Kia 2021 K5 Air Bags May Not Deploy Properly in Crash
Kia recalls certain 2021-2023 K5 vehicles where side curtain air bags may not deploy correctly during crashes, requiring free repairs by dealers.
Use caution until it’s fixed
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Contact the company
What happened, in plain English
Kia is recalling some 2021-2023 K5 vehicles because side curtain air bags might not deploy properly in a crash. This could increase injury risk if the air bags fail to protect during an impact. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/80549-kia-2021-k5-air-bags-may-not-deploy-properly-in.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/80549-kia-2021-k5-air-bags-may-not-deploy-properly-in · Updated October 4, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #23V149000
Cite this page
“Kia 2021 K5 Air Bags May Not Deploy Properly in Crash.” GovInfoNow, updated October 4, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/80549-kia-2021-k5-air-bags-may-not-deploy-properly-in. Based on NHTSA recall #23V149000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=23V149000).
Why it’s dangerous
Side curtain air bags are designed to protect occupants during crashes. If installed incorrectly, they may not deploy as intended, leaving people unprotected in a collision.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2021-2023 Kia K5 vehicles are affected. Drivers and passengers in these vehicles are most at risk if the air bags don't deploy during a crash.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your vehicle is a 2021-2023 Kia K5. The recall was notified to owners via mail starting April 7, 2023.
- Brand
Kia- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Kia Customer Service
Call 1-800-333-4542 to get details about the repair.
Get Air Bag Inspection
Dealers will inspect and reinstall side curtain air bags if needed at no cost.
What NHTSA says to do
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC263.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 3 months.
- Owner letters mailed
- NHTSA received the defect report
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Contact Kia
We’ve drafted a message you can send Kia to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 23V149000 — Kia 2021 K5 Air Bags May Not Deploy Properly in Crash Hello, I own a Kia 2021 K5 Air Bags May Not Deploy Properly in Crash that is covered by recall 23V149000 from Kia. The official recall notice states: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC263. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
Keep exploring
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #23V149000 (July 3, 2023)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 4, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.