Showing the 2025 K5 GT-Line. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 2.5 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
27–30 mpgcombined; city 23–26, highway 33–37; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,830–$12,030U.S. average; Ohio $9,680–$10,750 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2025 K5. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 K5. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Tires
15
0
0
0
Electrical system
11
0
0
0
Power train
6
0
0
2
Unknown or other
6
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
5
0
0
0
Structure
5
2
0
1
Wheels
5
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
4
0
0
0
Air bags
3
2
0
1
Engine
3
1
0
3
Forward collision avoidance
3
0
0
0
Service brakes
2
0
0
0
6 more parts
Vehicle speed control
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
1
1
0
3
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2025 K5 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 K5 vehicles. The left and right rear window trim pieces may loosen and detach.
Risk: Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Kia's number for this recall is SC346.
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 Equipment."
Risk: Parking lights that fail to illuminate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Kia's number for this recall is SC341.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 27 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2025 K5, the latest on Jun 18, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (18), power train (8), air bags (2), back over prevention (1), engine (1).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2025 K5.
EPA class: large cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
K5 Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S8)
Regular Gasoline
26 / 37 / 30
K5 Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S8)
Regular Gasoline
25 / 36 / 29
K5 All-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S8)
Regular Gasoline
24 / 33 / 27
K5 Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S8)
Regular Gasoline
23 / 33 / 27
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data