105 of the
538 complaints filed about the KIA Carnival
are about the other systems —
20% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2022.
Distracting feature which is dangerous to the operator: The control for the radio volume is the same knob as the control for the air and heating. As a result when you go to turn down the radio or change the volume you often change the fan and temperature... and likewise when you go to change the temperature you inadvertantly change the volume on the radio which is difficult to change back. The constant switching between the Radio control and the temperature/fan control for the car is a huge distraction for a driver who needs to stay focused on the road Thankfully we have not been in an accident at this time, but the distraction is a concern with this vehicle and we felt should be reported for review.
NHTSA complaint #11754532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The power sliding door on my Kia Carnival has repeatedly failed to reopen when an occupant was caught in the doorway. On multiple occasions, my young child has become trapped by the sliding door after it began closing. Instead of consistently detecting the obstruction and reversing as expected, the door continued to close and pinned my child until an adult intervened. This creates a serious safety hazard because children can become trapped or injured by the power sliding door. The issue has happened several times, making me concerned that the anti-pinch/obstacle detection system is not functioning properly or consistently. The problem appears intermittent but has occurred often enough that I no longer trust the safety feature. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this is a widespread safety defect affecting Kia Carnival sliding doors and understand other owners have reported similar incidents. I am concerned that a child could suffer a serious injury if this defect is not addressed.
NHTSA complaint #11754169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We were driving down [XXX] south towards home and out of nowhere, it sounded like something clapped against our passenger driver's side window. the window completely shattered and then proceeded to fall inwards onto my [XXX] old. It was absolutely traumatizing. Nothing hit us. It just exploded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11753576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing a comprehensive complaint against Kia America and its authorized dealership for a prolonged failure to remedy a safety defect, ongoing consumer deception, and gross mismanagement of a federally mandated safety recall involving a severe fire hazard. Vehicle: 2022-2026 Kia Carnival NHTSA Recall Number: 26V232 (High-Pressure Fuel Pipe Leak) [Chronology of Complete Events] June 29, 2026 (First Attempt): I brought my vehicle to Kia dealer shop to have Safety Recall 26V232 performed. The service department informed me that they did not have the necessary parts and the repair would take over a week. June 30, 2026 (Deceptive Release): The dealer contacted me to pick up the vehicle, stating they could not proceed with the recall due to a complete lack of parts. They only performed a standard engine oil change (unrelated to the recall) and promised they would contact me to reschedule as soon as the recall parts arrived. July 19, 2026 (Manufacturer Negligence): Nearly three weeks passed with zero follow-up from the dealer. I contacted Kia America Customer Care to lodge a formal complaint. Shockingly, Kia America responded by stating they do not assist with scheduling or coordinating parts availability, irresponsibly shifting the manufacturer's statutory obligation onto me to independently find another dealer. July 21, 2026 (False Assurances): Due to my persistent follow-ups, Kia Dealer finally called me. The dealership explicitly assured me over the phone that ALL necessary recall parts had physically arrived and were strictly secured for my vehicle. July 23, 2026 (Today - Repeated Deception): I dropped off my vehicle at 10:00 AM. I explicitly asked the service advisor to confirm if all recall work would be finished today. He promised it would be completed by the end of the day. However, at 5:50 PM—just ten minutes before closing—Dealer called to inform me that they could not finish the vehicle because they are "still waiting for a specific part."
