2026 KIA CARNIVAL

2 recalls, 37 complaints - 5/5 safety rating

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Defect Description

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.

Consequence

A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC368. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recal... Read more

141,032 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Defect Description

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As suc... Read more

Consequence

An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbe... Read more

42,677 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

Complaint Statistics

37 total complaints 2 crashes 1 fires

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	8
ENGINE	7
SUSPENSION	3
STEERING	2
WHEELS	2
VISIBILITY/WIPER	2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2
POWER TRAIN	2
STRUCTURE:BODY	2

Incident date: Aug 28, 2026

I purchased a new 2026 Kia Carnival EX and noticed an unusually intense amount of heat coming from underneath the vehicle on the passenger side, particularly around the rear passenger door/second-row seating area. I first noticed the issue while the vehicle was parked and I was standing outside the... Read more

Incident date: Aug 28, 2026

Incident date: Jul 30, 2026

Noise came from front left wheel while driving around a turn. Later the same day another noise when turning the wheel when leaving a parking spot. Steering felt strange. It was late at night, so left the vehicle until the morning. In the morning, discovered a large bolt in front of the vehicle. ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 29, 2026

Idle stop function error during waiting at red light. Engine failed to restart so i had to turned it off and restarted the engine at the traffic light. Happened twice already. Idle stop system is defective need to be recalled

Incident date: Jun 25, 2026

I am reporting a safety defect involving the infotainment touchscreen in my 2018 Subaru Outback (VIN [XXX]). The touchscreen has developed visible internal delamination, with lines and bubbling appearing beneath the surface of the display. As the delamination worsened, the screen began registering ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 11, 2026

After using the lane assist the steering wheel becomes sticky when I turn it off. Then if I turn it back on letting the lane assist correct my driving to turning it back off when turning around corners my steering wheel becomes really sticky. Then when driving the vehicle with lane asssist on the s... Read more

Incident date: Jun 11, 2026

When driving with the adaptive cruise control on, the cruise will shut off without notice at random times. The forward collision warning light then comes on. After driving for some time the light will go out and the adaptive cruise will work again. This repeats many times on a trip randomly. This al... Read more

Incident date: Mar 28, 2026

Faulty fuel injectors are causing consistent engine misfires and occasionally causing the check engine light to illuminate and for the vehicle to reduce power greatly. This poses a great safety risk to both myself and other drivers on the road because in the event of a large misfire, my vehicle sudd... Read more

Incident date: Mar 28, 2026

Incident date: Mar 11, 2026

The car is unstable on the highway when there is a crosswind - either from wind gusts or from large vehicles. The car is easily pushed by wind until lane assist activates to stop it from going outside of the lane. It feels very unsafe to drive on the highway. This is how the car was when it was boug... Read more

Incident date: Mar 11, 2026

Steering wheel became stuck when making a long left turn while driving on the freeway. The turn lasted approximately 30 seconds. Around 3-4 seconds into the turn, the steering wheel suddenly locked up for approximately 1-2 seconds. Eventually the steering wheel was released resulting in a sudden jer... Read more

Incident date: May 18, 2026

The vehicle exhibits a severe, structural inability to retain its factory suspension and steering alignment specifications under normal driving conditions, creating a severe tire blowout and safety hazard. At approximately 8,400 miles (January 2025), the dealership documented that the alignment was... Read more

Incident date: Apr 14, 2026

I was driving on the highway on my way to work around 7:45 am. As I was driving my car lost all power and I heard a grinding sound. As the grinding sound was happening, I had no control over my car. I managed to move to the side lane and put my hazards on. I then had to wait for a tow truck. Ultimat... Read more

Incident date: Feb 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The vehicle stalled with the check engine light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the check engine w... Read more

Incident date: Feb 9, 2026

several recalls but dealer my did not have any

Incident date: Feb 9, 2026

several recalls but dealer my did not have any

Incident date: Mar 31, 2026

I started my truck this morning and turned on the heat and defrost. Came inside to gather my things for work and when I returned back there was a strong burning smell both inside and outside. I placed my work items in the back seat, closed the door. I heard something falling and found the back winds... Read more

Incident date: Mar 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle unexpectedly jerked and stalled with the transmission warning light and the malfunction indicator warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the de... Read more

