Kia Popular Sedan Faces Issues With Loose Trim Pieces
Kia has issued a voluntary recall for the recently updated K5 sedan after receiving thousands of reports about trim pieces detaching from the vehicle.
The Kia K5, which took over from the Kia Optima as the brand’s midsize sedan, has been a strong player in the US market since its 2021 debut, thanks to steady sales and a wide range of trims. However, recent models from 2023 onward are now subject to a recall due to exterior trim pieces that may detach while driving. This issue affects over 100,000 vehicles and poses a potential safety risk to other drivers on the road.
How Many Cars Were Recalled?
The recent recall affects 100,063 Kia K5 sedans from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 model years, built between October 3, 2022, and July 24, 2024, according to NHTSA records. It’s estimated that about 5% of these vehicles experience the defect where exterior trim pieces fall off. Specifically, the recall points to an issue with the C-pillar garnish faceplate, which can gradually delaminate and loosen from the base molding.
Supplier Blamed
The recall notice points to a supplier quality issue rather than a direct manufacturing fault by Kia. Specifically, the problem stems from an “insufficient application of the adhesive layer between the garnish faceplate and base of the molding” by the supplier. The supplier identified is Keumgang Chemical, based in South Korea, while the final assembly of the K5 takes place in the United States. This explains why the affected C-pillar panel isn’t related to any of the K5’s design updates over the years, indicating that the issue is not due to recent changes. The 2025 K5 models started production with only minor updates.
Kia Already Has a Fix Ready
Although the issue isn’t covered under Kia’s standard warranty, the company will replace the affected panels free of charge for any vehicle brought in for repair. The updated panels feature a mechanical attachment along with improved adhesive to prevent future problems. Starting with 2025 K5 models produced after July 25, 2024, the new panel design is already in place. Owners are expected to receive notification by mail and will be advised to visit a dealership for the fix, likely by the end of September. Additionally, vehicle owners will be able to check if their car is affected by searching their VIN once Kia submits the data to NHTSA by August 11.
Timeline of the Issue
According to NHTSA’s report, Kia first became aware of a potential problem with the K5’s C-pillar panels on November 7, 2023, when it initiated a related service action. In May 2025, NHTSA notified Kia about four complaints concerning the issue. In response, Kia provided evidence suggesting that the risk to other road users if the trim piece detaches is minimal.
The report states, “Evaluation identifies that if the faceplate detaches from the C-pillar garnish assembly, it falls quickly to the ground, does not bounce, and lays flat. Kia NA Safety Office reviews and determines this issue does not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety due to the weight, size, and behavior of the faceplate if it falls.”
However, by July, Kia recognized the standard industry practice of recalling and replacing loose or falling exterior parts and launched a more thorough investigation. The company identified 4,082 unique reports of potentially missing C-pillar garnish faceplates on the K5. Consequently, Kia decided to issue the recall on July 21. To date, Kia is not aware of any crashes or injuries linked to this issue.
