Kia Carnival Complaints (2025)

197 consumer complaints on file.

#11774181October 28, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:HYBRID MANAGEMENT
The contact owns 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle unexpectedly switched to Safe Mode and decelerated. In addition, the check the hybrid system and the message to “Stop the Vehicle” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the hybrid system was repaired and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while accelerating from the vehicle idling. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772946October 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid was purchased new in January 2025. The problem began almost immediately, with the vehicle first presented to an authorized Kia dealer for this condition at only 810 miles. The vehicle repeatedly and unpredictably enters reduced-power or “limp mode,” causing a sudden loss of normal acceleration and limiting it to approximately 35 mph. This creates a serious safety risk on highways, while merging, crossing intersections, or whenever acceleration is needed to respond to traffic. Equally concerning, the vehicle does not consistently display a warning or retain a hard diagnostic error code when the loss of power occurs. Sometimes a check-engine light or “Check Hybrid System - Stop Safely” message appears, but at other times the vehicle enters limp mode with no warning. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it, normal operation may return and the error disappears, leaving the dealer unable to retrieve a stored code showing what occurred. The vehicle has been presented to an authorized Kia dealer for this recurring issue at least five times. In August 2026, it remained in limp mode and had to be towed to the dealer. We were initially told no error code had been found. Near the end of the service period, we were told a code had appeared indicating a faulty sensor, which was replaced, but the reduced-power problem later recurred. The vehicle’s automatically generated August performance report also indicated no vehicle issues despite the August incident. A Kia TechLine case was later opened, but the recurring problem was not identified or permanently corrected. The vehicle is available for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772396October 20, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On XXX, at about 4:50 PM, my [XXX] son’s hand was caught in the left (driver-side) power sliding door of our 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid (VIN [XXX]; approximately 30,000 miles). The power sliding door was enabled and the door-close function was activated using the interior button. The door did not stop or automatically reverse. It closed completely and stayed latched on his finger. I had to open the door manually to release his hand. An X-ray confirmed a broken finger. I am concerned that the powered sliding door’s obstruction detection and reversal features did not prevent this crushing injury. I request that NHTSA review this incident as a potential child-injury motor vehicle safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11771123October 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In May 2026, after driving through a heavy rainstorm on the highway, the car suddenly cut off cruise control and showed multiple warning lights (for most, if not all assistance systems) and an error message that was some version of "check hybrid system." When searching the code it seemed to be related to an electrical short in the hybrid system. I had no electric power to the engine, but the gas functionality still sort of worked, so I could drive, but there was a 2-3 second delay between pushing the gas pedal and getting any acceleration, and said acceleration was minimal. This occurred at 70+ mph on a busy highway, so the sudden lack of acceleration and control was alarming and put us and the cars around us at risk due to sudden speed change. When we pulled into a safe stop and turned the car off for a few minutes and then back on, the error messages were gone and hybrid system seemed functional again. The check engine light remained, but turned off after the next short trip. There had been no warnings, lights, or symptoms of any issues at any point prior to this occurring. The car was not seen at the time due to being on vacation and not near any Kia dealership. It is being seen in a few weeks, but as this was 5 months ago, I do not anticipate anything being found to explain the issue, particularly after reading other online reports of this issue. A similar issue happened recently (Oct 2026) with no rain present. I had just started driving, and got a warning about lane-keeping assist, but no others. I pulled over, couldn't find any other errors or details, and everything else seemed fine. I continued driving, and 1-2 minutes later, while trying to accelerate onto the highway, I suddenly had no acceleration power with the pedal touching the floor. I was again at risk of a high-speed accident if I had not been able to move the car toward the shoulder quickly. No error code appeared at the time of acceleration loss. Power returned after restarting the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769717October 7, 2026
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that her child screamed when the rear passenger’s side sliding door failed to detect the child's hand and closed on the child’s hand on four separate occasions. The contact pressed the rear sliding door button to release the door from the child's hand. The failure resulted in a door indentation across the child's four fingers, but no medical attention was received. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the front driver's side door that failed to latch unless the door was slammed closed. The dealer previously inspected the doors, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by email. The failure mileage was 18,529.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11768901October 5, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Within 5 minutes of driving, the car stopped accelerating. Check hybrid system alert appeared one minute later. Car stalled out within approximately 1-2 minutes after warning light appeared. No other warning lights were present prior. This is a 2025 new Kia Carnival Hybrid. I was stranded on the side of a 55mph road. The first time the police helped me roll it off the road. The second time it couldn’t be pushed even though it appeared to be in neutral. The car dies but the accessory functions will not turn off. We have to unplug the battery each time. This car could die ANYWHERE leaving you stranded in a very dangerous situation. There is very little warning. This is extremely hazardous. This is the SECOND time this has occurred with a combined total of 5 hours waiting for tow trucks and countless hours contacting Kia. Kia kept the car for two weeks and recharged the battery. That’s it. It died again within 24 hours of being returned to us. This is UNSAFE and unreliable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768594October 2, 2026