NHTSA complaint #11752515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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)
NHTSA complaint #11749274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Our Carnival had the SC266 recall repair done on July 3rd, 2023, at 3074 miles. Then our [XXX] daughter was injured as a result of the safety function not working and the door closed without any chimes. [XXX] (my spouse) is a cardiac nurse at our local hospital, and I have combat medical training, so we took care of the minor injury. Her small hand was spared the devastation a larger one would suffer. The dealership is pretending it’s unreproducible (even though I supplied them with video evidence to the contrary), and Kia Corporate (case # XXX) doesn’t appear any more likely to help. I reported the injury when it occurred on January 13th, 2026, to the dealership. They said they were sorry and would look into it. Nothing happened. I call, and they say they can’t fix it. I call again after I see the XXX v. XXX, et al., case was allowed to proceed, and I produce videos confirming the safety issue with sticks. They bring it in and claim in their exact words in the paperwork, “Found Doors to chime when an “abstruction” was present in the doorway and vehicle doors to stop when detecting an object. Started T/L case for documentation purposes.” In private, they tell me, “We cannot stop the force of the closing or fix it” and do not allow me to reproduce the safety issue for them to witness. I file a complaint with Corporate, and they tell me the dealership is saying it’s fine. I send the videos, and they say they will look into it. No resolution. Today, I produced a second set of videos to show the devastation the safety issue causes and the lack of response from the sensor, chimes, or the reopening of the door from an obstruction using bananas after the dealership declared it not reproducible. My special needs [XXX] daughter was harmed as pictured. The van itself is unsafe for children, which is the only reason anyone (including me) would purchase it. My children could be harmed again, but we cannot afford the burden of another car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 55
NHTSA complaint #11737829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Passenger sliding door failed to detect my son and closed completely on his arm. The doors will push the kids and don’t detect even adults at times. He now has a buckle fracture that they are concerned is a full fracture in both bone on his forearm. He is [XXX] old. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11737299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On the motor, when off for more than a certain time prolonged, when is a cold start motor make a noise like it doesn’t have oil in it since new I let the dealer know but they say it’s normal and I don’t believe so. Also, the transmission have a problem since New it shifted weird sometimes, and the dealer says it’s normal
NHTSA complaint #11733144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The fuel pipe in my 2024 Kia Carnival has been identified by Kia as part of Safety Recall SC368 due to a fire risk. The component is available for inspection at the dealership where the vehicle is currently located. My safety and the safety of my family — including young children in car seats — was put at risk because the vehicle carries a known fire hazard related to the fuel pipe, yet no remedy is available until June 2026 at the earliest, according to Kia Customer Care. Kia confirmed the recall and the fire risk but has not provided adequate alternative transportation, leaving a family with young children without a safe vehicle for an extended period. The problem has been confirmed by Kia Customer Care, who verified that my vehicle is included in recall SC368. The dealership also confirmed the recall exists but stated the remedy is not yet available. However, when I contacted NHTSA by phone to file a complaint, the representative stated they could not find my vehicle in their recall database, directly contradicting Kia's confirmation. This discrepancy between Kia's internal records and NHTSA's database is concerning and may prevent other affected owners from being aware of the safety risk. The vehicle has been surrendered to the dealership via tow due to the fire risk. It has not yet been inspected or diagnosed by the dealership service department. I have requested written confirmation that the vehicle is safe to drive before accepting it back. I was notified via a CARFAX alert and the risk was identified/confirmed by the manufacturer.
NHTSA complaint #11731536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car now auto locks on the vehicle upon exit, even with key fobs in the car. The first few months I had the car this did not happen. I left me keys and phone in the car. I turned vehicle off, exited the vehicle and walked around to get my daughter out of her car seat. After about 5-8 seconds of walking around. The car automatically locked. The key fob was placed in the center console. My 1 year old daughter was left trapped in the vehicle, placing her life in danger. I had to call emergency services and have them open it for me. This is a huge saftey concern. I never changed any setting to allow for this. The car should not auto lock, and definitely should not lock with keys in the vehicle a few seconds after exiting.
NHTSA complaint #11731247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing concerning the Driver Attention Warning system and how it seems to be way too sensitive and when it keeps going off, trying to see what is causing this issue. This seems to be creating more distractions than it is designed to solve. From my understanding Kia through a software update removed any sensitivity adjustments which makes this problematic.
NHTSA complaint #11730937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2026 Kia Carnival MPV Hybrid SX Prestige(Exterior: Astra Blue Interior: Tuscan Umber / Off-Black) purchased December 2025. Two separate safety-related defects have gone unresolved for 31+ cumulative days across two dealer repair visits. DEFECT 1 — INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: Instrument cluster screen goes blank while driving, eliminating speedometer, TPMS, and all warning indicators. First observed February 2026. Dealer visit February 13–17 (4 days): technician said could not replicate. Defect recurred. Kia has since issued a federal safety recall confirming this exact defect — citing FMVSS noncompliance and stating the blank screen increases crash risk due to a software error causing overheat protection mode. Vehicle was at dealer for an active safety recall defect that went undiagnosed during a repair visit. DEFECT 2 — SEAT MODULE: Second-row seat module failed. Vehicle returned to dealer March 5 (still there, 27+ days). Wiring harness replacement attempted approximately March 21 — failed, defect persisted. Kia Engineering formally escalated approximately March 24. Seat module ordered but not yet installed. No resolution or completion date provided. Vehicle has been out of service 31+ cumulative days. Safety recall defect went undetected during prior dealer repair visit. Both defects remain unresolved on a vehicle purchased just 97 days ago.
