TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - 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 relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2023 Kia K5 powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2023 Kia K5 have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 K5 | 15 |
| 2022 K5 | 18 |
| 2023 K5 (this page) | 11 |
| 2024 K5 | 3 |
| 2025 K5 | 6 |
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Kia K5 in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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: 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION EOP SENSORLESS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - 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 improve the Electric Oil Pump ‘EOP’ operation logic of the automatic transmission ‘A/T’ on some 2021-2023MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced from September 9, 2020 through December 29, 2023 and 2021-2023MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles produced from March 24, 2020 to December 18, 2023, equipped with a 2.5L T-GDI Theta III engines and 8-Speed Dual Clutch Transmissions (DCT). The affected vehicles may exhibit abnormal/hars
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION EOP SENSORLESS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - 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 improve the Electric Oil Pump ‘EOP’ operation logic of the automatic transmission 'A/T’ on some 2021-2023MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced from September 9, 2020 through December 29, 2023 and 2021-2023MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles produced from March 24, 2020 to December 18, 2023, equipped with a 2.5L T-GDI Theta III engines and 8-Speed Dual Clutch Transmissions (DCT). The affected vehicles may exhibit abnormal/hars
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION EOP SENSORLESS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information to improve the Electric Oil Pump ‘EOP’ operation logic of the automatic transmission ‘A/T’ on some 2021-2023MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced from September 9, 2020 through December 29, 2023 and 2021-2023MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles produced from March 24, 2020 to December 18, 2023, equipped with a 2.5L T-GDI Theta III engines and 8-Speed Dual Clutch Transmissions (DCT).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report three main powertrain problems on the 2023 Kia K5.
Oil drain plug failures occur within days of oil service, with at least one owner experiencing the issue twice at different dealerships, resulting in complete oil loss and engine stalling. The owner reports the drain plug fell out and had to be replaced both times, with no dealer action taken despite the recurrence.
Complete power loss at highway speeds has struck multiple owners six times or more per vehicle, with all warning lamps and dashboard flickering occurring simultaneously. The car enters limp-home mode, drops power with no warning, and power returns only after shutting down and restarting. Owners suspect this matches a known Kia recall (SC250) but report their VINs are excluded from the recall, though the symptoms appear identical. Dealers repeatedly refuse to repair the issue, stating they cannot replicate it.
Transmission shuddering, jerking, and loss of acceleration occur unpredictably at various speeds and mileages. Some owners must floor the gas to regain power; others report rough shifting, grinding, or the transmission slipping into neutral while driving. Check engine lights appear for misfire codes and transmission codes. One owner's transmission required full replacement but the issue persisted afterward. Dealers often cannot replicate the problem during inspection.
A separate tire-lock incident at highway speed (AWD coupler failure) was warranty-covered.
Same Kia K5 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Oil Drain Plug Failure
Oil drain plug falls out days after oil service, causing complete oil loss and engine stalling. Owner reports occurrence twice at different Kia dealerships despite warning dealer about the first incident.
When: Within days of oil change service; first incident after 2022 service, second incident after later service
Symptoms owners cite: Drain plug falls out of oil pan; Complete loss of engine oil; Engine stalls/dies
Repairs/costs cited: New drain plug and oil added at Express Oil Change facility (owner paid out-of-pocket); dealership replaced drain plug again on second occurrence without investigating root cause
Complete Power Loss at Highway Speed (Limp Mode)
Vehicle loses all propulsion and enters limp-home mode without warning at highway speeds, with all dashboard warning lamps illuminating simultaneously. Issue occurs randomly and repeatedly (six times reported in one vehicle). Owners believe symptoms match recall SC250 but their VINs are excluded from the recall.
When: Random occurrences at highway speeds; one owner reports six instances since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine propulsion; Vehicle enters limp-home mode; All dashboard warning lamps illuminate; Dashboard flickers; No prior warning before power loss
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealers refuse to repair, stating 'cannot fix it unless we can reproduce it'; issue cannot be reproduced at service center
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Suspected match to recall SC250; owner VINs excluded from recall despite matching symptoms
Transmission Shuddering and Loss of Acceleration
Transmission shudders, jerks, and hesitates during gear changes or cruising at various speeds. Vehicle may not accelerate unless driver floors the gas pedal. Check engine lights appear for misfire and transmission-related codes. One vehicle required full transmission replacement but issue persisted.
When: Various mileages: 5k miles, 16k miles, 19k miles, 26k miles, 34k miles, 70 MPH cruising speed
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering or jerking during gear transitions; Hesitation on acceleration; Rough or no acceleration requiring floored pedal; Vehicle shakes at idle and while driving; Rough shifting between gears; RPM increase without corresponding acceleration; Transmission reportedly slips into neutral while driving
Codes mentioned: Misfire cylinder 3, Transmission-related fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate issue; one transmission replaced by Kia warranty but failure persisted; another transmission replacement approved and pending
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage for transmission replacement approved; manufacturer notified of persistent failures
AWD Coupler Failure
Rear tire locks up at highway speed causing temporary loss of vehicle control. Grinding noise heard after the incident. Dealership diagnosed failed AWD coupler.
When: 70 MPH highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Right rear tire locked up temporarily; Loss of vehicle control (moved across three lanes); Grinding noise from drivetrain
Repairs/costs cited: Warranty coverage confirmed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty repair covered
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I’m loosing power when i drive
Had powertrain trouble with your 2023 Kia K5?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2023 Kia K5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 26,000 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2023/Kia/K5.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.