NHTSA Data Explorer

Kia Carnival

Data refreshed July 19, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Kia Carnival.

Complaints

444

Active records

Recalls

7

Active records

TSBs

124

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

61

Crashes

10

Fires

0

Top reported issues — Kia Carnival

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

113

Electrical issue

104

Access/entry issue

89

Performance issue

87

Reporting mechanism

86

Condition issue

83

Driver assistance issue

26

Engine behavior

26

Electrified system issue

24

Thermal issue

24

Fluid issue

20

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

19

Safety restraint issue

17

Vibration/harshness

17

Smell

15

Braking behavior

12

Noise

12

Safety restraint behavior

11

Infotainment behavior

10

Lighting behavior

10

Starting behavior

9

Powering on/off behavior

8

Steering behavior

7

Recent change

6

HVAC behavior

4

Communication/network issue

2

Wiper/washer behavior

2

Ride/handling behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2025 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jul 14, 2026


The vehicle's passenger cabin continually has a strong odor smell after longer drives or after the vehicle idles for a longer duration in time. The vehicle was brought to Horne, KIA in Gilbert, AZ twice in June for same. Both times the service department stated they could not duplicate the problem and could not ascertain that it has anything to do with recall SC368. The problem continues at time of this writing (07/14/2026). The strong fuel odor is causing headaches to family and young…

2026 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed Jul 14, 2026


I own a 2026 Carnival Prestige SX Hybrid and having loss of propulsion problems. After much research, and absolutely no help from KIA, I now think my problem is my foot, size 15, is too large to safely drive this vehicle. My shoe intermittently depresses the brake ever so slightly while I accelerate from a stop. This triggers the Brake-Throttle Override which temporarily cuts propulsion power. The BTO is in all US cars but of the five vehicles (2025-26, different manufacturers) I have…

2026 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed Jul 13, 2026


What component or system failed: The hybrid battery management system (BMS) failed while driving. The dashboard displayed a Battery Management System error along with a lane assist warning. The vehicle then completely lost propulsion, no response from the accelerator pedal, while on an incline, causing the vehicle to roll backward down the hill. The vehicle is currently at the dealership (Kia Temecula) and available for inspection but no one has reached out to me for days. Safety risk: The…

2025 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed Jul 10, 2026


On five separate occasions, while turning onto a high-speed roadway and attempting to accelerate to the flow of traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost the ability to accelerate. Despite pressing the accelerator, the vehicle would not exceed approximately 35 mph and then began to decelerate. During both incidents, a Check Hybrid System warning appeared, and I was forced to quickly pull over to the side of the high-speed road. The vehicle would only return to normal operation after it was turned off…

2025 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jul 9, 2026


The rear sliding door on the driver's side was not locking. I took it to the dealership and they have replaced the actuator, the wiring harness, and the IPM power module. None of this has fixed it. We now have a Kia special mechanic coming to [XXX] to take a look at it. I was told there are 19 other vehicles in [XXX] with the same issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2024 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jul 8, 2026


While stopped, the brake pedal drops to the floor and the vehicle begins to roll forward. I went to the dealership and told them what happened, they told me there is no recall on this, and it is a normal part of driving. This is not a normal part of any braking system. The pedal should not drop to the floor while stopped with your foot on the pedal. No warning system lights that came on. This happens frequently. You have to start pumping the brake repeatedly to get the vehicle to stop. It will…

2025 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jul 7, 2026


1 injured

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while parked in a bank drive-thru, the contact's son mentioned that his seat belt was stuck. The contact parked the vehicle in a parking spot and attempted to remove the seat belt; however, the seat belt retracted tightly around his abdomen as the lower half of his body was turning blue, requiring the contact's husband to cut the seat belt. The contact mentioned that it was discovered that all seat belts located in the rear row seats…

2025 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed Jul 4, 2026


I live in [XXX]. On the way to [XXX], out of no where the car stopped accelerating. Was in eco mode at the time and dropped completely while trying to accelerate in the middle of the road. Pulled over completely turned off the car checked the engine nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Ran the diagnostics from the car and didn’t show any errors. Turned off again for a bit and turn on and everything was fine. Moved from eco to smart and turned around worked fine for about 5 m so we thought…

2022 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jul 4, 2026


SC368 CROSS OVER FUEL PIPE recall incomplete by kia of des moines

2026 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed Jul 3, 2026


While driving our 1 month old car we intermittently heard a loud clap sound, we assumed it was due to it being a hybrid vehicle. Well on Wednesday we were merging on to the freeway at approx 20 mph when we heard an extremely loud bang and the 3rd window imploded. There was nothing that hit the car, no point of origin for any foreign object, but rather an implosion. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This happened within inches of my child's head and terrified my child. …

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated July 19, 2026. Refreshed nightly.