NHTSA complaint #11728640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sliding Door Sensor Failed My daughter was getting in the van, when her brother hit the door button, if my husband wouldn’t have glanced over at that exact moment and pulled her back, this would’ve been another story. THE SENSOR IS NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH! We as mothers are demanding sensors sensitive enough to detect smaller, fragile children!
NHTSA complaint #11728404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The horn stops working when it’s cold and the horn installed does not match the amperage need for the vehicle. It has failed multiple times. I rarely use my horn. It failed for the first time around 20,000 miles. Separately, I have an oil leak that is also covered under warranty. This car has been serviced countless times and it has been in the shop for three weeks.
NHTSA complaint #11727093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Air conditioning has never worked. It was purchased in the winter. As weather warmed, we noticed the air conditioning was never cold. Dropped it off at the dealership. Their first comment before looking at the vehicle was that a rock probably hit it and broke the air conditioning. After inspection they said it was a rock so it isn’t a warranty item. Seems suspicious. Possibly warranty fraud to try to get money from a consumer for a covered defect. If that’s the first thing they suggested was wrong, how often is this happening and is it fraud or a design defect.
NHTSA complaint #11726814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driver side passenger back sliding door will not open or close properly. Door will jam and make a loud noise or will not open when trying to open. Took it the dealership 4 times they replaced the motor but the issue continues.
NHTSA complaint #11724831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this complaint regarding the failure of the Kia Connect telematics system and the cessation of critical navigation support for my vehicle. Despite opening a formal support case with Kia (Ticket #25923650), the following issues remain unresolved: Loss of Trip History (Since January 2026): The Trip History feature within the Kia Connect suite has been completely non-functional since January 2026. This prevents the tracking of vehicle usage, mileage, and driving behavior data, which are core features of the paid subscription service. Failure of Connected Routing & Software Obsolescence: The "Connected Routing" feature is no longer operational. Kia support has stated this is due to the vehicle requiring a navigation update; however, Kia has ceased providing all navigation and software updates for this model as of April 2025. Safety Concern: The lack of software support and the failure of "Connected Routing" forces the vehicle to rely on navigation data that is nearly a year out of date. This creates a safety risk when the vehicle provides incorrect guidance on one-way streets, closed roads, or altered traffic patterns. Furthermore, the persistent failure of these telematics services raises serious concerns about the reliability of the vehicle's emergency communication systems, such as Automatic Collision Notification and the SOS Emergency Assistance button, which utilize the same underlying cellular module and software framework. Corrective Action Requested: I am seeking a mandatory software update from Kia that restores full functionality to the Kia Connect suite (specifically Trip History and Connected Routing) or a final navigation map update to ensure the vehicle’s guidance systems remain safe and accurate for the remainder of the service's lifecycle.
NHTSA complaint #11723950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Today, my young daughter pressed the button on the inside of the door to close the sliding door. Her hand was still in the way and the door did not stop. Part of her hand was completely closed in the door and she screamed and cried in excruciating pain. Right away I noticed bruising and took her to the ER for an X-ray. Since she is so young, her bones are very pliable and thank goodness the X-ray showed no fracture, just bruising and swelling. The sliding door has previously not stopped for my older daughters as well. This is a major safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11723970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This new 2026 Vehicle faced multiple issues within a few weeks of purchase as stated below. 1. The instrument display panel or the main display screen of the car stopped working. The screen was completely blank and would not turn on. (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) 2. An electric short caused the radio to fail (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) 3. The car battery died, rendering the car completely unresponsive. The car had to be towed to the Kia Dealer. (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) All of the above 3 issues happened one after the other. The first issue essentially disabled safety features of the vehicle as the display panel that displays rear view camera, camera monitoring system (CMS), etc was not able to display any information. An eventual electric short and a dead battery rendered the vehicle inoperable. The official Kia dealer attempted to diagnose and repair the vehicle. The vehicle was at the dealer service for 15 days. The dealer initially suggested that a part needs to be replaced and is in backorder till May 2026. However subsequently the dealer then claimed that the vehicle is now operating normally and should be taken by the customer. No root cause of the electric short and battery and screen failure was disclosed. Also contrary to what is stated in the service order, the service manager at the dealer verbally suggested that they did not replace the malfunctioning component.
NHTSA complaint #11720576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.