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
This complaint is a follow up to complaint #XXX. I took the car in to Dennis Eakin Kia in [XXX] to repair what caused the car to go into Limp Mode after slamming on the brakes. The dealership did a deep scan of the hybrid control and power train control module for historical or iintermittent codes. They could find none because the car apparently does not save them after the ignition is turned off. They are trashed. They also tried 4 times to re-create the event by slamming on the brakes, but were unable to re create it. They returned the car to me without fixing it. This is another deep -imbedded safety hazard of this car that a well-documented safety hazard from many drivers cannot be fixed because the car trashes any evidence of these incidences. This car is a clear danger to drivers, a danger that can only be fixed through a recall to get them off the road until a fix is executed by the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768358October 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
"UPDATE TO EXISTING COMPLAINT NHTSA ID 11747231 LCD CENTER DISPLAY / BACKUP CAMERA FAILURE UPDATE TO NHTSA COMPLAINT ID 11747231 I am submitting an update regarding the same unresolved safety defect reported in NHTSA Complaint ID 11747231 involving my 2025 Kia Carnival SX. Mileage when the problem start approximately 8k miles. The vehicle has now undergone five repair attempts for the same recurring LCD/display failure. Repairs have included replacement of the LCD/display, replacement of the radio/head unit, work involving coaxial connections, and most recently repair of what the dealership diagnosed as “insufficient pin tension.” Kia Tech Line has also been involved. Most recently, I was told the vehicle was repaired and ready for pickup. However, when I arrived at the authorized Kia dealership, the LCD began flickering again while the vehicle was still in the dealership parking lot. Dealership personnel witnessed the failure and recorded video of it. The defect remains unresolved. The display has previously gone blank while driving, caused navigation to become unavailable, and caused the rearview/backup-camera image to become unavailable while reversing. This recurring failure is causing me significant stress and distraction while driving because I do not know when the screen will suddenly begin flickering or go blank again. When the screen unexpectedly flickers or fails while I am driving, it draws my attention away from the road. The loss of the rearview-camera image while reversing also creates a serious safety concern because I unexpectedly lose the camera view behind the vehicle. I regularly transport my family, including young children, and I am extremely concerned about these unpredictable failures. After five repair attempts, the same safety-related defect continues to occur without warning. I respectfully request that NHTSA associate this update with Complaint ID 11747231 and review this continuing safety defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768241October 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The battery is draining due to external things but it’s not attached to anything and now all screens in the car flash on and off and go black including speedometer
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768008September 30, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I had to slam on my brakes and the car went into Limp Mode, not allowing acceleration above 20 MPh. I drove for a while and then pulled into a parking lot and turned off the car and back on again. I was able to achieve normal acceleration after turning the car back on. We felt unsafe having no control over our speed and cars honking and racing around us. I am afraid to drive my family in this car for fear of having to slam on my brakes at a highway intersection or off/on ramp, which could cause a fatal crash. A Kia dealership is performing a diagnostic now and will advise. The vehicle has not been inspected by another agency. No warning lights went on that I can recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766261September 22, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On random occasions, car will display "check hybrid system" and go into limp mode (limiting speed significantly) check engine, oil, and battery lights also illuminate. Had car serviced twice by dealership who cannot replicate the error, nor can they find any engine codes stored. However, this incident keeps occurring. Planning on having the car serviced again and not picking it up until it's figured out, but also wanted to report this incidence as I have seen several posts with other people complaining of the same issue. Concern is for if this happens randomly at freeway speeds and becomes a serious road hazard.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765465September 19, 2026
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
the vehicle was rear-ended on the highway. The front driver airbag and seatbelt for the driver and passengers in the middle row, likely malfunctioned, as the driver hit her head on the front visor/headliner and rearview mirror. The rear passenger was thrown into the center console.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11763549September 11, 2026
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
