Kia America has recalled 82,281 of its 2025 K5 cars due to a software problem that affects the parking lights. The issue can cause these lights to flicker or not stay steadily lit when drivers use their turn signals.
The software glitch stems from an unusual source – turn signal programming meant for cars in Korea was accidentally loaded onto vehicles made for the United States. This mistake means the cars don’t meet U.S. safety rules.
“The parking light flickering reduces visibility and increases crash risk,” according to safety officials. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has assigned this recall number 25V351000.
Car owners won’t have to pay to fix the problem. Kia plans to update the software in the Power-net Domain Controller (PDC), which controls the car’s electrical systems. Drivers have two options to get this update:
- Download an “over-the-air” update directly to their vehicle
- Visit a Kia dealership where staff will install the update
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Kia will start sending letters to affected car owners by June 24, 2025. Owners who have questions can call Kia’s customer service at 1-800-333-4542 and mention recall number SC341.

Drivers can also check if their car is included in this or any recall by visiting the NHTSA website and entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
This recall highlights how modern cars increasingly rely on complex software systems. As vehicles become more computerized, software-related recalls are becoming more common across all car makers. The ability to fix some problems with wireless updates helps reduce the inconvenience for car owners compared to traditional recalls that always required a trip to the dealership.