2023 KIA Carnival Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · 51 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Carnival years
Fewer complaints than other years 4th of 5 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 KIA Carnival. That ranks 4th out of 5 Carnival model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is unknown or other (22 complaints, 43%). Complaints mention 1 crash, 7 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

KIA Carnival
Snow White Pearl Kia Carnival Hybrid KA4 PE HEV minivan.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2023 KIA Carnival problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Unknown or Other22
Structure12 · ~77,000 mi
Electrical System6 · ~31,788 mi
Engine5
Fuel/propulsion System3
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness2
Fuel System, Gasoline2 · ~46,713 mi
Lane Departure2 · ~3,337 mi
Latches/locks/linkages2 · ~63,476 mi
Seat Belts2 · ~30,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Unknown or Other2243%———
Structure1224%77,000——
Electrical System612%31,788——
Engine510%———
Fuel/propulsion System36%———
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness24%———
Fuel System, Gasoline24%46,713——
Lane Departure24%3,337——
Latches/locks/linkages24%63,476——
Seat Belts24%30,000——
Steering24%6,669——
Engine and Engine Cooling12%———
Forward Collision Avoidance12%———
Power Train12%———
Service Brakes12%———
Vehicle Speed Control12%———
Visibility/wiper12%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2023, with 18 complaints
2022: 3202232023: 182023182024: 8202482025: 102025102026: 12202612

n = 51 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2023 KIA Carnival recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsApr 10, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V232000 · 141,032 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Structure:body:roof and pillarsJan 18, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V025000 · 101,049 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Structure:body:doorMar 31, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V236000 · 51,568 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Trailer hitchesPark outsideMar 17, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V179000 · 3,555 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

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…

Fuel/propulsion System · received Sep 23, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766404

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline · received Aug 4, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11754708

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

Unknown or Other · received Jul 24, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11752598

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…

Unknown or Other · received Jul 23, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11752515

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…

Structure · received Jun 5, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11742271

Other KIA Carnival years

← 2022 Carnival · 2024 Carnival →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2026 Carnival282
2025 Carnival1261
2024 Carnival752
2023514
2022 Carnival1366

See all KIA Carnival problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2023 KIA Carnival?

Owners most often report unknown or other, structure, electrical system problems. The top one, unknown or other, accounts for 22 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2023 KIA Carnival?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2023 KIA Carnival a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Carnival model years, the 2023 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.