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2025 Kia Carnival

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 124 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

124 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2025
Vehicle Speed Control

I was stopped in in the left turn lane with my right foot on the brake pedal. Suddenly the car began to rapidly move forward. I jammed my right foot down and stopped the car, avoiding an accident.

NHTSA ODI #11695410

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2025
Electrical System

12V battery drains if the car is left unused for more than 3-4 days. Car needs to be jumped to start it up again. The issue occurred in August and I jumped it first time. It started happening again September and had a service appointment with Kia. They hard reset the software but the issue occured again every time I left the car…

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12V battery drains if the car is left unused for more than 3-4 days. Car needs to be jumped to start it up again. The issue occurred in August and I jumped it first time. It started happening again September and had a service appointment with Kia. They hard reset the software but the issue occured again every time I left the car unused for more than 3-4 days.

NHTSA ODI #11693064

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2025
Electrical System

I was driving about 6:30ish in the morning and my whole dashboard went black and my head lights turned off couple seconds later it came back on while i am driving. I will be calling the dealership to see what can be checked.

NHTSA ODI #11689323

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

The 2025 Kia Carnivals have a safety systems that prompts the driver to, "Take and coffee break". The system cannot be turned off and is extremely distracting. The system prompts the driver even if the adaptive cruise control is turned off. I called Kia and they told me to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was not able …

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The 2025 Kia Carnivals have a safety systems that prompts the driver to, "Take and coffee break". The system cannot be turned off and is extremely distracting. The system prompts the driver even if the adaptive cruise control is turned off. I called Kia and they told me to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was not able to turn the computer nag off either. The car makes a noise and the prompt flashes at the driver every few miles. This happens when traveling at highway speeds and in traffic. The driver has to look down from the road to see what the noise is and is greeted with the infuriating "Take a coffee break" message. It is extremely distracting and annoying to the point it induces road rage. The NTSB needs to investigate this system and require manufacturers to either allow owners to turn it off or do not include this feature in their vehicles. The next question is irrelevant because this happens on almost every highway drive. It is not a one time occurrence.

NHTSA ODI #11685204

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2025
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

Vehicle Malfunction Report What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle's transmission and/or gear shifter system has failed to function as intended. When the gear shifter is set to "Reverse," the transmission has repeatedly shifted into "Drive" or "Neutral" inste…

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Vehicle Malfunction Report What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle's transmission and/or gear shifter system has failed to function as intended. When the gear shifter is set to "Reverse," the transmission has repeatedly shifted into "Drive" or "Neutral" instead. Concurrently, the vehicle's electronic backup camera system and audible sensor beep activate, indicating that the vehicle believes it is in reverse. The van is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety and the safety of others were put at risk on multiple occasions due to the vehicle shifting into the wrong gear. This has caused the van to unexpectedly lurch forward when I intended to back up. I have nearly collided with other parked vehicles and my garage door between 10 to 20 times. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center, but it has occurred on numerous occasions and is a confirmed issue by the driver. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? To date, the vehicle and its components have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or messages displayed prior to the problem occurring. The primary symptoms of the malfunction are the vehicle shifting into "Drive" or "Neutral" instead of "Reverse," while the backup camera and an audible beep are active. These symptoms began almost immediately after the vehicle was purchased.

NHTSA ODI #11685082

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2025
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceLane Departure

The main screen dashboard suddenly turned off while driving and will not come back. No odometer, turn signal, lane keeping, anything available.

NHTSA ODI #11683404

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2025
Structure

Side passenger doors do not stop when something is in the way when the automatic door close feature is used. We tried holding a hot dog and large piece of celery in the way of the door as it closed. The sensor did not detect either item and broke them both in two. If this was a human limb, finger, neck or other body part, great …

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Side passenger doors do not stop when something is in the way when the automatic door close feature is used. We tried holding a hot dog and large piece of celery in the way of the door as it closed. The sensor did not detect either item and broke them both in two. If this was a human limb, finger, neck or other body part, great bodily harm would occur.

NHTSA ODI #11681167

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2025
Unknown Or Other

On two separate occasions, [XXX] and [XXX], I received emails from Kia Connect giving me a 12-Volt Battery Discharge Warning. I have the car out at the local dealership right now and they say there is nothing wrong with the battery but they are replacing it. I have noticed online multiple owners are complaining of the same issu…

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On two separate occasions, [XXX] and [XXX], I received emails from Kia Connect giving me a 12-Volt Battery Discharge Warning. I have the car out at the local dealership right now and they say there is nothing wrong with the battery but they are replacing it. I have noticed online multiple owners are complaining of the same issue and Kia has had a recall of a similar issue with a different model of car in the past. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11680927

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2025
Unknown Or Other

When I was trying to accelerate over 30 MPH I got a driver assistance warning 10 warning lights came on so I pulled over and once I put the car into park it would no longer shift into drive.

NHTSA ODI #11680625

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2025
Unknown Or Other

Battery randomly dies.

NHTSA ODI #11677758

Official recalls

1

26V232000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Apr 10, 2026

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 & remedy

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 recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 24, 2026.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.