Kia issues recall on more than 80,000 cars. Here's what Kia K5 owners should know.
Kia has issued a recall for more than 80,000 cars after discovering an issue with the vehicles' parking lights.
The vehicles' parking lights could have a software issue that causes them to flicker, potentially reducing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash, according to the recall notice.
Here's what to know.
The recall applies to about 82,000 Kia K5 cars in the 2025 model year, according to a recall notice submitted by the carmaker in late May and posted this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Impacted vehicles can have the issue remedied by an "over-the-air" software update, which can be downloaded directly to your Kia vehicle. Dealers can also fix the issue, the recall notice said.
Owners will be notified via letter beginning June 24. Customers can also contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 and mention the number for this recall, SC341.
Story continues after photo gallery.
The NHTSA recall database and USA TODAY's recall database for car and motor vehicle recalls are regularly updated with the latest status on recalls of vehicles, car parts or car accessories.
Car owners can check if their vehicles have been recalled by either searching their car's make or model in USA TODAY's recall database or looking it up on NHTSA's website.
The NHTSA website also allows you to search directly using your vehicle's license plate number or vehicle identification number. The site provides information about recalled car seats, tires and other equipment.
If Kia owners have any questions about the recall, they can reach out to Kia Customer Support or their local Kia dealership:
Ray Skillman Northeast Kia
Ray Skillman Kia West
Napleton Kia of Carmel
Ray Skillman Southside Kia
Napleton Kia of Fishers
Andy Mohr Kia in Avon
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Kia recall: What Kia K5 owners should know and how to fix the issue
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tesla robotaxi service reportedly launching next week in Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In less than a week, people might see Tesla robotaxis riding around Austin. The company reportedly planned to launch its autonomous vehicle ride hailing service Thursday, June 12. Still, a federal agency has several questions about the safety of the vehicles. Last month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk discussed plans with CNBC to launch the service in Austin. How is Austin working with Tesla on its robotaxi rollout? 'We want to deliberately take it slow,' Musk said. 'I mean, we could start with 1,000 [robotaxis] 10,000 on day one, but I don't think that would be prudent. So we will start with probably 10 for a week, then increase it to 20, 30, 40.' Musk himself mentioned testing already started. Just last week, he posted on X that, 'for the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no one in driver's seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents.' The service is reportedly already available for some employees. In April, Tesla's AI account posted a video on X claiming that 'supervised ride hailing service is live for an early set of employees in Austin and [the] San Francisco Bay Area.' Still, some questions remain unanswered. In a letter sent to Tesla in May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked the company to explain how it plans to operate safely. Questions focused on things like: Crash reporting Complying with traffic safey laws Automated responses to emergencies NHTSA asked how the robotaxis will safely operate in low-visibility, like sun glare, fog, rain or snow. Those conditions are tied to previous accidents involving the company's driver-assistance software. KXAN reached out to see if NHTSA heard back. The agency told us its investigation remains open and that Tesla's response must be submitted by June 19. NHTSA said any updates will be posted in the investigation file online. The letter said Tesla may be fined up to $27,874 per day if the agency does not receive a prompt response, with a maximum fine of $139,356,994. Back in December 2024, KXAN confirmed Tesla was in talks with the city of Austin over its autonomous vehicle technology. A spokesperson for the Transportation and Public Works Department said Tesla reached out to the city's autonomous vehicle task force. 'The City treats each AV company that expresses interest in Austin the same, offering training opportunities and providing uniform information,' the transportation spokesperson said in an email to KXAN. KXAN received an updated statement from the department regarding those discussions. We are working with Tesla, as we work with all AV companies looking to deploy in Austin. The city treats each AV company that expresses interest in Austin the same, offering training opportunities and providing information about City right-of-way and procedures. Additionally, Austin Police recently participated in a training with Tesla vehicles that was hosted by the Texas Department of Public Safety.' City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department KXAN reached out to Tesla directly for comment. We'll update this story if we get a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kia recalls over 80K vehicles over increased crash risk
(NewsNation) — Kia announced recalls on over 80,000 of its vehicles due to an increased crash risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted the recall, which was issued on May 28, stating that 'parking lights that fail to illuminate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.' The agency also said, 'Due to incorrect software in the Power-net Domain Controller (PDC), when the turn signal is activated while headlamps are activated in a steady burning state or while parking lamps are activated, the corresponding parking lamp does not illuminate in a steady burning manner.' In easier terms, the parking lights flicker. The issue can be fixed either by a Kia dealership or a software update that is downloaded to the vehicle, according to the notice. The recall affects 82,281 of the Kia K5 2025 models. The Kia K5 used to be called the Optima, and it was launched in South Korea in 2010. The 2025 model was revealed in the first half of 2024. Kia says it features 'refreshed exterior styling, updated lights, grills and fascia and a distinctive star map lighting design.' The NHTSA recall database is regularly updated with the status of recalls on car parts, car accessories, and vehicles. To check and see if your vehicle is involved in a recall, you can search the NHTSA's website. 1.7 million air conditioners recalled over mold growth When searching, you can put your vehicle's license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN) into the search bar. This will give you a more accurate idea of whether your vehicle is involved in a recall. One option you might have is downloading the 'over-the-air' software update offered by Kia. This software update can be downloaded directly to your vehicle. You can also visit a local Kia dealership to have the issue resolved. Jerky and snack sticks recalled nationwide If your vehicle is affected, you should receive a letter sometime after June 24. You can also contact Kia's customer service line at 1-800-333-4542 and use the recall number (SC341) for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Motor 1
