Kia K5
Registered from 2021 to 2027.
About this model
The Kia K5, formerly known as the Kia Optima, is a mid-size car manufactured by Kia since 2000 and marketed globally through various nameplates. First generation cars were mostly marketed as the Optima, although the Kia Magentis name was used in Europe and Canada when sales began there in 2002. For the second-generation models, Kia used the Kia Lotze and Kia K5 name for the South Korean market, and the Magentis name globally, except in the United States, Canada, Malaysia and the Middle East, where the Optima name was retained until the 2021 model year. The K5 name is used for all markets since the introduction of the fifth generation in 2019.
From the Wikipedia article Kia K5, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Fuel/propulsion system: more complaints than 98% of 2021 cars — 25% of its 163 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 7%.
- Gasoline: more complaints than 94% of 2021 cars — 8% of its 163 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 1%.
- Fuel system: more complaints than 93% of 2021 cars — 8% of its 163 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 2%.
- Seats: more complaints than 93% of 2021 cars — 5% of its 163 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 2%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Crash test
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | Standard |
| Lane departure warning | Standard |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 10.2 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway |
| 2026 | 290 hp · 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.8 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway |
| 2025 | 290 hp · 1567 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.8 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2024 | 290 hp · 1567 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 9.4 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2023 | 290 hp · 1567 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 9.4 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2022 | 290 hp · 1567 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 9.4 L/100km city · 7.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2021 | 290 hp · 1567 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 8.1 L/100km (EPA) · 9.0 L/100km city · 6.9 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
27% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
21V164000
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.
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.
21V447000
A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
21V519000
A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
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.
22V760000
Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
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.
23V149000
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
25V794000
A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Loss of Motive Power
Defect petition, opened September 2022, closed December 2023.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Kia filed 17 bulletins about the 2026 K5.
- Electrical system: 7
- Power train: 5
- Engine: 3
- Back over prevention: 1
- Other: 1
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: BATTERY WIRING HARNESS COVERING INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT (SA645) - This bulletin provides information for inspecting the 12V battery wiring harness on… · June 2026
- RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of… · June 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable… · June 2026
- RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 1) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of… · May 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation… · May 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OIL LEVEL PLUG (OLP) INSPECTION, AND OLP GASKET AND/OR ATF FILLER BOLT REPLACEMENT OR A/T REPLACEMENT (SC363) - This bulletin provides… · May 2026
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC363) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Service Campaign SC363. · May 2026
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC363) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain 2025-2026 MY K5 vehicles to… · May 2026
9 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.