10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

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problem #10

Aug 042025

K5

  • miles
Kia dealership has confirmed that the components of the vehicle's multi-fuse (located under the hood) for the AC/HVAC system have started to burn and are melting part of the fuse panel due to excessive current draw and excessive heat. Due to this, the vehicle's HVAC (both heat and a/c) does not function. A vehicle's HVAC functions help to: 1) Defrost/defog vehicle's windows during rainy and humid days, 2) maintains a vehicle's air quality, 3) cools the vehicle's interior on hot and humid days, 4) assists in preventing mold and bacteria growth via dehumidification, 5) assists in keeping the cabin cool and dry to prevent driver fatigue and promote driver focus. Other than the inoperability of the HVAC system, no other signs or symptoms were present prior to the issue. I initially though this issue would be covered under Kia's HVAC Blower technical bulletin/warranty (WTY037) however the dealership has advised that the WTY037 only applies if the fuse is blown, not melted. This slight difference in melting vs. blowing should be an issue as the effect of the issue is the same, but components melting seems to be slightly more serious, but is not covered. Also, melting components, to me, could lead to fire hazards.

- Prince Frederick, MD, USA

problem #9

Jan 152025

K5

  • miles
All my lights on my dash keep lighting up for no reason. When I bought my car it did it and premier Kia said they fixed it but it keeps happening. We pay too much money for cars to act like this.

- Raceland, LA, USA

problem #8

Aug 082025

K5

  • miles
Blower motor failure, available for inspection upon request. The failure occurred while driving in muggy conditions, resulting in rapid fogging of the windshield and front side windows. With no functioning airflow, the vehicle-??s defrost/defog system was inoperable, and visibility through the windshield became significantly impaired. This required me to reduce speed and open windows in inclement weather to maintain a minimal view of the road, creating additional distraction and exposure to hazardous conditions. The blower motor produces no airflow at any fan speed setting. Failure was confirmed during inspection. No warning lights, messages, or other indicators appeared before, during, or after the failure. This is not an isolated incident. A brief search reveals numerous reports from Kia K5 owners describing the same sudden blower motor failure, indicating a likely systemic defect in the HVAC system design. Kia has not issued a recall, technical service bulletin, or other remedy despite repeated reports from vehicle owners. Kia-??s continued inaction in the face of widespread, well-documented blower motor failures represents a disregard for both driver safety and basic manufacturing responsibility. Numerous Kia K5 owners have already been victimized by this defect, and doubtlessly many more will be as long as these vehicles remain on the road unrepaired. The loss of climate control directly compromises a driver-??s ability to maintain a clear windshield, safely see the road, and operate the vehicle in adverse weather. These are not -??comfort-?? issues, they are safety-critical failures. By ignoring the mounting evidence and leaving affected vehicles on the road without a remedy, Kia is willfully allowing a known hazard to persist, exposing thousands of drivers and passengers to unnecessary and avoidable risk.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #7

May 072025

K5

  • miles
Driving this morning 5/7/2025 at 9:09am and smoke started emitting from the center consol accompanied by a burning smell. My husband noticed the smoke coming from the car charging area, it made a popping/poof sound accompanied with even more smoke. We immediately pulled the charger out of the charger port. My car charger was melted and slightly burned.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #6

Apr 182025

K5

  • miles
UNKNOWN. When the vehicle is turned on and parked with the vent opened letting outside air circulate into the cabin. there is a foul smell like coolant or engine fume that come with the air flow. I did change my air filter multiple times but the suffocating smell does not stop. it gives headaches. there are reddit threads on this issue with Kias. please take a look into it. thank you

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #5

Nov 152023

K5

  • miles
A/C has gone completely out on vehicle. Fuse has melted into fuse box and destroyed the electrical harness causing the blower motor and resistor to malfunction. Second time this incident has occurred and is a know problem to my local KIA dealership.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #4

May 012023

K5

  • miles
Within 2 months of buying the car, it has stalled in traffic twice with engine revving. During the first time, it was unnoticeable until my car did not react when pushing the gas pedal. The car stayed at a stop until I restarted it twice. Kia dealership was informed, however, they could not find an issue or code. Recently, the second time was different and more scary. It stalled once again and as soon as I noticed, my car would not accelerate and started rolling and revving with high rpms. I immediately put my hazards on in the middle of a 5 lane road in heavy traffic and was able to let the car roll into a parking lot. I left the car there, turned off, for 30 minutes before restarting it to have someone follow me back home. During this scary trip, the car shook violently and my foot was to the floor on the gas pedal and the car still would not accelerate unless on a slope. A five minute drive turned into a 25 minute trip while backing up traffic. (So, very high rpm-??s, slow to almost no acceleration, shaking and revving, NO engine light or warning lights triggered). Engine continued loud revving and moving idle in park that evening. Since then, car has been in mechanic once again with no solutions, codes, or lights to help the dealership figure out the issue because they say -??it-??s driving perfectly now-??. They are the only ones to inspect the vehicle each time.

- Greenville , NC, USA

problem #3

Mar 172022

K5

  • miles
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.

- Forest Park, IL, USA

problem #2

Nov 302022

K5

  • miles
On 11/24/22 my car would not start, and I kept getting a message to check ESC- electronic stability control. I pressed the ESC button on my dashboard but nothing changed. Eventually a relative jumped off the car, bypassing the warning, so I could drive home. The car started correctly the next day and for several days after. Then, on 11/28/22, I got the same warning, then the car would not start. This continued through 11/29/22 at which point I had the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. It's still there and I have not heard if this has been resolved. At one point the car also said no key detected, although the key was in my hand. Remote start would not work as well. The car has 5800 miles on it. I'm concerned that this could happen while driving the car.

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #1

Oct 202021

K5

  • miles
2022 Kia K5 remote control/entry/start key fob batteries continually dying every 2-3 weeks. Once key is dead, the driver is locked out of vehicle and cannot start it. Driver is getting stuck on the side of the road constantly, posing a severe safety hazard. If vehicle stalls, driver cannot restart the vehicle since keyt fob is dead. Vehicle could then be stuck on an active roadway without the ability to restart the vehicle. Kia cannot fix the issue and has refused to replace the failing vehicles.

- Woodstock, GA, USA