13 hours ago
- Motor 1
Kia Mechanic Says Even a 5-Year-Old Can Fix This Common Issue
A mechanic showed off an easy fix for car door clicking noises in a viral social media post. The expert, Menji ( @menjicar ), even went so far as to say that the solution is so simple, "even a five-year-old' could solve the problem by simply inspecting the vehicle. He explained how one can go about solving this issue themselves in a viral TikTok that's accrued more than 31,000 views. At the start of the video, Menji records himself standing beside the open driver's side door of a Kia. He repeatedly opens and closes it so that it swivels on its hinges—but not so that it closes all the way. As he does so, a slight clicking sound can be heard emitting from the area. He narrates, 'So this grown adult man brings me his car because his door is making noise, as we can hear.' Following this, the video then transitions to another angle of the door. This gives viewers a clear image of the hinges securing it to the car. Menji pushes the door open, and as he does so, the accompanying clicking sounds off yet again. 'The main concern, the noise in the door.' Although the driver brought the vehicle to Menji to get this problem fixed, the mechanic didn't believe this was necessary. According to him, a kindergartner would be able to locate the source of this problem and remedy it. Clicking Doors Be Gone 'The thing is I think even a five-year-old could fix this.' As he makes this claim, he focuses the camera lens on the middle hinge apparatus. Plainly in the line of sight behind one of these pivot points is a plastic wiring harness wrap. Additionally, there is a smear of a white substance on the piece of metal connecting the hinge to the door, which is secured by a bolt. As Menji opens the door, that bit of metal moves ever so slightly away from the bolt. This indicates that the hinge isn't affixed tightly enough to the bolt, which only requires a quick tightening from a wrench or socket bit to fix. The TikToker explains this common issue, which will effectively get rid of the bothersome clicking noise. 'Because as we open up the door we can see right there. Something is not right. You guys let me know if you can see what is wrong with it just by looking at it. Somebody tried putting some grease on this thing,' he adds. That explains the white streaks along the hinge mechanism. However, this wouldn't solve the real issue at hand. 'The main issue is that the bolt is actually loose, as we can see this thing moves way too much,' the mechanic reveals. Bolt, Meet Drill Following this, Menji's video cuts to him holding a drill fitted with the corresponding socket bit. 'All we need to do is just tighten this thing down,' he adds. He places the bit over the bolt, and it fits perfectly. Next, he pulls the trigger on the drill, which engages it, securing the fastener deep into the car. Thus, removing the excess wiggle room of the hinge. He demonstrates the successful fix on camera. Due to the simplicity of the fix, he told users on camera that he was conflicted about accepting payment. 'And just like that, the noise is gone… Now I'm not even sure I should charge for something like this. But let me know what you guys think. But that's a fix.' Other Door-Clicking Woes According to Testing Autos , door-clicking is a common complaint among many drivers. The car care-centric website points to the components highlighted in Menji's video as the culprit behind these sounds. Oftentimes, one or all three bolts that secure the pivot pin to the car and its door are the source of this issue. These components make up the 'door check strap or arm.' It can also be referred to as a 'door check' as well. And that's because this pivot point is responsible for regulating the movement of a door. This ensures that the door doesn't swing out too far, but gives passengers enough clearance to freely exit and enter the vehicle. Furthermore, just as was the case in Menji's TikTok, Testing Autos says that the same door bolt is the one usually responsible for these popping or clicking noises. In most cases, ensuring that these bolts are torqued to spec will be enough to get rid of this annoying sound. Moreover, the outlet writes that mechanics can do this for you when you bring your car in for service. Because of the fix's simplicity, Testing Autos also writes that this procedure is usually offered free of charge. Bigger Door Problems Conversely, if your door's making clicking noises and the pivot point appears rusted, bolt tightening may not cut it. That's because the hinge mechanism on the vehicle itself may be impaired and will require a replacement. Loose pivot pins can also result in a constant clicking noise whenever you open and close a car door. And then there's wear-and-tear on the door strap itself. In all of these cases, part replacements are required. Thankfully, the cost of these components isn't exorbitant: Testing Autos writes that 'aftermarket door check arm[s] will cost $20 to $35.' Additionally, swapping these parts out isn't a labor-intensive process. Most mechanics should be able to get the job done between 30 and 60 minutes. In some cases, popping door noises can be fixed with lubrication. Although the outlet does state that this fix can only go so far. Door check straps do need to be lubricated periodically, but in many cases, once a door starts noticeably clicking, bolts are usually the prime suspects. Commenters React Folks who responded to Menji's video had various thoughts on the fix. A number of people said they would gladly charge the client for remedying the problem. That's because they're taking time to look into the matter for someone else. 'I always charge $50 an hour. They are paying for being able to fix the car. Not how simple the repair is,' one penned. Someone else said that it's because of simple fixes like these that they always inspect problems with their cars first. 'That's why I always check if I can fix it before I send it in like bro,' they wrote. But others thought it would be better business for Menji to just fix the door for free. 'Don't ask anything, be honest, and you have a new long-time client,' one said. Another echoed the aforementioned sentiment. However, they wrote that a nominal fee would be fair as well: '10-20 is fair. It just needed to be tightened. I think doing it for free would make them think of you first for their next repair.' However, there was someone who appeared to take umbrage with the fact that Menji thought a child could fix the issue. 'That grown adult man is paying you to fix it. You don't have to put him down. Not all of us want to look up manuals or videos on how to fix it,' they wrote. Motor1 has reached out to Kia and Menji via email for further comment. We'll be sure to update this article if we hear back. Now Trending 'The Best Or Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done': Woman Buys $500 Toyota Tacoma. Then She Takes It Off-Roading Watch the Electric BMW M3 (Silently) Lap the Nürburgring Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
