Kia will update software via OTA upgrades to resolve the issue.
The EV5 is Kia’s first global electric SUV to debut in China.
(A Kia EV5 on display at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2024. Image credit: CnEVPost)
South Korean automaker Kia is recalling its EV5 electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in the Chinese market due to instrument panel display issues that pose potential safety risks.
Kia is recalling a total of 381 EV5 electric vehicles produced between August 15, 2025, and October 24, 2025, starting from April 7, according to a Tuesday statement on the website of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation.
Abnormal signals from the power management integrated circuit within the vehicle’s instrument controller could cause the display to lag, the statement said.
When the turn signals are activated, the rear-side interface of the instrument display may experience glitches such as a green screen, posing a safety hazard, according to the statement.
Kia’s joint venture in China will provide free software updates for the affected vehicles through over-the-air (OTA) technology.
For vehicles that cannot be updated via OTA, Kia will invite relevant owners through authorized dealers to carry out the recall and eliminate the safety risks.
Kia launched the EV5 in November 2023, marking its first pure electric SUV to debut in China for the global market. The model currently has a starting price of 149,800 yuan ($21,800) in China.
South Korean automakers, including Kia, have become increasingly marginalized in China’s highly competitive auto market.
Cumulative sales of the Kia EV5 in China totaled just 572 units for the full year of 2025, according to local media reports.
Affected models include domestically produced and imported 5 Series, 7 Series, and M5.
($1 = 6.8751 yuan)
