More than 100,000 K5 sedans are being recalled over trim pieces that can detach while driving
- Kia initially dismissed the issue as minor but later found over 4,000 related cases.
- NHTSA investigated after receiving reports of missing trim pieces falling from cars.
- Dealers will inspect and install upgraded components with improved retention.
While Ford continues to dominate the recall charts by a wide margin, they’re far from alone in dealing with automotive headaches. Over at Kia, a new recall points to a surprisingly basic issue, some K5 sedans are quite literally shedding parts.
The recall impacts 100,063 sedans from the 2023 to 2025 model years, and the government says they have trim pieces that may loosen and detach. This creates a road hazard for other drivers, which increases the risk of a crash.
Thousands of Missing Trim Pieces Spark Investigation
Kia became aware of the issue in 2023 and issued a service action to address potential delamination of the C-pillar garnish face plate. Fast forward to 2025 and the National Highway Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation reached out to the automaker after receiving four reports of trim detachment.
More: 2025 Kia K5 Gets A Price Hike To Accompany Its Fresh Looks
Kia looked into the matter and believed it wasn’t a significant problem as the face plate detaches, falls to the ground, and lays flat. Given this, they felt the “issue does not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety due to the weight, size, and behavior of the face plate if it falls.”
Regulators Push Back, Forcing a Second Look
The government wasn’t having it and pointed to other recalls involving trim detachments. Kia decided to reassess the issue and discovered a whopping 4,082 reports of missing C-pillar garnish face plates. They then decided to conduct a recall.
The safety recall report says the issue was traced back to an insufficient application of an adhesive layer. This means the face plate may progressively delaminate and become loose, before eventually falling off. Since this doesn’t happen overnight, owners may notice the loose piece or hear a rattle while driving.
To address the problem, dealers will inspect and replace the C-pillar trim assemblies as necessary. The new components are more advanced and have a garnish assembly that combines an adhesive layer with some form of mechanical retention.
Owner notifications are scheduled to go out in September. In the meantime, it might be worth checking those C-pillars, you know, just in case something’s already missing.
