 2023 Kia K5 in August 2022 and as of Oct 2022 it has 800 miles. Four times within that period when I was either stopped or coming to a stop the acceleration excessively increased to 4 or more RPMs. I held my brake hard and put it in Neutral in which the RPMs got higher so I proceeded to Park. The first 3 times (while in traffic) it lowered the RPMs back down to normal. The 4th time (today) when stopped and shifting to Park the RPMs did not lower so while in Park, i slowly took my foot off the brake and it slowly lowered the RPMs. In all 4 instances I had the Auto Hold on. The 4th occurrence I noticed that the Auto Hold on the dash was blinking green then white so I turned it off. If this were to occur while I am driving at a high speed, I am afraid it will cause me to have a severe accident. Please investigate if this has been reported in the past and act fast before there is a fatal result.

• 10/02/2023· ENGINE

  Loss of power even hitting the gas. Sputters and does not accelerate. Had spark plugs changed thinking it will resolve the problem and it didn't. Severe safety hazard even needed to get up speed

• 09/29/2025· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Driving down the highway and heard a pop and my seats were rising slowly and while trying to make it to the nearest exit only two minutes later my rpm’s started jumping and my engine just shut off and multiple dash lights came on. Had it towed to Kia and after they did an inspection they said that my fuel tank had expanded and was pushing on my fuel lines and pushing my back seats up. Screen shot of technician video summary sent to me by dealership down below.

• 09/26/2025· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I am submitting an update regarding my 2023 Kia K5 (VIN: [XXX] ). •On July 25, 2025, I delivered the vehicle to my dealership for recall-related fuel tank issues. •As of today (61 days later), the vehicle remains out of service and undrivable. •The dealership opened a Kia Techline case, confirming they are unable to repair the fuel tank issue and that it is a safety hazard. •Kia North America has not provided any resolution, despite repeated contacts and escalation of my case (Kia Claim #25408405). •I have incurred significant financial hardship, including paying the monthly car loan, maintaining minimum insurance, and paying for out-of-pocket rental expenses while Kia holds my vehicle. •I also contacted Kia Finance, and they confirmed my hardship notes are documented in their system. This situation is ongoing, with no repair performed, no reimbursement, and no safe solution provided. The recall remains unresolved, and the vehicle is unavailable for use. I request that NHTSA take immediate action to ensure Kia complies with its recall obligations and consumer safety requirements. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 09/26/2025· POWER TRAIN

  While driving at about 70 MPH the right rear tire locked up temporarily causing loss of control of the vehicle. Luckily there were not other cars around as the car was in 3 lanes prior to coming to a complete stop. If this happened in traffic it could have caused a significant accident. There were no warning lamps on dash before or after the incident. After inspecting vehicle on side of road I could not see any issues. Drove about 15 yards and heard a grinding noise. Vehicle was towed to dealership. Dealership has inspected vehicle and advised it was caused by a failed awd coupler. The repair will be covered by warranty.

• 09/11/2024· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  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.

• 09/07/2025· AIR BAGS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  the vehicle failed the fuel tank Inspection recall.I have a tech line case open :Case number 25408405 . It has been 46 days since the vehicle has been at the dealership waiting for information from Kia USA . I have been still told to pay for car note that I am financing through Kia itself as well as rental because the dealership doesn’t have any loaners .

• 09/05/2025· 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.

• 09/05/2024· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Ive a 2023 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD with 73000 mileage. I was having a trip from New Jersey to Massachusetts for a wedding. I had 208 miles to go and 223 miles range. Than suddenly it went down to 93 miles. I stop by a gas station. I could not pump gas. It was kicking the nozzle. I atop by another gas station miles later. I couldnt pump gas either. It kickes the nozzle and my gas tank looks full. Than i start the car and check engine light and P045100 code came on. Than i checked the closest KIA but it was Saturday. They couldn’t service i was at Rhode Island. I called one of the KIA and they said as long as CEL is on i can drive. If its keep flashing i shouldnt drive. I said it smells gasoline and i cant fill up my tank and i asked if they have a suggestion and they said idk and closed the phone. Than i heard a clicking noise and it smelled a lot more gasoline. I saw that my rear seats popped up. I saw that one of the gas tank or whatever it is was up and my tank was expanding. I had to leave my car to another dealer nearby airport at Rhode Island. They will check my car at Monday. I rent a car from airport enterprise. I guess ill need to wait and see. I knew that there is a recall. But i went for an oil change at 60000 mileage and my local dealer told me that there was a recall and they checked and thats why it took long and im good to go. So they checked the recall and it was fine and now its not fine. I had the recall done but it still happened. My car stayed at dealer from 10 days. They couldnt fix it and someone from Kia Tech came to check, while they are checking the gas tank had a mini explosion as they said. Kia is going to buy my car back and they confirm that i can either get a replacement or buyback. They confirmed that there is no permanent fix for it. They do not know how to fix it.