Incident date: Mar 23, 2026

This is ongoing from the purchase of the car. 1) Infotainment computer screen daytime illumination is so dark as to be a major safety issue as it causes too much time looking away from the road to operate the system. If you wear sunglasses you cannot see the screen at all. The dealer says nothing c... Read more

Incident date: Mar 23, 2026

The rear braking system failed due to a sticking/seizing brake caliper. An independent inspection confirmed a severe thickness discrepancy: the outer pad was worn down to 3mm, while the inner pad remained at 7mm. This occurred at only 7,343 miles. I have the physical brake pads provided by the deale... Read more

Incident date: Jan 27, 2026

One night the tailgate latch began clicking, locking and unlocking itself and then not latching closed, causing the inside light to remain on and the tailgate open indicator to display on the display panel. Then it just went dead and would not open at all, even if using the specific tailgate open ke... Read more

Incident date: Jan 27, 2026

When a car is in the process of passing me on the left during a left hand curve on the highway at highway speeds, the rear left radar sensor seems to have set off a forward collision warning. This caused the ioniq5 to do an emergency collision brake. I had to press on the accelerator to cancel the e... Read more

Incident date: Jan 27, 2026

The Catalytic Converter in the Kia. We were driving to Texas to take my kids out for mini vacation and it’s cut off right in the middle of the highway. My car was running just fine everything was fix properly. Can you check in the Catalytic Converter and see if it safely issue.

Incident date: Jan 1, 2026

The vehicle’s touchscreen activates functions on its own without being touched (“ghost touch”). While driving, the screen intermittently selects menus, changes settings, and activates features without driver input. This causes distraction and requires the driver to look away from the road to c... Read more

Incident date: Dec 22, 2025

I purchased this vehicle from Ford about 2 months ago and brought it in for service over 4 weeks ago. The service department inspected the hub bolts and declared the vehicle unsafe to drive until the recall is completed due to sheered bolts. Although the recall says the parts are available, that is ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 22, 2025

The driver's side windshield wiper is not working because the wiper arm attachment (at the spindle) is stripped. The motor spindle rotates but the wiper does not wipe the windshield. Visibility during rain, snow or other dirt or mud being splattered on windshield during driving. No dealer interacti... Read more

Incident date: Dec 22, 2025

Steering wheel covering delaminates and peels during normal use, creating loss of grip and distraction while driving.

Incident date: Dec 8, 2025

I hit a deer on CA 395 north, my braking system worked and my air bags deployed, and then my engine immediately caught fire. I’m lucky i was able to get out of the car through a back door. Every police and fire who responded said they have never seen a car catch fire after hitting a deer and i sho... Read more

Crash Fire

Incident date: Nov 24, 2025

Telematics control module failure

Incident date: Nov 24, 2025

Vehicle has a known Ford 2.0L EcoBoost coolant intrusion / head gasket defect per multiple complaints on different forums on recently googled searches. At approximately 126,000 miles, vehicle began losing coolant with no visible external leaks, producing white smoke on startup, rough idle/misfires... Read more

Incident date: Nov 24, 2025

This 2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid poses an imminent fire and safety hazard due to catastrophic high-voltage system failures. On December 11, 2025 (Mileage: 54,527), the vehicle displayed a "Check Hybrid System" warning. The dealership diagnosed a swollen 12V battery and, critically, a melted power re... Read more

Incident date: Dec 12, 2025

I get throttle lag/hesitation most often when starting to go from a complete stop. This has happened many times.

Incident date: Nov 26, 2025

Car seemed to have no power steering when I tried to leave this morning, brand new car less than 5000 miles and it’s glitching.

Incident date: Sep 5, 2025

I have experienced unexpected loss of power during acceleration, lack of exhaust breaking and engine codes p003a and p006f which I believe are associated with the turbo actuator.

