62 consumer complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2024 Kia Carnival. Click any complaint to view the full owner description.
POWER TRAINApril 27, 2026
I purchased this 2024 Kia Carnival on 2/7/2026 with less than 10K miles. The vehicle has died while I was driving 4 different times. Twice each day that it happened. The first time was on 4/7/26. My car died on the way home from getting my kids from school after fixing a flat tire. The check engine light came on after getting a jump and when I took it to Auto Zone the battery was fully charged and the codes were for the Power Train, which didn't make sense for a brand new car. Miracle Mart told me that Kia needed to be utilized for any issues because I purchased the vehicle as is. Their solution was to tighten the "loose cables". On 4/25/26 the car died again two more times. Something is terribly wrong with this car.
ENGINEApril 27, 2026
Our 2024 Carnival has had a recurring engine oil leak that has required the vehicle to be left at the dealership 4 times for the same issue. Each time we get the van back the repair lasts about 1-3 weeks (depending on how often it's driven). Oil continues to leak from the engine area, creating risk of engine damage or a potential fire hazard if oil contacts hot components. The issue has not been resolved despite repeated repair attempts under warranty. The Carnival has 38,092 miles on it, and has been in the repair shop over 4 times. The 1st time it was put in the shop the van has 34,420 miles on it. Each time it has been left at the dealership for 9 - 17 days while the repairs were made. We have brought it to the same dealership each time and they have been very sympathetic and helpful. Not only does this issue cause the risks mentioned above, but it has ruined the concrete in my garage as well as added oil to the roadway which could cause an accident. I have all the repair orders from the first 3 repairs that I will attach. However I do not have thee current one because the vehicle is currently being repaired for the 4th time and I haven't received the finalized repair order documents. I can update this claim once the repairs are completed. I will be contacting Kia tomorrow and wanted to have a claim number started.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMApril 16, 2026
The fuel pipe in my 2024 Kia Carnival has been identified by Kia as part of Safety Recall SC368 due to a fire risk. The component is available for inspection at the dealership where the vehicle is currently located. My safety and the safety of my family — including young children in car seats — was put at risk because the vehicle carries a known fire hazard related to the fuel pipe, yet no remedy is available until June 2026 at the earliest, according to Kia Customer Care. Kia confirmed the recall and the fire risk but has not provided adequate alternative transportation, leaving a family with young children without a safe vehicle for an extended period. The problem has been confirmed by Kia Customer Care, who verified that my vehicle is included in recall SC368. The dealership also confirmed the recall exists but stated the remedy is not yet available. However, when I contacted NHTSA by phone to file a complaint, the representative stated they could not find my vehicle in their recall database, directly contradicting Kia's confirmation. This discrepancy between Kia's internal records and NHTSA's database is concerning and may prevent other affected owners from being aware of the safety risk. The vehicle has been surrendered to the dealership via tow due to the fire risk. It has not yet been inspected or diagnosed by the dealership service department. I have requested written confirmation that the vehicle is safe to drive before accepting it back. I was notified via a CARFAX alert and the risk was identified/confirmed by the manufacturer.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMApril 15, 2026
I reported a fuel smell in the cabin of my vehicle in June 2024. It was dismissed because they could not recreate the smell. I reported it again and they said that is just how the vehicle purges fuel. I reported it again and drove it right to the dealer when it smelled and multiple mechanics at KIA confirmed they smelled it. Reported it again in September 2024, then tried to deal with it, and reported it again in June and July 2025. In July they confirmed I had raw fuel in my evaporator canister. I also had misfire notifications on my dashboard which were dismissed as they could not determine where the misfire was coming from. The misfire stopped after they replaced my fuel canister but the smell never fully went away. I received an email follow up in July 2025 and I reported the smell was not as strong, but still occurring intermittently. They closed the case. I reported and had 2 open cases with KIA, and noted that I was feeling lightheaded and nauseous, as well as 2 of my 3 kids at the time.