• 09/03/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

  Why is Kia Dealership are allowed to sale cars that have recalls. Knowing that they have recalls and are allowed to sale. why not fix the issues and then sale. Safety Concerns driving and have to kids in the back car 65mph and car shut down breaks don't work or accelerator used the emergency breaks had shut down the car. Took it to the dealership I been calling them status on my car with no information provided. Imaging being behind 18 wheeler my accelerator don't work. Parts for recalls are out stock so why keep cars in the dealership knowing they don't have parts to fix the issues.

• 08/30/2023· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY

  I noticed several internal markings like streaks on the left windshield. I presented this issue to KIA ASAP. KIA service managers examined the windshield and refused to acknowledge that it was internal, possibly due to a manufacturing defect from a containment during the manufacturing process from the windshield company. They do claim that they feel pits on the windshield, which was due to another dealership scraping the object to see if it was external or internal. KIA told me to file a claim with my auto insurance company and that it is not covered under warranty. I am concerned that the windshield integrity is compromised and a possible danger to someone hitting the windshield which could cause additional injuries from the safety glass deficiency.

• 08/26/2024· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Ive a 2023 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD with 73000 mileage. I was having a trip from New Jersey to Massachusetts for a wedding. I had 208 miles to go and 223 miles range. Than suddenly it went down to 93 miles. I stop by a gas station. I could not pump gas. It was kicking the nozzle. I stop by another gas station miles later. I couldnt pump gas either. It kickes the nozzle and my gas tank looks full. Than i start the car and check engine light and P045100 code came on. Than i checked the closest KIA but it was Saturday. They couldn’t service i was at Rhode Island. I callled one of the KIA and they said as long as CEL is on i can drive. If its keep flashing i shouldnt drive. I said it smells gasoline and i cant fill up my tank and i asked if they have a suggestion and they said idk and closed the phone. Than i heard a clicking noise and it smelled a lot more gasoline. I saw that my rear seats popped up. I saw that one of the gas tank or whatever it is was up and my tank was expanding. I had to leave my car to another dealer nearby airport at Rhode Island. They will check my car at Monday. I rent a car from airport enterprise. I guess ill need to wait and see. I know that there is a recall. But i sent for an oil change at 60000 mileage and my local dealer told me that there was a recall and they checked and thats why it took long and im good to go. So they checked the recall and it was fine and now its not fine. My gasoline tank expanded. My car is located at Bold Hill Kia in Warwick, Rhode Island. I was scared to drive but i had no other choice and the serviceman in one of the dealer told me to drive so i drive to another KIA.My vehicle was inspected for the SC288 Recall [XXX] ) There was a check engine light with the obd code of p045100. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 08/21/2025· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

  My engine line keeps returning regardless of the multiple visits to the service department in attempt to fix recall complications at BONIFACE-HIERS KIA. Today will be the fourth visit for fuel tank and ECM recall related malfunctions.

• 08/21/2024· POWER TRAIN

  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.

• 08/19/2025· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The fuel tank in my 2023 Kia K5 LXS expanded and bent the subframe. This is a known problem with K5's with the 1.5L turbo engine. Kia had an emissions campaign for this problem affecting 2021 to 2024 models. My VIN isn't in that campaign, but it had the same problem. Given the fuel tank expansion and bent subframe, my car is no longer safe to drive and has been sitting at the dealership. I was told that with the fuel tank expansion a plate could pop open and create a fire or explosion. This also caused a significant loss of power, making the car untenable to operate. Kia's Techline reviewed the findings from the dealership service department (Campbell Kia Missoula), but closed the case without offering a repair and escalated it to another department (Consumer Affairs?), where it remains unresolved after two weeks. Kia is failing to resolve the issue in the form of either a repair or a buyback and keeps dragging the case out with virtually no contact or updates. Please help. This needs resolved ASAP.

