KiaK52025Overview/kia/k5/2025/base/

2025 Kia K5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2025 K5.

Transmission Automatic (AM-S8)

The 2025 Kia K5 delivers an EPA rating of 23 city, 33 highway and 27 combined mpg through an eight‑speed automatic (AM‑S8) transmission. Owner‑reported complaints for the model year total 45, with tires the leading issue and two recalls recorded. Across the 20212026 window complaint volumes peaked at 154 in 2021 and dropped to 10 in 2026, placing the 2025 year well below the early peak and above the recent low. This positions the 2025 K5 within a clear downward trend in reported problems, indicating continued reliability improvement for the nameplate.

Model year20262025202320222021

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy23/33/27 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.9 in
Overall width73.2 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight3455 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 64.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 33 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume105 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the K5 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.6–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.60 sec — 2025 EX Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2025EX Sedan 2.5L I-47.60 sec15.70 sec191 hpFWD
2025GT-Line Sedan 2.5L I-48.30 sec16.30 secAWD
2021GT Sedan 2.5L Turbo I-45.20 sec13.70 sec290 hpFWD
2021GT Sedan 2.5L Turbo I-45.40 sec14.00 sec290 hpFWD
2021GT-Line Sedan 1.6L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.50 sec180 hpFWD
2021GT-Line Sedan 1.6L Turbo I-47.40 sec15.70 sec180 hpAWD
2021EX Sedan 1.6L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.00 sec180 hpFWD
2021EX Sedan 1.6L Turbo I-47.90 sec16.10 sec180 hpFWD

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 96,000 mi; coolant every 24,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 24,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 8,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect) · Intercooler (inspect)
Every 8,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 16,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 24,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 32,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 48,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 48,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
Every 96,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The Kia K5 generation shows a general downward trend in complaints and technical service bulletins, decreasing from 154 complaints and 134 TSBs in 2021 to 27 complaints and 44 TSBs by 2024. The 2025 model year represents a slight uptick in this arc with 45 complaints, though TSBs continued to decline to 27. For 2025, the most frequent complaint areas are tires (10) and the power train (5), although the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. This year maintains a low recall count of two, consistent with 2024, and reports four crash complaints and zero fire complaints. Given the significant overall reduction in recalls and TSBs compared to the start of the generation, the 2025 Kia K5 is a good year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
27
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
45
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 45 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Tires10
Power Train5
Unknown Or Other4
Wheels2
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Visibility/Wiper2
Structure2
Visibility/Wiper2
Electrical System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

25V351000Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:SoftwareReported 27/05/2025

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… 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…

25V493000Structure:Body:Roof And PillarsReported 28/07/2025

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 27 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
OTA_ELE413_NOTES_R22026-06-17Electrical SystemRELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2)…
TSB_ELE4192026-06-02Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: BATTERY WIRING HARNESS COVERING INSPECTION /…
TSB_ELE4222026-05-27Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM…
OTA_ELE413_NOTES_R12026-04-24Electrical SystemRELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 1)…
SC363_TSB2026-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OIL LEVEL PLUG (OLP) INSPECTION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific K5. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2025 K5 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the K5 get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 33 highway / 27 combined mpg.