ENGINEApril 2, 2026
My Kia vehicle has an ongoing engine oil leak that has not been properly repaired under warranty. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Kia dealership for diagnosis and repair of the oil leak. I was informed by the dealership that Kia engineers indicated that in similar situations the typical resolution is engine replacement. However, in my case, the dealership was instructed to attempt sealing the oil pan instead of replacing the engine. I was advised that if this repair did not resolve the issue, I could bring the vehicle back for further service. Unfortunately, the oil warning light has now returned on the dashboard, indicating the issue persists and the repair attempt was not successful. An unresolved engine oil leak presents a serious safety concern because loss of engine oil can lead to engine damage, stalling, or failure while driving. This creates a risk of unsafe driving conditions, especially when transporting passengers. My family relies on this vehicle for daily transportation, and the continued presence of the warning light makes the vehicle unreliable and concerning from a safety standpoint. In addition, the dealership has not provided a suitable loaner or rental vehicle large enough to accommodate my family while the vehicle is undergoing repair. This has created significant hardship as we do not currently have reliable transportation. The manufacturer should correct this defect properly and ensure the vehicle is safe to operate rather than attempt temporary or experimental repairs that do not resolve the root cause. The persistence of the oil leak after warranty repair raises concerns about the reliability and safety of the engine. I am submitting this complaint to document a potential engine defect that may pose a safety risk if engine oil loss leads to engine failure while the vehicle is in operation.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINEMarch 28, 2026
"Continuous engine oil leak for 12 months. After 4 failed repair attempts, the dealer used liquid sealer instead of a gasket. This is a deceptive repair that creates a severe fire hazard. The leak is still active today, March 2026."
UNKNOWN OR OTHERMarch 25, 2026
The horn stops working when it’s cold and the horn installed does not match the amperage need for the vehicle. It has failed multiple times. I rarely use my horn. It failed for the first time around 20,000 miles. Separately, I have an oil leak that is also covered under warranty. This car has been serviced countless times and it has been in the shop for three weeks.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERMarch 17, 2026
Driver side passenger back sliding door will not open or close properly. Door will jam and make a loud noise or will not open when trying to open. Took it the dealership 4 times they replaced the motor but the issue continues.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERFebruary 11, 2026
Horn stops working and needs to be replaced within a year or less. I reported the first time my horn stopped working and it took 4 months until I can have an appointment and order the part. The second time it stopped working was within a year and scheduling an appointment was difficult. I was almost in an accident and unable to use to both to alert the other driver.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJanuary 28, 2026
Horns (high and low) have been replaced 5 times under a warranty. This is a serious safety hazard. Vehicle: Kia Carnival (Model Years 2022–2024) Issue: Repeated horn failure / electrical malfunction Owners of 2022–2024 Kia Carnival vehicles are experiencing repeated horn failures that present a safety concern. Reported symptoms include complete loss of horn function, intermittent operation, delayed response, and in some cases random horn or alarm activation without driver input. When the failure occurs, both the high-pitch and low-pitch horns are often found to be inoperative. Many owners report that dealerships replace both horns, sometimes multiple times, with some vehicles requiring second or third replacements. Kia has acknowledged this issue through a Technical Service Bulletin (ELE-263), which instructs dealers to replace both horns when one fails; however, the bulletin does not identify a permanent root cause or corrective design change. As a result, the issue frequently recurs after replacement. A non-functional or intermittent horn significantly reduces the driver’s ability to warn other road users and avoid collisions, creating a clear safety risk. Given the recurring nature of the failure across multiple model years, this appears to be a systemic defect rather than isolated component wear.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERJanuary 25, 2026
Due to cables being lined in soy in attracts rodents which cause damage to the car. Multiple electric malfunctions from power lift gate to automatic windows. It is a known issue and is very common.
