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2022 Kia K5

Gas
Large Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
46 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA124
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA32 mpg
2027202620252024202320222021

The 2022 Kia K5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas large car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the K5, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 124 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
K5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo293832$1,950
K5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo273731$2,000
K5 AWDGasAWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo253328$2,250
K5GasFWD2.5L 4-cyl turbo243227$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43897, 43898, 43899, 43900.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2022 Kia K5 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC356
250,547 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V794000reported Nov 17, 2025Kia America, Inc.
▲high

Air Bags

SC263
188,912 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskAir bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V149000reported Mar 7, 2023Kia America, Inc.
▲high

Power Train

SC250
69,038 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskLoss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V760000reported Oct 11, 2022Kia America, Inc.
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

SC214
21,575 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V519000reported Jul 8, 2021Kia Motors America
▲high

Steering

SC213
846 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskA sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V447000reported Jun 14, 2021Kia Motors America

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
124complaints filed

14 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 18 injuries · 2 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 4 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 47 · 2026: 24

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System34
Engine26
Electrical System24
Power Train20
Unspecified19
Forward Collision Avoidance13

What owners describe

“I was traveling normally, exiting a highway ramp when my car acceleration system malfunctioned. It seemed as if it was a power train issue or engine issue. I was not able to accelerate or slow down properly due to this malfunction and it caused me to crash. My car was totaled.”Jan 17, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“On 11/29/2022 my car wouldn't start, just click and continued to try and start then the check ESC warning came on. I had to get it jump started from KIA Roadside assistance and drove vehicle to local KIA Dealership where they tested the battery and said it was a bad battery. They replaced the battery. My car was purcha…”Dec 27, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“Randomly, the cars engine rev is really low, it’ll go up down up down over and over and over and then shut off, sometimes while in motion. Other times, when you’re finished driving and you shift into park the engine will shut off the moment you hit park. My safety is at risk due to the fact that when I was in motio…”Dec 24, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Compare the 2022 K5 with

2022 Honda Civic →

Other K5 model years

A

2027 Kia K5

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Kia K5

1 recalls · 11 complaints

B

2025 Kia K5

2 recalls · 51 complaints

C

2024 Kia K5

2 recalls · 29 complaints

D

2023 Kia K5

4 recalls · 106 complaints

F

2021 Kia K5

6 recalls · 164 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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