Kia Carnival Recalls (2022-2026)
The Kia Carnival has been the subject of 7 recall campaigns on record with NHTSA across the 2022 to 2026 model years. They cluster mostly around the structure, fuel system, and electrical system.
The Kia Carnival scores 7 out of 100 (grade F), one of the heavier recall records among the vehicles we track. That score reflects how serious the recalls are rather than how many. 86% involve a critical safety system, none carried a do-not-drive warning, and 71% were issued in the last three years. How the score works.
Those 7 campaigns span 5 model years of the Kia Carnival. The single largest affected 3,555 vehicles, over trailer hitches. A recall repair is free at a franchised dealer and most never expire, so an older open recall is still worth fixing. Beyond recalls, you can also see the most common Carnival problems owners report and its crash-test safety ratings.
The full record is below, grouped first by model year and then listed in detail. Each entry gives the defect NHTSA describes, the safety risk it creates, the manufacturer's remedy, the number of vehicles in that campaign, and the dates. A recall covers a whole production run, so a campaign listed for the Kia Carnival may not apply to your exact vehicle, and one you have already had repaired will still appear in the history. To see what is actually open and unfixed on a specific car, check its 17-digit VIN.
Kia Carnival recalls by model year
Recall activity by model year. Select a year to jump to its recalls below. Older years often carry more recalls simply because defects surface over time.
Kia Carnival recalls by affected system
Which vehicle systems the recalls touch, using NHTSA's component groups. Select a system to see how it is recalled across every make and model.
Recalls by model year
2026 Kia Carnival Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2026 Kia Carnival, involving the fuel system and electrical system.
2025 Kia Carnival Recalls
1 recall affects the 2025 Kia Carnival, involving the fuel system.
2024 Kia Carnival Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2024 Kia Carnival, involving the fuel system and structure.
2023 Kia Carnival Recalls
4 recalls affect the 2023 Kia Carnival, involving the structure, fuel system, and trailer hitches.
2022 Kia Carnival Recalls
6 recalls affect the 2022 Kia Carnival, involving the structure, fuel system, and trailer hitches.
Every Kia Carnival recall in detail
Fuel System
- Affected years
- 2022-2026 Kia Carnival
- Vehicles in this recall
- 141,032
- Reported
- Apr 10, 2026
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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 are expected to be 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.
NHTSA campaign number 26V232000.
Electrical System
- Affected years
- 2026 Kia Carnival
- Vehicles in this recall
- 42,677
- Reported
- Jan 26, 2026
- Owners notified
- Mar 13, 2026
Defect: 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."
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 26V046000.
Structure
- Affected years
- 2022-2024 Kia Carnival
- Vehicles in this recall
- 101,049
- Reported
- Jan 18, 2024
- Owners notified
- Mar 15, 2024
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
Risk: A detached roof molding can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 24V025000.
Structure
- Affected years
- 2022-2023 Kia Carnival
- Vehicles in this recall
- 51,568
- Reported
- Mar 31, 2023
- Owners notified
- Apr 28, 2023
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling all 2022 and certain 2023 Carnival vehicles. The auto-reverse feature for the power sliding doors (PSD) may not activate in all situations.
Risk: A power sliding door that does not auto-reverse can close on an occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 23V236000.
Trailer Hitches
- Affected years
- 2022-2023 Kia Carnival
- Vehicles in this recall
- 3,555
- Reported
- Mar 17, 2023
- Owners notified
- May 16, 2023
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 23V179000.
Latches/Locks/Linkages
- Affected years
- 2022 Kia Carnival
- Vehicles in this recall
- 2,956
- Reported
- Nov 19, 2021
- Owners notified
- Dec 16, 2021
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The remote controller assembly for the passenger-side power sliding door may malfunction, preventing the passenger-side sliding door from securely latching.
Risk: A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 21V908000.
Fuel System
- Affected years
- 2022 Kia Carnival
- Vehicles in this recall
- 2,744
- Reported
- Apr 21, 2021
- Owners notified
- Apr 30, 2021
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged.
Risk: A damaged fuel rail tube may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 21V277000.
Common questions about Kia Carnival recalls
- Does the Kia Carnival have any recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA has 7 recall campaigns on record for the Kia Carnival across the 2022 to 2026 model years. The most common areas are the structure, fuel system, and electrical system.
- How many times has the Kia Carnival been recalled?
- The Kia Carnival has 7 recall campaigns from the 2022 to 2026 model years. A single campaign often covers several model years at once, so the number of recalls is not the same as the number of years affected.
- What is the most serious Kia Carnival recall?
- The most serious recall on record involves the trailer hitches, affecting 3,555 vehicles. Owners were told to park outside and away from buildings because of a fire risk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Which Kia Carnival model year has the most recalls?
- The 2022 Kia Carnival has the most, with 6 recall campaigns on record. Older model years often pick up more recalls over time, since defects can surface years after a car is built.
- How do I check if my Kia Carnival has an open recall?
- Enter your 17-digit VIN on the recall check page. It returns the recalls tied to your exact vehicle straight from NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer, with no expiration on most safety recalls.
Recall data comes from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. For how it is sourced and how the safety score is built, see the methodology and data sources. This page is a reference, not legal or safety advice.