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEJanuary 12, 2026
Out of nowhere, we started our vehicle that was no more than a year old, and all of the emergency alert indicators on the dash came on. All of the warning lights in the dash. The power steering went out and would go from very stiff to very loose. the car would shutter and then drive normal for a few min and then slow way down without warning. Again, all dash warning lights and alarms would go off. This first appeared on [XXX], we took to the Kia service on Nov. 17, 2025, and it was been in the shop with no repair since that day and todays date is Jan, 12, 2026. As of today they still do not know what is wrong with the vehicle and have no end in sight. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
SEATSDecember 10, 2025
On 11/12, my 2024 Kia Carnival was parked as my children were getting settled in the vehicle. My son lifted the second-row passenger seat on the passenger side using the handle provided to access the third row. As he did so, the seatback suddenly collapsed forward with unexpected speed and force and locked in the forward position. Nothing broke, and the mechanism did not appear to jam. The seat moved along its normal path, but it did so so aggressively that it crushed my [XXX] daughter’s left leg while she was strapped into her car seat directly next to it. She was asleep, the car was not moving, and the seat feature was being used in a normal way to access the third row. The force of the collapsing seat fractured her left tibia, confirmed by X-ray. She is currently in a medical boot and under a doctor’s care. This vehicle has no accident history and no modifications. We have multiple witnesses (myself and our children), photos of the injury, and a video that shows how fast and forcefully the seat folds. This presents a serious safety risk in a family vehicle where children commonly sit behind folding second-row seats. A seat access mechanism should not be capable of moving with enough force to break a toddler’s bone in a parked vehicle. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this seat design and its operation in the 2024 Kia Carnival. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11704247ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINENovember 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal gas odor would emit through the vehicle's ventilation system. The contact notified a local dealer, and an appointment was made to have the vehicle serviced. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that there was likely bacteria growing inside the vehicle, which caused the odor. The contact disputed this claim and recommended that the air filters be replaced; the contact paid for the repair. Despite the repair, the contact stated that the fuel odor had become a chemical odor, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The dealer confirmed that they had smelled a fuel odor inside the vehicle and informed the contact that she had overfilled her fuel tank with gas. While the contact also disputed this claim, the dealer later concluded that the dipstick inside the oil pan was not properly sealed, and the dealer repaired the defect. Despite the dealer's claims and repairs, the fuel odor had become stronger. The contact stated that the odor had become so severe that she went to the emergency room to be treated for nausea and lightheadedness. The contact was given medication for her symptoms. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was given a case number. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11700277UNKNOWN OR OTHEROctober 16, 2025
Both horns went bad on my vehicle that is less than 2 years old. Dealership said ours is the 5th vehicle they have seen this week with the same issue. They have been unable to determine a cause.
BACK OVER PREVENTIONOctober 15, 2025
Rearview camera not available and car is operational when car is processing an over the air update.
ENGINESeptember 28, 2025
I am submitting this complaint regarding my Kia Carnival. The vehicle has a recurring and dangerous problem where the engine suddenly jumps and, if I continue pressing the gas, it shuts off while driving. This has happened multiple times, including in the middle of the highway, creating a serious safety risk for myself, my passengers, and other drivers. I have taken the vehicle to a Kia dealership on multiple occasions, but they have not been able to identify or repair the issue. I also contacted Kia corporate, obtained a case number, and was told someone would follow up with me. Unfortunately, no one has ever called me back. This is an ongoing and unresolved defect that puts my family and the public in danger. I request that the NHTSA investigate this matter to determine if this is part of a larger safety defect in Kia Carnival vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Kia case number XXX
STRUCTURESeptember 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Carnival. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V025000 (Structure). The contact stated that the driver's side roof molding was detaching, and the contact attempted to secure the molding in place several times. The dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment for the recall repair, but the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair had already been performed while the vehicle was at the dealer for an unrelated service, a month prior. The contact stated that the dealer had failed to perform the recall repair correctly because the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed; however, no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJuly 19, 2025
A/C system on my 2024 Kia Carnival failed twice within weeks. First at 60,100 miles, repaired at dealership for $398. Then again shortly after, leaving vehicle undrivable in summer heat. Kia has done nothing despite having a case number (#25267950). This is a recurring failure that affects safety and comfort during high-temperature seasons. I believe this is a manufacturer defect and request a formal investigation.
