2021 Kia K5 Interior & seats Problems

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that there were failures with the spark plugs. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered, and the engine sputtered. The contact stated that fuel spewed out of the filler neck while refueling the vehicle, and the fuel gauge incorrectly indicated that the fuel tank was empty after refueling. Additionally, there was an abnormal egg and sulfur odor coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer and inspected under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V794000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). During the inspection, the seats were damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was negotiating a buyback. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11752163

Incident

Feb 22, 2026

Mileage

120,000 mi

I have experienced consistent electrical issues with my drivers side door panel on my 2021 Kia K5. The lights on the panel will flash off and on intermittently, the windows will not roll down, and doors will not lock/unlock, posing an entrapment risk. Additionally, when this panel malfunctions, my power seat will move and adjust (sometimes while I am driving and the vehicle is in motion) back to original settings instead of remaining in the settings I've saved for my vehicle; fully unintended motion of course. Additionally, my media screen/multimedia face also experiences issues where it will black out, cutting my navigation mid-drive, as well as any other sound including music and/or navigation guidance. I initially raised these issues early in the ownership process of my vehicle with a door panel replacement being offered as a fix. This did not fix the issue. I was told i needed to try to get video of the incident when it occurred which seemed impossible.to me because under GA law, how am I supposed to obtain video while operating a motor vehicle. However, I eventually obtained footage. I expressed concern about the issue persusting past my warranty date and was told my issue would will be able to be fixed if it persisted because I initially raised it during the warranty period. However, I have now proceeded to be dismissed and blown off by both of thr Kia dealerships in my area regarding this issue. Even being told by one that they no longer had previous service records of my vehicle because they've changed ownership. As an authorized Kia service center, my understanding is that the dealership is an agents of the manufacturer. If they failed to transfer records, they are essentially admitting to a lapse in their duty to maintain my vehicle's history—a history that involves a life-threatening safety defect. There were no warning lamps for this issue, I've not had this issue inspected by my insurance or other agents.

NHTSA ID

11735605

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

The car has a sudden loss of power but doesn't shut off. The drivers eat doesn't move towards or back and the back seat popped up for no reason whatsoever. We have taken it to the dealership and they say its not a recall but its doing the same things that others in the same year and model are doing. Why isn't this one on the list . Its paid off and haven't been able to drive it for a year now . Wasted money getting it towed to dealership and back . Ridiculous!!!!

NHTSA ID

11689273

Incident

May 8, 2024

I was driving down the highway and my car made a loud bang noise. It would not accelerate over 50 mph no matter how hard I pressed the accelerator. Took to dealership and they told me I needed a new battery and charged me $365. Drove it and still won’t go over 50 mph. They kept it for a week and said it had a faulty valve that caused pressure to make the gas tank expand, pushing up back seat. Said it wasn’t a recall and would cost me $3600 to fix. Told me it was too dangerous to drive. Did research and saw that this was discovered over 2 years ago but I was never told. Now they say I have too many miles on my car to fix it. The gas fumes inside the car are intolerable and it still won’t go over 50.

NHTSA ID

11685517

Incident

Jul 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine, when the gas tank expanded, and the back seat popped up. The contact stated that two teenagers were in the back seat, and one was injured. The contact's daughter pulled over and waited for a short while. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle drove slowly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to another dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the seat had moved two inches. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired because the frame of the seats could be damaged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not been driven since. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11657502

Incident

Mar 10, 2025

Mileage

86,000 mi

The Electric seats do not adjust due to failed motors. Electric mirrors do not adjust due to failed motors. Gas refuel door does not open due to faulty actuator. All things that make the care dangerous to drive. Online search reveals that all three issues are very common in the 2021-2023 KIA K5 cars. We believe they pose a danger. Also, they seem to break at about 40-60K miles. Often out of warranty and dealer will not fix even though they acknowledge that the items in question are an issue.

NHTSA ID

11638110

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

When I was driving I heard big boom sounds in my backseat which ended up being my fuel tank which expanded and raised the back seat. It slowly got worse impacting my car’s fuel sensor and the tank expanded more and more I drove.

NHTSA ID

11594072

Incident

May 23, 2024

I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH IN MY 2021 K5 GT LINE WHEN AN OLDER TOYOTA CAMRY CROSSED MY PATH. I APPLIED BRAKES BUT THERE WAS NO AVOIDING THE COLLISION. I BROADSIDED THE CAMRY AT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH KNEES, NECK AND BACK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE, WRECKER DRIVER AND BODY SHOP (IN THIER PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES) ALL SAY THEY ARE SURPRISED THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT TRIGGERED BEING THE FACT IT WAS A FRONTAL COLLISION. ANOTHER CONCERN IS THE FOLDING SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE FREE OF THE LATCH AND FOLDED ITSELF DOWN. THAT SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN FOLDED DOWN OR EVEN SAT IN FOR THAT MATTER, SO I KNOW FOR A FACT IT WAS LATCHED. SAD TO SAY MY BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW K5 THAT I HAVE HAD FOR 2 MONTHS NOW HAS CLOSE TO $13,000 DAMAGE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE THIS THING. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN?

NHTSA ID

11399278

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Mileage

10,000 mi