Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 25 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
25 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2025
Vehicle Speed Control
On Dec 12th the speedometer repeatedly showed very incorrect values, both displaying much faster than the vehicle was traveling and displaying zero when the vehicle had accelerated. We have not been able to replicate the issue. And it went away after shutting down and restarting the vehicle. The vehicle has not yet been inspec…
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On Dec 12th the speedometer repeatedly showed very incorrect values, both displaying much faster than the vehicle was traveling and displaying zero when the vehicle had accelerated. We have not been able to replicate the issue. And it went away after shutting down and restarting the vehicle. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by anyone. From a safety perspective the speedometer accuracy is in question. Prior to this incident the screens had all shut themselves off. After the incidents the main screen (with the speedometer) rebooted itself a few times while driving. We have video of the speedometer acting incorrectly but unable to upload the correct format. See included screenshot while driving about 30mph with the speedometer showing zero.
NHTSA ODI #11704869
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2025
Electrical System
Vehicle parked for 48 hours (Sunday 23 Nov evening) under carport, no keys near it. When approached on 26 Nov 10am , it was found with dead battery. Nothing was on when it was parked.
NHTSA ODI #11701699
Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2025
Power Train
After purchasing vehicle (4Sep25) the following week's notice wet spots in drive way first assumed to be from A/C but not the it is November and A/C is off the wet spots are still showing up. Checked under the vehicle and noticed oil all around the PCV tube. Took vehicle to Allentown Kia. They confirmed there is a oil leak but t…
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After purchasing vehicle (4Sep25) the following week's notice wet spots in drive way first assumed to be from A/C but not the it is November and A/C is off the wet spots are still showing up. Checked under the vehicle and noticed oil all around the PCV tube. Took vehicle to Allentown Kia. They confirmed there is a oil leak but the leak is from the oil pan gasket. The vehicle has 400 ish miles on it and was i believe a quart low on oil by the time I took it in for repairs.
NHTSA ODI #11698804
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2025
Power Train
URGENT SAFETY CONCERN/ISSUE On [XXX], while driving my 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige, it lost all power without warning, leaving me unable to accelerate or control the vehicle. This created an unsafe situation as I was traveling at 40 mph when all power was lost. What happened to me was a serious safety hazard. The vehicl…
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URGENT SAFETY CONCERN/ISSUE On [XXX], while driving my 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige, it lost all power without warning, leaving me unable to accelerate or control the vehicle. This created an unsafe situation as I was traveling at 40 mph when all power was lost. What happened to me was a serious safety hazard. The vehicle was brand new with only 1351 miles at the time. Several warning lights came on including the hybrid system warning light. The vehicle was not drivable; there was no power at all. I had to tow the vehicle to a Kia dealer where it took 17 days to repair with a new power module. On [XXX], (after the vehicle was repaired), I was driving the vehicle when the POWER alert flashed on the dashboard. I did not lose total power yet, but the literature advises that I take the vehicle into the dealership asap to have them look into the Power warning light coming on. I have an appointment on September 18, 2025. I have reported my issue to Kia customer service, and the dealership is aware of what is going on. I believe what is happening, (the abrupt loss of total power while driving) may be a widespread defect affecting the Carnival hybrid system in 2025 and 2026 model years. This is a serious safety issue that need corrected before someone is killed or seriously injured. Total loss of power at 40 mph or more cannot be permitted to happen. There should be some sort of safety bypass whereby the gas engine totally engages to the exclusion of the hybrid system, so total power is NOT lost at High speeds. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11687484
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2025
Unknown Or Other
Driver assistance system. This system monitors vehicle variables and unnecessarily SOUNDS A WARNING to take a COFFEE BREAK!! Here is the issue. When driving I need critical warning information. It is distracting while driving to be alerted to a COFFEE BREAK warning. PLEASE direct KIA to enable drivers to TURN OFF this featur…
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Driver assistance system. This system monitors vehicle variables and unnecessarily SOUNDS A WARNING to take a COFFEE BREAK!! Here is the issue. When driving I need critical warning information. It is distracting while driving to be alerted to a COFFEE BREAK warning. PLEASE direct KIA to enable drivers to TURN OFF this feature. Every 10 minutes I am getting a warning and the warning is completely unrelated to driver status or restfullness. Driver assistance systems should be able to have HUMAN control. This is an assistance system, not a safety system. Please direct KIA issue as system update to allow human control of driver assistance.
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.
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 such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
Consequence & remedy
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 Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 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.
2026 Kia Carnival Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year