Chest Clip, Buckle, HarnessJuly 14, 2025
My child’s seat buckles are still not locking into place. I’ve contacted Nuna and their response was they needed 24-48 hours to find a solution as I’ve already don’t the seat recall solution. But they told me I can’t use this seat for my child. So I’m stuck without a car seat until they find some solution for me. I found this issue because my child was able to move the seat straps on his own, while I was driving down the highway.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJuly 5, 2025
Vehicle vents gasoline fumes into the passenger cabin causing drowsiness, headaches, and impaired cognitive function as well as exposure to a carcinogen. Vehicle has significantly high levels of CO2 inside the cabin at all times (2000-4000ppm) as well as TVOC and HCHO being higher than OSHA allows. Engine temperature gauge does not function properly and sliding doors have closed on myself and my children leaving bruises. If car were to be in an accident it would likely explode. Critical levels of CO2 have caused me to fall asleep while driving on several occasions including on the highway. I have brought car to Kia dealership in Tucson, AZ on 4 occasions, is currently back again for gas smell and high levels of CO2, with no resolution. Dealer manager and service team did confirm gas fumes in cabin and are currently using my CO2 monitor to test for CO2 levels. Vehicle component hasn't been inspected by police, insurance rep., or others. There are no warning lights of any kind on any instance of these occurrences. Images will not upload- email or call.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERJuly 2, 2025
Was driving through a roundabout, at slow speed, and heard a very loud pop, then I felt something poking me on my right arm and it was glass. Looked up and my sunroof was shattered. Nothing above me, nothing falling out of the sky, but totally shattered.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJune 26, 2025
Purchased a 2024 Kia Carnival on Monday, June 2 from a dealership. On Friday, June 6, the battery was dead and I had to have it jumped. I took it to the dealership the next week to have it looked at and they said the battery was fine. A week and a half later, after sitting for two days, the car wouldn't start again. Had it jumped again and took it back to the dealership. They seem to be confused with the issue and said they will need to have the car until the battery dies again so they can see it in "real time". A quick Google search indicates that this is by far not an isolated event. Something is very wrong with the electrical draw.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERJune 3, 2025
We have a 2024 kia carnival lx trim. The power sliding door pose a serious safety risk. My [XXX] daughter was getting out of the vehicle and decided to try and climb back in as the door was closing. The door did not detect her body at all and continued to close her head in the door. She was left with a black eye and a smashed blood shot thumb from trying to get her head out of the door. A few days later I was strapping my children into their carseats and was getting ready to step out of the vehicle when my husband turned the vehicle on. The power sliding door stopped closing and started re-opening then closing again. I thought I had enough time to step out but didn't the door closed with my entire adult body in the way without detecting me there. It took for me to excessively force to door to open back up and I now have a shoulder injury from doing so. We really need these doors to be recalled and a proper sensor to be installed on them. Had my daughter been younger than she was things could have been way more serious. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11664731UNKNOWN OR OTHERApril 24, 2025
Sliding doors do not have a safety feature to open back up if a person is still in the way. My [XXX] mom got pinned between the door and side of car where it shuts. Doors were still trying to close with her in them. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
STRUCTUREApril 22, 2025
The passenger automatic sliding door closed on my arm and required a lot of effort to push it back open. I’d it was my child standing there he would have been seriously injured. The problem has been reproduced, but I’m terrified to actually leave my arm there to see if it will close on it again. Nothing was inspected and there were no warnings prior to this happening.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMarch 12, 2025
