Most common 2025 Kia K5 problems
Share of the 53 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia K5 complaints by model year
Best K5 years: 2024. Years to avoid: 2025, 2023. Compare all years →
2025 Kia K5 recalls (2)
Structure › Exterior trim
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542.
Exterior lighting › Lighting control module › Software
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K5 vehicles. A software error in the Power-net Domain Controller (PDC) may cause the parking lights to flicker. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated…
Remedy: The PDC software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
What 2025 Kia K5 owners say
Wheels & tires all 20 →
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K5. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) warning light illuminated. The contact's daughter took the vehicle to a specialty tire shop, and it was determined that the front driver's side tire had two bubbles. One bubble was located on the top, and one bubble was on the front side. The tire was replaced. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the vehicle manufacturer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 2,500.
I brought my car into Dyer Kia on March 16, 2025 to replace my rear passenger side tire that had a bubble in it.They finally agreed to replace the tire and after being there for 4 1/2 hours they sent me on my way and I was within 5 miles of home and I did hit a small hole in the road and the tire immediately went flat. This tire was the one that they had just replaced in January on the passenger side front I contacted them again and told them that I was going to go to a tire dealer and put on new tires and send them the bill because now I am afraid to even drive my car. Sending them the bill is probably a moot point but it's worth a shot. My car is brand new has approximately 1450 miles on it and I've already had three flats. …
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2025 Kia K5. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds, the front headlights, rear brake lights, and interior cabin lights illuminated very bright. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where unknown repairs were performed; however, the failure persisted. In addition, the contact stated that the transmission was replaced prior to the recurring failure by the same local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
Shortly after a routine oil change performed at a Kia dealership, I discovered a significant oil leak underneath the vehicle the following day. Within a short period of time, the vehicle began experiencing engine-related issues including a cylinder misfire, noticeable shaking while driving, and loss of power, particularly when accelerating or driving on inclines. The vehicle also displayed a check engine light and a warning related to 12-volt battery drain. In addition, I noticed a strong burning odor coming from the engine area, which raised concerns about a possible fluid leak or internal engine issue. These conditions created a safety concern because the vehicle would hesitate and lose power during normal driving, which could increase the risk of an accident, especially in traffic or when merging or climbing inclines. The vehicle was returned to a Kia dealership for inspection. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Transmission has extremely hard shifting if vehicle sits for more than 24 hours. After the vehicle is parked, inside garage, or outside, the first drive of the day has an extremely hard shift of the transmission on the first shifting of the day. The shift it so hard, it jerks the entire car and jolts me in my seat. The remainder of the drive and day, the hard shifting does not occur. Took the vehicle into dealership where purchased at 1000 miles and left it with them for 2 full days. Unsurprisingly, they said they were, "Unable to reproduce". The next day, the vehicle had the exact same problem. I have close to 3000 miles on the vehicle and the transmission continues to do the exact same thing every time I drive it. It is terrible for a brand new car. It doesn't matter which "Drive mode" the vehicle is in. The dealership also tried to reset the ECM. But no luck. …
On startup, the engine took about an extra second to fire. The starter cranked noticeably longer than normal before the car turned on. Shortly after, I pulled out and turned onto a street. When I pressed the accelerator, there was no response at all. No rev increase and no acceleration. The car would not pick up speed. I switched to manual shift mode to try to force a gear change. When I changed gears, it took a couple of seconds to respond each time, much slower than normal. I managed to coast/limp to a nearby gas station. I shut the car off and restarted it, and the problem cleared completely. The car has driven normally since.
2025 Kia K5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 37 / 30 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 24 / 33 / 27 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 23 / 33 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2025 Kia K5 a good car?
Based on 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2025 K5 rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the K5 at the same age. It is one of the K5 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2025 Kia K5?
The wheels & tires — 20 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sidewall. Next are the electrical system (11) and transmission & drivetrain (6).
How many recalls does the 2025 Kia K5 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2025 Kia K5, the most recent from July 28, 2025 (exterior trim). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia K5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025 and 2023. See the full Kia K5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2025 Kia K5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 4,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.