Kia Carnival
Registered from 2022 to 2027.
About this model
The Kia Carnival is a minivan manufactured by the South Korean automaker Kia since 1998. Before the fourth generation, it was marketed as the Kia Sedona in North America and serveral other markets. The fourth-generation model was introduced in 2020, and Kia adopted the Carnival name in North America for the 2022 model year.
From the Wikipedia article Kia Carnival, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Unknown or other: more complaints than 90% of 2022 cars — 26% of its 133 complaints, where an ordinary 2022 car has 15%.
- Structure: more complaints than 98% of 2022 cars — 24% of its 133 complaints, where an ordinary 2022 car has 4%.
- Visibility: more complaints than 96% of 2022 cars — 6% of its 133 complaints, where an ordinary 2022 car has 1%.
- Latches/locks/linkages: more complaints than 98% of 2022 cars — 5% of its 133 complaints, where an ordinary 2022 car has 1%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- STRUCTURE — 21 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 11 owners reported this
- VISIBILITY/WIPER — 8 owners reported this
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 6 owners reported this
- VISIBILITY — 6 owners reported this
- ENGINE — 5 owners reported this
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — 4 owners reported this
- SEATS — 4 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE — 3 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN — 3 owners reported this
- AIR BAGS — 2 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 2 owners reported this
- ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this
- STEERING — 2 owners reported this
- STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — 2 owners reported this
Crash test
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | Standard & Optional |
| Lane departure warning | Standard |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 13.1 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway |
| 2026 | 287 hp · 2201 kg · 3090 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 13.1 L/100km city · 9.4 motorway |
| 2025 | 287 hp · 2201 kg · 3090 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 13.1 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway |
| 2024 | 290 hp · 2039 kg · 3090 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway |
| 2023 | 290 hp · 2039 kg · 3090 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway |
| 2022 | 290 hp · 2039 kg · 3090 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
22% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
21V277000
A damaged fuel rail tube may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the multi-port injection fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC211.
21V908000
A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the passenger-side power sliding door release actuator's drum and holder inside the remote controller assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC221.
23V179000
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and verify whether the vehicle is equipped with a Genuine Kia accessory trailer tow hitch assembly. If equipped, dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC265.
23V236000
A power sliding door that does not auto-reverse can close on an occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will update the power sliding door control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC266.
24V025000
A detached roof molding can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect the roof molding and replace or secure it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC292.
26V232000
A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Power Sliding Door Auto Reverse Failure
Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2022, closed June 2023.
Became recall 23V236000.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Kia filed 32 bulletins about the 2026 Carnival.
- Electrical system: 16
- Power train: 5
- Seats: 5
- Engine: 2
- Structure: 2
- Back over prevention: 1
- Visibility/wiper: 1
- 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… · June 2026
- RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of… · June 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: 2ND ROW SEAT (LH & RH) FOLDING TENSION SPRING REPLACEMENT (PI2602) - This bulletin provides information to enhance the second-row seatback… · June 2026
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (PI2602) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Product Improvement Campaign… · June 2026
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (PI2602) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign on certain 2022-2026 MY Carnival and… · June 2026
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (PI2602) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Product… · June 2026
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (PI2602) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to enhance the… · June 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable… · June 2026
24 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.