TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 20, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) did receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of Kia vehicle
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Kia K5 body problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Kia K5 have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 K5 (this page) | 9 |
| 2022 K5 | 6 |
| 2023 K5 | 12 |
| 2024 K5 | 6 |
| 2025 K5 | 3 |
Among the 5 model years of Kia K5 in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 20, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whole Integrated Body control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) did receive the Ant-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of Kia vehicles
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 19, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) did receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of Kia vehicles, a protective cover will be permanently affixed to the ignition cylinder. This Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector prevents the removal of the
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: FUEL FILLER DOOR HOUSING/ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the fuel filler door housing and actuator assembly on some 2021-2022MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles produced from March 24, 2020 through August 11, 2021 which may have fuel doors that exhibit an inability to open/close or intermittent lock/unlock concerns due to trapped moisture in the fuel door actuator. During normal operation, moisture may become trapped in the affected vehicle’s fuel filler door housing. Trapped moisture/water may enter the fuel door actuator, preventing the actuator operating normally. The new fuel door housing replacement part features a drainage p
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PITSTOP: APPEARANCE OF WATER LEAK AND/OR CONDENSATION IN REAR CENTER COMBINATION LAMP - This Pitstop provides clarification on what appears to be a water leak and/or condensation in the rear center combination lamp assembly on some 2021MY~ K5 (DL3a) vehicles. The top area of the rear center combination lamp assembly can have the appearance of condensation behind the lens. This is a normal condition for water and/or condensation to be present above the sonic weld line. As the weld forms a lip along the top of the rear combination lamp, water may enter the back side of the lens but does not actually enter the inside of the lamp housing. Replacement of the rear center combination lamp is not ne
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2021 Kia K5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 9 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 3,285 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.