2023 Kia Carnival

Bought for it to be a family car only to find out the defect of the sliding doors. Even after the recall “fixed” it my niece was crushed this morning by the door that obviously doesn’t sense resistance fast enough. Since then I’ve tested it and it is dangerous enough that we have disabled the doors. The automatic doors are not safe for children.

NHTSA ID

11777356

Incident

Nov 11, 2026

On August 4, 2026, I was involved in an accident while driving my 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige. During the incident, the brakes felt as though they had locked or frozen. When I attempted to slow down, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated instead of stopping, resulting in a collision. 1. Component Failure: UNKNOWN. I suspect a malfunction involving the braking system, electronic braking controls, accelerator system, or vehicle control module. The exact cause has not been established. The vehicle should be available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: The vehicle did not respond to my attempts to brake and appeared to accelerate unexpectedly. This prevented me from stopping as intended and placed my life and the safety of others on the road at serious risk. 3. Confirmation: UNKNOWN. I have not received a definitive mechanical diagnosis confirming the cause of the malfunction. 4. Inspections: The vehicle sustained substantial damage. Richie Rich Paint & Body provided a preliminary repair estimate of $22,038.07. The GAP administrator reviewed the damage but denied my claim because it did not meet its total-loss percentage requirement. A definitive mechanical investigation has not been provided. 5. Warning Signs: UNKNOWN. I cannot confirm whether warning lights or messages appeared before the incident. The symptoms I experienced were the brakes locking or freezing, followed by unexpected acceleration. I have not been involved in an automobile accident in more than 20 years. I am requesting a comprehensive Kia safety investigation, including examination of the braking and electronic control systems, diagnostic records, and event data recorder. I am concerned that a potential vehicle defect contributed to this accident and request that Kia preserve all available evidence and investigate this matter.

NHTSA ID

11775371

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

The seatbelt anchor for the second row seat immediately behind the driver's seat failed to latch properly sometimes and it would take several attempts to get it latched properly. The safety of me and others was put at risk because I could have been ejected in a crash or moved forward into the drivers seat, causing serious or fatal injury to me and/or the driver. The problem has not been reproduced, and the components have not been inspected, and there were no warnings issued by the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11771975

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

Fuel door actuator is electrically tied to cabin door locks with no manual release and frequently fails to open after repeatedly cycling cabin door locks. Issue is not due to bad batteries or other vehicle related electrical faults. Manufacturer has confirmed defect is present in all Kia models from 2020 until now with no after warranty support.

NHTSA ID

11766404

Incident

Sep 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle, causing the contact’s six children to become dizzy from the odor. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V232000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the remedy failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the recall repair was performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the dealer might offer a buyback of the vehicle. The manufacturer opened a case. The failure mileage was 58,425.

NHTSA ID

11754708

Incident

Jul 24, 2026

Mileage

58,425 mi

Vehicle air conditioning sends off a vinegar like aroma. Likely condensation on coils.

NHTSA ID

11752598

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

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 ID

11752515

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver’s side roof molding ejected from the vehicle. The contact immediately stopped the vehicle but was unable to locate the molding. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V025000 (STRUCTURE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11742271

Incident

May 31, 2026

Mileage

77,000 mi

IMPORTANT REMINDER: OWNER NOTIFICATION: CARNIVAL POWER SLIDING DOOR FEATURE (KA4PSD2 FLIGHT#105) - This document is the owner notification advising Kia's ongoing commitment to providing vehicle owners with a superior ownership experience. We would like to remind vehicle owners about the proper use of the power sliding door and its automatic stop and reversal feature in the Kia Carnival. The power sliding door feature is designed to enhance accessibility and ease of use, but it’s important to understand its functions and limitations to ensure safe and reliable operation.

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY048) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the horn assembly in certain 2022-2024 MY Carnival vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 10 years / 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address a horn sound malfunction condition free of charge at no cost to the customer.

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY048) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is s extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the horn assembly for certain 2022-2024 MY Carnival vehicles manufactured from January 4, 2021 through July 4, 2024, from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 10 years / 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address a horn sound malfunction condition.

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY048) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Warranty Extension Campaign WTY048.

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY048) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the horn assembly for certain 2022-2024 MY Carnival vehicles manufactured from January 4, 2021 through July 4, 2024, from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 10 years / 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address a horn sound malfunction condition.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HORN ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY048) - This bulletin provides information associated with the Warranty Extension Program (WTY048) to inspect and, if necessary, replace both the high-pitch and low-pitch horn assemblies on certain 2022-2024MY Carnival (KA4) vehicles produced from January 4, 2021 through July 4, 2024. The affected vehicles may experience a distorted or inoperative horn sound caused by excessive moisture and dust exposure over time. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the horn assembly has been extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 10 years / 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service.