• 08/14/2024· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud ticking sound coming from the fuel tank. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed as a failure with fuel tank expansion. The contact was contact informed that the fuel tank expansion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 270,000.

• 08/14/2024· POWER TRAIN

  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.

• 08/13/2025· LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  After getting my rearview mirror, repaired by the Kia dealership when I break when I came to a stop, my car started flashing forward, collision warnings, and Blindspot assist warnings and activated the emergency parking break ticket to the Kia dealership they saw the safety issues in in diagnostics and a history of it They said they won't replace anything unless it happens in the dealership's care gave the car back to me and less than five minutes after leaving the same issue occurred. They've currently had my car two weeks and have no update on what's going on was almost in an accident because of this issue after getting it back from the dealership. I also have a recording of the dealership stash. They won't do anything about it unless it happens in their care. With them, knowing it's a safety issue.

• 08/07/2023· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  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. This is the SECOND time this same exact issue has occurred with my vehicle (the first time occurring after an oil change at a different Kia dealership in Charlotte, NC), which I brought to my service advisor's attention prior to them beginning the oil change service. I expressed to this service department that I am extremely concerned there is something malfunctioning or defective within the vehicle that has caused this issue TWICE in an almost-new vehicle, and that I was now concerned there could be possible damage to my engine from this reoccurring issue. The service department at Kia Wesley Chapel did absolutely nothing to address my concerns or the issue other than replacing the drain plug (yet again). This Kia service department, and KIA overall, refuses to recognize or admit to any issue within the vehicle, and I was told to "wait and see if it happens again".

• 08/06/2025· STRUCTURE

  Left rear car door C-Pillar trim ripped off while driving.

• 08/06/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated while making a turn from a complete stop, the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The message "A possible condition with your engine control system has been detected" was displayed on the infotainment screen display. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact was able to drive back to her nearby residence at a significantly slow speed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the failure could not be replicated. The contact stated that the vehicle operated as needed; however, the failure recurred while making a left turn in a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the throttle body had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving at highway speeds, the failure recurred, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was test-driven. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be diagnosed because the warning lights were not illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was recurring intermittently and was causing the infotainment system to reset. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

• 08/06/2023· TIRES

  Tire: Pirelli P Zero All Season M+S (235/45/18) Tire experienced a catastrophic failure while driving entire tire came a loose from rim leaving the car incapacitated and unable to maintain control. Luckily it was a rear tire which allowed partial control until able to safely stop the car.

• 08/05/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The fuel tank expanded causing the vehicle to become immobile. The car is sitting at a dealership after I declined to sign Kia's buyback so yes it available for inspection. As for my safety and other the fact a fuel tank is swelling under where people would sit and it is highly flammable/ combustible is kind of alarming to me. Yes, there are plenty of people having the same problems. The dealership has sent pictures and videos into Kia for their engineers to look over. The day before the car became immobile it was getting horrible gas mileage. There was no other things that happened no lights on the dash.

• 07/30/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The vehicle is grounded at the dealership due to NHTSA Campaign 25V794 (Kia Recall SC356). The vehicle's fuel tank has critically expanded and swollen, causing permanent structural and chassis deformation inside the vehicle. The dealership service department has documented this structural damage, confirmed the vehicle is entirely unsafe to operate due to an immediate fuel system fire hazard, and stated the vehicle is likely unrepairable. The manufacturer is currently holding the hazardous vehicle but is failing to provide immediate alternative transportation, leaving the consumer stranded and creating severe financial hardship. I do not have the financial means to pay rental car fees up front for an extended and undetermined amount of time while waiting for Kia to decide the next step. All of the issues with the vehicle are directly related to the manufacturer defect. My safety was at risk while operating the vehicle due to a severe fire risk.

