English translation of the original Korean report. Images and source documents may contain Korean text.

The owner of a 2022 Kia K5 Hybrid complained that jolts and warning light illumination repeatedly occurred while driving, and that symptoms reappeared even after parts replacement and the installation of a driving information recorder.

According to the automotive community Bobaedream on the 1st, Mr. A, who drives a K5 Hybrid (DL3), posted on the 31st of last month, revealing vehicle abnormalities and maintenance processes that have continued since November of last year. The post also included three YouTube videos showing driving scenes.

Mr. A wrote that after the engine RPM increased, a “thump” occurred in the car and the hybrid warning light came on, even though there was no external collision. He explained that this phenomenon occurred four or five times from November of last year until around April of this year.

He claimed that after the symptoms first appeared, the throttle body was replaced for a fee at AutoQ, but the warning reappeared. He then stated that he was told by a Kia service center that there was no error code, so it was normal, and that upper engine parts were also replaced free of charge.

As the symptoms continued even after that, a driving information recorder called a ‘D-Logger’ was installed at a Kia service center, and Mr. A explained that he was instructed to press a button if an abnormality occurred.

A D-Logger is a diagnostic device used to record operational information of various electronic control units and data related to abnormal symptoms that occur during vehicle operation, in order to analyze the cause of malfunctions. Mr. A stated that the symptoms did not appear for a while from around May of this year, but the same phenomenon recently recurred.

Mr. A stated that he commutes approximately 100 km round trip and uses the highway. He wrote, “My heart really tightens every time this happens,” expressing anxiety about the abnormalities while driving.

Comments included reactions that it would be difficult to find the cause of intermittently appearing symptoms, and concerns about whether maintenance could resolve the issue. There were also comments mentioning the possibility of a transmission abnormality, but no maintenance diagnostic results for the vehicle in question have been presented.

■ K5 Hybrid, Free Repair Due to Past BMS Configuration Error

The K5 Hybrid has a history of being included in free repair campaigns due to the possibility of warning light illumination and speed limitations while driving. Kia’s Battery Management System (BMS) free repair notice, released by the Korea Automobile Recall Center on November 28, 2023, states that 145,954 units across four models, including the K5, K8, Niro, and Sportage Hybrid, are subject to the recall.

The notice at the time explained that due to a BMS software configuration error, the hybrid system warning light could illuminate while driving, and the vehicle could enter a safe mode, limiting its speed to a maximum of 20 km/h. The affected production period for the K5 Hybrid is from December 2, 2019, to March 11, 2022.

Kia presented a BMS software update as the corrective action in its customer notification at the time. The free repair period stated in the notice was from November 29, 2023, to May 28 of this year. However, Mr. A’s post does not specify the exact production date of his vehicle or whether the update was performed, so it cannot be concluded that the current symptoms are the same issue as the past BMS configuration error.

Kia has disclosed a procedure on its official website for promptly responding to customer complaints received via its customer center, website, or mobile channels, by forwarding them to the relevant department and replying with the results to the customer. Subsequent steps include taking action on customer requests and reflecting them in management policies.

According to Kia’s semi-annual report this year, as of the end of June, the largest shareholder is Hyundai Motor Company, holding a 35.17% stake. Hyundai Motor Company’s largest shareholder is Hyundai Mobis, and Hyundai Mobis’s largest shareholder is Kia, forming a circular shareholding structure. Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, holds a 1.81% stake in Kia.