# Kia K5 battery warning light: complaints, recalls and what to do **Verdict:** Drive to a shop this week - **Owner complaints:** 26 - **Most complaints:** 2015 (18) - **Related recalls:** 0 - **Verdict:** This week ## Quick answer NHTSA has 26 owner complaints about the battery warning light on the Kia K5 (2015-2026 models), most for the **2015** model year (18). No recall covers the parts behind this light, so a repair is usually at the owner's cost. Drive to a shop this week: You can usually drive a short distance, often 30 minutes or less, before the battery runs down and the car stalls. ## Kia K5 battery warning light complaints by model year | Model year | Complaints mentioning the battery light | All complaints that year | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2015 | 18 | 1010 | 2% | | 2016 | 4 | 760 | 1% | | 2017 | 3 | 257 | 1% | | 2018 | 1 | 233 | 0% | Counts are complaints filed with NHTSA whose description mentions this light. They show where owners have had trouble, not a failure rate: popular years collect more complaints simply because more cars are on the road. ## Is there a recall for the Kia K5 battery warning light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. The Kia K5 has 19 recalls for other parts in 2015-2026; see the [Kia K5 page](/vehicles/kia-k5) or check your VIN at [nhtsa.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). ## What Kia K5 owners report - "Multiple warning lights came on at the same time including the oil light, battery light, and check engine light. I had no acceleration and the brakes became very hard to press. The vehicle had to be towed for safety reasons. The Kia dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed internal engine failure due to..." -- owner of a 2018 Kia K5, complaint filed 2025 - "Once it shut off the low oil light came on along with the check engine light and the low battery light as well. After that the car went completely dead. I turned the key to the off position and then tiredness it back on with with no problem. For my car to shut off while driving on a major street causes major..." -- owner of a 2017 Kia K5, complaint filed 2019 - "Oil light, engine light and battery light all came on. We turned on hazard lights and pulled off the freeway onto the off-ramp. As we stopped at the light the car completely died in traffic. Smoke was coming from the hood and the car wouldn't no longer start. We were in traffic and had to wait for help to get our..." -- owner of a 2016 Kia K5, complaint filed 2024 Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly cleaned for reading. They are owners' own accounts and have not been verified. ## What the battery warning light means The battery light means the charging system is not keeping the battery charged, and most often the alternator or the belt that drives it has failed. The car is running on stored battery power and may only go another 30 minutes or less before it stalls. If the temperature gauge also rises or steering gets heavy, the drive belt has likely broken and you should stop right away. The most common causes, on any make: 1. **Failing alternator** (most common) 2. **Broken or slipping serpentine belt** (common) 3. **Loose or corroded battery cables** (common) 4. **Failing battery** (less common) Full causes, what to do and how to reset it: [Battery (charging system) warning light](/warning-lights/battery). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a recall for the Kia K5 battery light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. A repair is usually at the owner's cost unless the car is under warranty. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, since new recalls are added often. ### Which Kia K5 years have the most battery light complaints? In NHTSA's database the 2015, 2016 and 2017 K5 model years have the most complaints mentioning the battery warning light, with 18 for 2015. Complaint counts reflect how many cars were sold as well as how often problems happen. ### Is it safe to drive a Kia K5 with the battery light on? Drive to a shop this week. You can usually drive a short distance, often 30 minutes or less, before the battery runs down and the car stalls. Stop driving right away if the temperature gauge rises, the steering gets heavy, or you smell burning rubber. ### How do I check if my Kia K5 has an open recall? Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Kia dealer. Open recalls are fixed free of charge, even if you are not the first owner. ## Sources - [NHTSA: Vehicle safety complaints and recalls (api.nhtsa.gov)](https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis) - [NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) ## Other Kia K5 warning lights - [ABS warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/kia-k5): 29 complaints - [Airbag (SRS) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/kia-k5): 25 complaints - [Brake warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/kia-k5): 23 complaints - [Check engine light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/check-engine/kia-k5): 518 complaints - [Coolant temperature warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/kia-k5): 36 complaints - [Oil pressure warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/oil-pressure/kia-k5): 159 complaints - [Power steering warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/power-steering/kia-k5): 52 complaints - [Tire pressure (TPMS) light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/kia-k5): 12 complaints - [Traction control light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/traction-control/kia-k5): 36 complaints ## Battery (charging system) warning light on other models - [Jeep Cherokee](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/jeep-cherokee): 144 complaints - [Honda Odyssey](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/honda-odyssey): 45 complaints - [Kia Soul](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/kia-soul): 34 complaints - [Jeep Wrangler](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/jeep-wrangler): 33 complaints - [Chrysler Pacifica](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/chrysler-pacifica): 32 complaints - [Honda Pilot](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/honda-pilot): 32 complaints - [Hyundai Sonata](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/hyundai-sonata): 31 complaints - [Kia Sorento](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/kia-sorento): 29 complaints - [Ford Escape](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/ford-escape): 27 complaints - [Hyundai Elantra](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/hyundai-elantra): 26 complaints ## Kia K5 - [Kia K5 specs and mpg by year](https://diagxcar.com/vehicles/kia-k5) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/kia-k5 Updated: 2026-11-04 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.