• 07/30/2026· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  car taken to Hutchenson Kia of Macon for Kia recall Campaign SC356. I heard loud pop a few days before appointment. The dealership stated the gas tank failed structural inspection and has already expanded. This put me and my children in danger. The dealership kept my vehicle and will not give me me a loaner. They left me stranded without a way to get home or pick up my kids from daycare. the 1800 # said my car isnt under warranty so they arent obligated. If they keep my car an say its a safety hazard they should be obligated. im told i have to wait 3-5 business day to get a case manager to see how they can assist me,

• 07/24/2026· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I brought my 2023 Kia K5 to Citrus Kia in Ontario, California on 2/20/2026 for two safety recalls, including Recall SC356 involving a defective fuel check valve that can cause the fuel tank to expand, melt, and potentially catch fire. When I picked up my vehicle on XXX, I was given a repair invoice stating that both recalls had been completed. Four months later, I received another recall notice by mail for SC356. After contacting Kia corporate, they confirmed that Citrus Kia had never completed the recall, despite providing me with paperwork stating that it had been done. I made multiple attempts to contact the dealership for an explanation but my calls were never returned. Kia corporate also had difficulty reaching the dealership. They ultimately confirmed with Citrus Kia that the recall had NOT been performed and instructed me to have it completed at another dealership. This was not a minor paperwork error. Citrus Kia falsely represented that a serious safety recall involving a potential fire hazard had been completed when it had not. I have the dealership's own repair invoice documenting that they claimed the work was finished. I also have a voicemail recording from Kia corporate stating they were told by Citrus Kia that the recall was actually not completed. What is most alarming is that Kia corporate never asked the dealership why they provided an invoice stating the safety recall was completed when it had not. Attachments: page 3 of invoice from 2/23/2026 shows Recall SC356 as completed; 2 screenshots from NHTSA and [XXX] on 7/23/2026 shows Recall SC356 as not completed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 07/24/2025· ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  The contact owns a 2023 Kia K5. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle new and driving off the dealer lot, the message "Radar Sensor Blocked" was displayed. The dealer was informed but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that another message indicating that a sensor was blocked was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had imploded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer offered buyback assistance; however, the dealer had not returned the owner’s or the manufacturer’s calls. The failure mileage was approximately 74.

• 07/23/2025· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  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.

• 07/22/2026· SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  7/20/26 My 17 year old daughter was on the way to work and heard a loud noise like an explosion in her car. She, new to driving, scared and in a panic just assumed this was a blowout on a tire and pulled over to check the tires. All tires were clear so she proceeded to work cautiously, on her way home she noticed her check engine light had come on and noticed there was some road noise coming from the back. She then called me, note this is the first I heard of the situation. While on the phone with her I pulled up the CarFax to check when it had last been maintenanced, while doing that I saw for the first time TWO RECALLS on this car we had just purchased 3 months ago! By this time she was home and I instructed her to get out of the car while I Immediately called our local Kia dealership to schedule an appt to have the two recalls fixed (7/20/26 at 4:38pm). I gave the make and model to the service department and they informed me they couldn’t see me till Wed July 29th,at 8:00 am. When my husband and I further assessed the car after we got home we found that an explosion had occurred around her fuel tank, which was full at the time of the incident! The fuel tank expanded enough to completely rupture and detach her entire backseat! This incident was due to a recall replacing a valve on the fuel tank that was not conducted on the car from prior owners nor communication to the new owners (ME) upon my purchase of the vehicle. This could have been catastrophic to my daughter and anyone else in the vehicle had she kept driving the car and could have very easily been engulfed with flames and loss of life especially with a full tank of gas. The car has been towed to the local Kia dealership and leaked gas all in our driveway as it sat there. We are still awaiting response from Kia on our case it has been over 48 hours now and we have received no communication from them. KIA NEEDS TO DEEM THIS RECALL AS POSSIBLY FATAL AND ACT IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE LIVES!