On August 31, 2026, while traveling eastbound on I-14/US-190 in Killeen, Texas toward Temple, an original factory-installed Continental CrossContact RX 235/55 R19 101H tire on a 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid suffered a major failure at approximately 28,975 vehicle miles. A toddler was a passenger in the vehicle. Prior to the failure, there was an unusual tire noise, followed by a much louder noise and the smell of burning rubber as the tire came apart. There were no known tire-pressure warnings or other warning messages before the failure. Fortunately, the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and safely pull off the highway. There was no crash, fire, or injury. Kia Roadside Assistance towed the vehicle to a Kia dealership. The failed tire was replaced. A service advisor at the dealership who personally observed the failed tire subsequently stated that what he observed was tread separation and not road-hazard damage. Approximately 7,091 miles before the failure, at 21,884 vehicle miles, a Kia multipoint inspection documented all four factory-installed Continental tires at 7/32-inch tread depth with “NO DAMAGE.” The tires had also received documented rotations during the vehicle's service history. The failed tire is no longer available for inspection. I contacted the servicing dealership the morning after the incident specifically regarding retaining the failed tire. When I later returned to the dealership to follow up, I learned that the tire had been disposed of. Continental was notified of the incident but has not physically inspected the failed tire because it was disposed of by the dealership. Three other factory-installed Continental CrossContact RX tires remain on the vehicle. I am submitting this complaint because of the serious safety concern associated with a reported tread separation occurring at highway speed and because three tires from the original factory-installed set remain in service.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763722September 11, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact's minor children were unable to ride in the vehicle due to the odor. Several dealers were contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was contacted by the dealer and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763227September 9, 2026
AIR BAGS
The seat and side curtain Airbags did not deployed on auto crash accident.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11762863September 8, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
The passenger-side sliding door closed while I was holding my son and leaning into the passenger doorway. At the time the door was closing, my son’s left foot was still inside the doorway. The sliding door closed directly onto his left foot and remained fully closed on his foot rather than stopping or reversing. His foot was trapped by the closed door until we were able to open it. This incident resulted in significant bruising to his left foot and concern for a possible fracture. The failure of the sliding door to detect the obstruction and stop or reverse put my son’s safety at serious risk and resulted in injury. The component involved was the passenger-side power sliding door and/or its obstruction detection/anti-pinch safety system. The vehicle and door are available for inspection upon request. At this time, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle/component has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others in connection with this incident. There were no warning lamps, warning messages, or other symptoms that we noticed prior to the incident indicating that the sliding door or its safety system was malfunctioning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11762493September 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My vehicle keeps throwing a code “check hybrid system” and slowing me down to 30mph, it will not accelerate. This is extremely dangerous. I can restart the car and it’s fine but this is a major safety issue considering it keeps happening
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760279August 28, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The digital instrument panel display on the right side that shows map direction goes blank or start flickering. Audio also fails to function. When it goes blank, the rear camera also stops showing and causes difficulting in reversing the car. This happens randomly, but mostly once car has driven 10-15 mins or more and not right away. Points to some effect due to heat or vibration since the screen flickering begins once its driven a little bit.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759487August 25, 2026
EQUIPMENT
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival with an external Harmar Swing Away Lift, Model Number: AL100, with a mobility scooter attached. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65-70 MPH, after driving for two hours on [XXX] approaching Grand Rapids, Michigan, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the driver became aware that the scooter had detached. The driver was able to pull over and became aware that the scooter was in the left bound lane. Other vehicles had to swerve to avoid a crash. Another driver was able to assist with securing the scooter on the vehicle. After the failure, the contact noticed there was a four-inch gap on the lift while lying on a flat surface. The lift was taken to the installer, who confirmed that the lift was working as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to another local dealer for further inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756260August 11, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
I am writing to formally report a serious, recurring safety defect involving the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in my vehicle. The system intermittently shuts off completely without warning and suffers from a malfunctioning airflow diverter. This directly impacts driver visibility due to immediate windshield fogging or the inability to de-ice during cold weather conditions. Below are the logged details of the intermittent shutdowns: July 9: System shut off 22 minutes into the drive. Local time: 07:58. Ambient temperature: 76°F. Vehicle settings: 72°F, Fan Speed 3.July 11: System shut off 34 minutes into the drive. Local time: 17:10. Ambient temperature: 92°F. Vehicle settings: Low, Full Blast. Furthermore, the airflow diverter is partially stuck on defrost mode. Air constantly blows onto the front windshield regardless of the chosen setting on the selector. This uncommanded airflow creates rapid temperature differentials on the glass, causing severe condensation and clouding the driver's line of sight during operation. These compounding HVAC failures constitute a significant safety hazard by unexpectedly distracting the driver and severely reducing visibility. I request that these issues be documented and investigated for potential safety recalls. Currently, my vehicle is in the shop with a local KIA dealership. A KIA corporate service technician is on ground and investigating the electrical and HVAC issues. Feel free to reach out for additional observational notes that I have compiled.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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