NHTSA Data Explorer

Kia Carnival

Data refreshed June 26, 2026

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

Complaints

428

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

57

Crashes

9

Fires

0

Top reported issues — Kia Carnival

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

112

Electrical issue

104

Access/entry issue

88

Reporting mechanism

85

Performance issue

82

Condition issue

81

Engine behavior

26

Driver assistance issue

24

Thermal issue

24

Electrified system issue

22

Fluid issue

20

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

19

Vibration/harshness

17

Safety restraint issue

16

Smell

14

Noise

12

Braking behavior

11

Lighting behavior

10

Safety restraint behavior

10

Infotainment behavior

9

Starting behavior

9

Powering on/off behavior

8

Recent change

6

Steering behavior

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 HYBRID

Filed Jun 16, 2026


Van made a loud pop noise and lost power. The HSG belt tensioner spring fell off it's seat loosing tension on the HSG belt. Was unsafe but luckily it happened before getting on the freeway, and coasted into a parking lot. Yes, it's at the dealership getting a replacement tensioner and belt. I believe so. No notification prior to failure, it was sudden.

2022 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jun 12, 2026


I am writing to formally complain about the delay in repairing my vehicle under an active recall involving the fuel system/crossover fuel pump. I have been informed that the required part is on backorder and that the repair may not be available until the end of July. My concern is that I am experiencing strong fuel fumes in and around the vehicle. The odor is severe enough that it is causing headaches, and I do not feel it is safe for me or my children to ride in the vehicle. Given that this…

2025 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jun 11, 2026


We purchased this vehicle toward the end of 2024. Within the first 10 months, there were two major recall issues with this vehicle. The recalls were for the 2nd row seating becoming detached from the frame of the vehicle and the other recall was for the computer logic board having the chance of dying and/or frying. These recalls were less than 10 months since date of purchase. There is now another National Recall on this vehicle that was initiated on April 10, 2026. We are a non profit…

2026 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jun 11, 2026


1 injured

Subject: Safety Complaint – Power Sliding Door Failure Injuring Child (2026 Kia Carnival) I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a 2026 Kia Carnival. During normal use, the vehicle’s automatic power sliding door closed while my [XXX] child was partially outside the vehicle near the door track area. The door continued to close and did not stop or reverse when it encountered my child, resulting in the child being pinned between the sliding door and the vehicle body. I physically…

2026 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed Jun 5, 2026


I had pickup my vehicle from the dealership where it had been since the 29th of May due to a previous incident exactly the same as what occurred this time. The vehicle had been returned to me as the service department could find nothing wrong from the May 29th incident. On my way home from the dealership, the vehicle started the same as on May 29th. When accelerating from a stoplight, I lost all propulsion. After about 60 seconds the vehicle recovered and I turned to go back to the…

2023 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jun 5, 2026


The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver’s side roof molding ejected from the vehicle. The contact immediately stopped the vehicle but was unable to locate the molding. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V025000 (STRUCTURE). The contact…

2022 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jun 4, 2026


Fuel leak at pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail. Nuts securing the high-pressure crossover fuel pipe to the fuel rail loosened, leaking raw fuel, leading to risk of fire. This has been reported and confirmed by Ron Bouchard Kia, of Lancaster, MA, USA. It is a part of Kia Recall SC368 (NHTSA ID: 26V232). We noticed the vehicle was leaking a substance in April 2025. After receiving recall notice in April 2026, we brought the vehicle in to be check on XXX. We were informed…

2023 KIA CARNIVAL

Filed Jun 2, 2026


The contact owns a 2023 KIA Carnival. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V320000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

2025 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed Jun 1, 2026


I am filing this complaint to report a recurring, life-threatening safety defect in my 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid involving the battery and hybrid propulsion system. This defect has occurred twice, and despite dealer repair attempts, it has not been resolved. On both occasions, while the vehicle was in operation, the hybrid system failed without warning. The vehicle displayed a hybrid system failure alert, lost the ability to accelerate normally, and became unable to maintain safe driving speeds.…

2026 KIA CARNIVAL HYBRID

Filed May 31, 2026


We were driving on highway, approximately 2 miles from home, when we suddenly lost power to the drive train. Eventually it started moving again but after a short distance we again lost power to the drive train. It appeared that whenever it transferred from gasoline to hybrid or electric, we would loose power. We were in traffic and this was not a desirable situation. We applied hazard flashers and were able to limp home. We had no way to lock the hybrid into gasoline mode so every time it…

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

Updated June 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.