• 07/22/2026· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  I am filing this complaint regarding Kia America’s handling of a safety recall and repurchase of my 2023 Kia K5 GT-Line (VIN: [XXX]. I purchased this vehicle used on XXX, and financed it through Capital One. After taking my vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership for the fuel tank valve safety recall, I was informed that my vehicle was unsafe to drive and could not be repaired. The dealership advised me that Kia would be repurchasing the vehicle. Kia has offered to buy back the vehicle, but the settlement being offered does not appear fair under the circumstances. Although Kia has determined that my vehicle is unsafe and unrepairable due to a manufacturer safety defect, I have only been provided with 15 days of rental vehicle coverage while Kia’s own repurchase letter states that the process may take 60 to 90 days to complete. This could leave me without transportation through no fault of my own. Additionally, Kia has refused to reimburse my $4,000 down payment or provide any additional compensation related to the loss of use of my vehicle. Their offer also includes a substantial mileage deduction under certain options, despite the fact that this repurchase is the result of a manufacturer safety defect rather than a voluntary sale or trade-in. I requested written clarification regarding my settlement options, rental coverage, loan payoff, and reimbursement of my expenses. Rather than answering my questions, Kia responded only that the offer was “firm” and compliant with Florida law, without addressing the specific concerns I raised. I am requesting that this matter be reviewed to determine whether Kia is handling this safety recall and repurchase fairly and whether consumers whose vehicles are deemed unsafe and unrepairable should receive adequate transportation assistance and fair compensation while waiting for the manufacturer to complete the repurchase process. I respectfully request assistance in reviewing Kia America’s handling this case. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 07/19/2025· SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  In June 2025, while driving my 2023 Kia K5 (VIN: [XXX] ) at highway speeds on [XXX], the fuel tank suddenly imploded. A loud bang caused the rear seats to lift, startling me and my passengers. The car lost power, and braking too hard risked leaving us stranded in fast-moving traffic. I narrowly avoided a crash while trying to maneuver us to safety. This vehicle was previously recalled by Kia in April 2024 for a fuel tank defect affecting ~236,000 vehicles. I took it to Gunther Kia in Davie, FL for inspection, and they claimed it was fixed. In March 2025, I returned to Hollywood Kia because of popping sounds and a check engine light. They diagnosed and “repaired” a purge control valve but failed to address the underlying defect. Despite these repairs, the catastrophic failure still occurred. The vehicle is now completely inoperable and irreparable. Kia later offered to buy back the vehicle but failed to respond to over 200 calls and dozens of emails from me, allowing their offer to expire without explanation. This left me paying for a vehicle I can no longer use. This defect poses a serious danger not only to me and my passengers but also to thousands of other K5 owners nationwide. I urge NHTSA to investigate Kia’s recall handling and ensure affected vehicles are properly repaired to prevent injury or death. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 07/17/2024· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I was driving and it was a loud noise. My son flew up with seat belt on hit his head on roof , gas tank blew up / or swelled up and my back seat is sitting about 10-12 inches above then normal. Very scary and worried

• 07/15/2025· STRUCTURE

  Component or System: Front sunroof glass – panoramic sunroof system The sunroof has been removed but I could provide pictures What happened: While my vehicle was parked, the front sunroof glass panel spontaneously exploded outward, sending shattered glass fragments upward and outward. There was no external impact, object, or weather condition that could have caused this. The sunshade was closed, which fortunately prevented the glass from falling into the cabin. Had the shade been open, I or any occupant would have been at serious risk of injury. How safety was compromised: This is a serious vehicle safety defect. Spontaneous sunroof explosion could have caused glass-related injury to occupants, or road hazards to nearby vehicles or pedestrians if this had occurred while driving. The vehicle is currently unsafe to drive, especially in bad weather, due to a gaping opening in the roof. Inspection/confirmation by service center: Yes – the vehicle was inspected by two authorized Kia service centers. Both confirmed the glass was blown outward, not due to any external force. The second service center provided a quote to replace only the glass, not the entire sunroof system, indicating it was a glass failure. Inspection by manufacturer/insurance/police: Kia America has not physically inspected the vehicle and refused to request a statement from the service center, even after I submitted photographic evidence and a recording where the service manager agreed with my explanation. The vehicle was not inspected by police. My insurance was notified, but I am attempting to resolve this under warranty due to the nature of the defect. Warning messages or symptoms before failure: There were no warning lights, sounds, messages, or cracks leading up to the incident. The glass exploded without warning, which is why this poses a critical safety concern. Best assessment of cause: I believe this was a structural defect in the sunroof glass or a manufacturing/design flaw. I’v