Used car safety, rank #172 of 188
Kia K5 Safety Rating (2021-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2021-23 Kia K5, a midsize car, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2021-23 Kia K5 has an IIHS driver death rate of 94 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize cars average of 67, which is 40% above the class average. That places it #172 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 12.0/100.
What the Kia K5 death rate means
At 94 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Kia K5 is 40% worse than the midsize cars average of 67. The 95% confidence interval is 61 to 127, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 83 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Kia K5. Its 95% confidence interval is 54β111. It is no higher than the Kia K5's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest midsize cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Kia K5 highlighted. It ranks 6 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota Camry 4WD at a death rate of 15.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry 4WD | 2020-23 | 15 (0 to 35) | 62.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Subaru Legacy | 2020-23 | 37 (12 to 61) | 30.7 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry hybrid | 2020-23 | 51 (26 to 75) | 22.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry 2WD | 2020-23 | 61 (50 to 73) | 18.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2020-23 | 83 (58 to 108) | 14.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia K5 (this page) | 2021-23 | 94 (61 to 127) | 12.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Altima | 2021-23 | 105 (72 to 138) | 11.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Nissan Maxima | 2020-23 | 105 (47 to 163) | 11.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2023 | 116 (39 to 194) | 10.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize cars: 67 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Kia K5
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Kia K5 we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kia K5 | No award | 40.3 (provisional) |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 12.0 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Kia K5
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
4 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering fuel system, gasoline, structure, air bags, power train.
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Fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the check valve. The fuel tank will be inspected for damage and replaced as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge.
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Structure: body, roof and pillars
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.
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Air bags: side/window, curtain
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission
Risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Kia K5: Common Questions
Is the Kia K5 a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 94 per million registered vehicle years for the 2021-23 Kia K5, 40% above the class average (67 for midsize cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 12.0 out of 100 and rank #172 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Kia K5 driver death rate?
94 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 61 to 127. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Kia K5 died at a rate of 83 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2021-23 models.
How does the Kia K5 compare with other midsize cars?
The midsize cars class averages 67 driver deaths per million; the Kia K5 sits at 94. Among the 9 midsize cars compared above it ranks 6 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota Camry 4WD with a death rate of 15.