Incident date: Jul 31, 2025

We've had the red lightening bolt with wrench warning light go off a dozen times since April 2025. 1st time we were setting in traffic after 100+ mile drive down the interstate.i It sounded like the transmission had dropped into part. My wife thought the car behind us had ran into us. I have had it ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 9, 2025

I purchased a 2017 Lincoln MKZ Select which has been a continuous source of mechanical problems. After recently having a new engine installed, the vehicle has now developed significant transmission issues, making it unsafe and difficult to drive. Despite being sold this car under the assumption it w... Read more

Crash

NHTSA Safety Ratings, 2026 KIA CARNIVAL

2026 KIA CARNIVAL PV N/A FWD

Category	Rating
Overall Rating	5 / 5 ★★★★★
Frontal Crash	4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Frontal Crash, Driver	5 / 5 ★★★★★
Frontal Crash, Passenger	4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Side Crash	5 / 5 ★★★★★
Rollover	4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Rollover Risk	14.0%

Safety Technology

Feature	Status
Electronic Stability Control	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Standard & Optional
Lane Departure Warning	Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings Program. Ratings are based on crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

EPA Fuel Economy, 2026 KIA CARNIVAL

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8) (Front-Wheel Drive)	18.0	25.0	21.0	Regular	$2,950

CO2 Emissions: 428.0 g/mile (Minivan - 2WD)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

NHTSA Safety Investigations, KIA CARNIVAL

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2022

Power Sliding Door Auto Reverse Failure

On April 10, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving 5 consumer complaints alleging the Power Sliding Doors (PSD) auto-reverse function failed to work properly in the model year (MY) 2022 Kia Carnival minivan vehicles.At that time, ODI ... was aware of 3 complaints alleging injuries to consumer?s arm, hand or shoulder caused by the closing PSD.Additionally, consumers alleged being trapped against the closing door while it was traversing in the closing direction.The initial complaints also alleged excessive force is needed to reverse the direction of the closing door.At this time, ODI is aware of 26 complaints and 11 injuries on the MY 2022 Carnival vehicles.In its August 2022 responses to ODI's Information Request on the PE, Kia provided 36 customer complaints, 21 field reports, and 5 related warranty claims.Kia also provided ODI with 21 reports of alleged injuries, however, Kia stated that it was able to confirm only 9 injuries.Typically, these injuries are attributed to fingers and arms.The Kia Carnival automatic stop and reversal system is designed to automatically reverse the direction of the closing PSD if it meets resistance from an object or person.It relies on resistance sensing technology which requires a minimum input force or pressure to trigger activation.The primary sensing components used to regulate the auto-reverse system activation are the anti-pinch sensor and the PSD motor torque systems.Following several discussions with ODI during this investigation, on March 31, 2023, Kia filed a safety recall (NHTSA No. 23V-236) of 51,568 MY 2022 and 2023 Kia Carnival vehicles (produced through February 22, 2023) to reduce the risk of injury from the closing PSD.The remedy will be to reprogram the PSD control module with an updated software that provides two warning chimes when the door begins to close or open (to alert the vehicle users the door is about to move).Also, the updated software will change the door speed to move more slowly as the door approaches its latching point.In view of the recall action being taken by Kia, ODI is closing this PE.The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: 11423165, 11442133, 11447955, 11448290, 11450964, 11458125, 11461462, 11466619, 11466623, 11468938, 11469661, 11471224, 11471232, 11472272, 11487649, 11487671, 11489378, 11489577, 11491053, 11498214, 11501337, 11507176, 11507880, 11509037, 11512506, and 11516428.Read more

KIA CARNIVAL - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the KIA CARNIVAL across all model years (2022, 2026).

15 Total Recalls

547 Total Complaints

1 Investigations

20 Reported Crashes

6 Reported Fires

0 Reported Deaths

KIA CARNIVAL - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2026 (current)	2	37
2025	1	169	View
2024	2	99	View
2023	4	62	View
2022	6	180	View

Other KIA Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
SORENTO	188	13,593	View
SPORTAGE	165	6,601	View
SEDONA	118	3,350	View
OPTIMA	100	10,128	View
TELLURIDE	70	2,186	View
SOUL	66	7,233	View
SORENTO HYBRID	62	159	View
SOUL EV	62	50	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

2026 KIA CARNIVAL

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

NHTSA Safety Ratings, 2026 KIA CARNIVAL

Safety Technology

EPA Fuel Economy, 2026 KIA CARNIVAL

NHTSA Safety Investigations, KIA CARNIVAL

KIA CARNIVAL - All Years Overview

KIA CARNIVAL - Year by Year

Other KIA Models