2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Kia K5
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Hyundai Sonata | 2021 Kia K5 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 131 | 165 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 88 | 134 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 27–47 | 27–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 38,000 mi | 56,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Sonata | Kia K5 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 34 | 29 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 20 | 42 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 45 |
| Power Train | 24 | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 13 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 10 |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 13 | 22 |
| Loss of power | 9 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 6 |
| Overheating | 6 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Stalling | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 7 |
2021 Hyundai Sonata
2021 Kia K5
Compare all Hyundai Sonata vs Kia K5 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.