2021-2023 Kia K5 Curtain Air Bag Recall (23V149)
Kia America, Inc. · 188,912 vehicles · Reported March 7, 2023
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 188,912 2021-2023 Kia K5 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V149 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V149000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC263 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 7, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Kia K5 |
| Units affected | 188,912 |
| Component | Air Bags > Side / Window > Curtain |
| Safety risk | Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Kia K5 in recall 23V149?
The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 K5 with recall 23V149?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your K5 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the curtain, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V149?
Recall 23V149 covers 188,912 vehicles: 2021-2023 Kia K5.
NHTSA lists 188,912 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Kia | K5 |
What is the fix for the K5 curtain air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 23V149 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 23V149 to NHTSA on March 7, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 7, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 7, 2023 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V149000. |
| April 7, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 43 months ago. If your K5 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my K5 is part of recall 23V149?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V149 is open on your K5, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V149000 is open on your K5, it will be listed there, along with Kia recall number SC263. You can also ask any Kia dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should K5 owners do about recall 23V149?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V149000 applies to your K5.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the curtain happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are K5 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 401 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 23 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 23V149 was reported on March 7, 2023, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after March 7, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 401 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 23 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Kia K5: 167 complaints in total, 10 about the air bags
- 2022 Kia K5: 127 complaints in total, 9 about the air bags
- 2023 Kia K5: 107 complaints in total, 4 about the air bags
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
I was involved in a head on collision, all of my safety warning notified me but my airbags NEVER deployed. This is a serious safety hazard especially with many problems being reported with airbag deployment.
2023 Kia K5 owner, AR, NHTSA complaint 11650047, filed March 24, 2025
the vehicle failed the fuel tank Inspection recall.I have a tech line case open :Case number 25408405 . It has been 46 days since the vehicle has been at the dealership waiting for information from Kia USA .
2023 Kia K5 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11685580, filed September 7, 2025
I was involved in a traffic accident on May 29 2023. I was hit on the passenger side sustaining $18,000 in damages. My side air bag never went off.
2023 Kia K5 owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11526279, filed June 9, 2023
Can recall 23V149 make my K5 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this curtain recall means their K5 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2023 Kia K5 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your K5 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia K5 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V149
Did the recall 23V149 fix work?
Since recall 23V149 was reported on March 7, 2023, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed April 7, 2023.
Is the 23V149000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my K5 is part of recall 23V149000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V149000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.