VehicleVerdict

2021 Kia K5 driver assistance problems

The 2021 Kia K5 has 22 driver assistance complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

22

Driver Assistance complaints

9%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Driver Assistance complaints by year

K5 driver assistance complaints by model year22 complaints2021: 22 complaints2022: 19 complaints2023: 10 complaints2024: 3 complaints2025: 4 complaints2026: 2 complaints
K5 driver assistance complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

21V447000Driver AssistanceJune 14, 2021 · 846 units

Defect

Kia 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.

Consequence

A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

What owners report

The contact owns a 2021 Kia K5. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 5-10 MPH and making a turn on a road with no lanes, the steering wheel inadvertently started shuddering and became rigid, causing the contact's daughter to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · November 12, 2021 · crash

Common questions

How many driver assistance complaints does the 2021 Kia K5 have?

NHTSA has 22 complaints about the 2021 Kia K5 driver assistance — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2021 Kia K5 driver assistance?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the driver assistance: 21V447000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.