Sliding doors closed on my oldest son’s fingers leaving severe indentation on his pointer, middle and ring fingers. My youngest son has his head dragged inbetween the door and the exterior of the vehicle. I was able to dislodge his head by the base of his neck. My dealership was unhelpful and went as far as to gaslight me into thinking any of this was my fault as a parent. I was shown where the sensor was (a thin strip of garbage) and was told that unless the sensor detects depth it will not stop. I was questioned why my child’s head was on the ground of the car and was judged as a mother. I simply explained he’s [XXX] and fell as the door was opening to which the door dragged him by his head. Thankfully my children were unharmed physically but emotionally are scarred. It’s not a matter of IF something tragic happens to another family but WHEN. Make the recall and get this garbage van safe for all families who think it’s safe. I tried to recreate a situation where the sensor should stop using a stuffed bear. The door not only struggled to shut making creaking noises but then completely shut on the child sized stuffed animal INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMarch 2, 2025
Purchased new KIA Carnival in May 2024. In August 2024 ALL of the warning lights came on and started cycling through to check every system. The warnings were the only thing that worked on the instrument cluster. All of the analog instruments stopped working: the speedometer, the tachometer, the fuel gauge, etc.. The blinkers didn't even indicate that they were working. I drove the vehicle directly to the dealership and they could see the problem, but then as quickly as it started it stopped. They said diagnostics did not indicate any problem so they were not able to find the issue to fix it. It started again in February.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SEAT BELTSOctober 12, 2024
Almost all cars next to me are unable to interpret my signal lights due to I) rear signal lights being so low and not at brake lint level, and ii) from signal lights being near the grill and not the corners. This is a huge problem when changing lanes. Same with the reverse light being only on the rear bumper level - it is common for pedestrians and cars to not notice that the car is about to reverse. This is very dangerous and should not have been passed. Kia must remedy this issue at once considering how many lives are at risk.
UNKNOWN OR OTHEROctober 5, 2024
Center rails for center seats get so hot they burn bare skin. (Center rails in the floor)
STEERINGSeptember 29, 2024
Got in my vehicle one day and noticed fluid dripping from the steering column. I took it into JT's Kia in Rock Hill, SC. At first they told me they were going to wipe off the "grease" then told me they needed to order a whole new steering column. I asked if it was still safe to drive and the service technician said no. I have heard this is a common problem with 2024 Kia Carnivals. Hopefully if enough people report the problem, a recall will be issued.
STRUCTURESeptember 27, 2024
Roof molding has either completely detactch or partial detached from top of vehicle 4 times now. They have attempted to glue it back on but it still fails! This is dangerous for other drivers and my family
STEERINGSeptember 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that oil and grease were leaking from the steering column onto the floorboard mats. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was an excessive grease leak. The vehicle was cleaned and repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERAugust 26, 2024
Floor rails are so hot, I had to cover them so my toddler and child could walk across them to get out of the van. The middle seats were taken out and the metal in the floor track gets so hot to even touch. Underneath the car when the car is running is enough to burn one’s legs also.. this is a big issue with us and our Kia and little children.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERAugust 21, 2024
Brought vehicle in for repair SC292 vehicle roof trim. Dealer (Safford Kia in Fredricksburg, VA) informed me that the trim was in good condition and does not qualify for the recall. I informed the dealer multiple times that the trim has already come off multiple times and is a hazard. They then reiterated that it didn’t qualify for a repair under their standards. Same information was presented directly to Kia Care and I was given the same information. Upon arriving home, a quick glance at the roof trim showed that it was, in fact, separated from the roof in one area and I was able to gently tug at the trim to remove it completely. The dealership failed to do an adequate inspection of the vehicle and repair it as they should have.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERAugust 16, 2024
Rear passenger side seat rails getting extremely hot after short time idling <15 minutes. Enough that I burned my foot tending to my infant in the middle row.
1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11609009UNKNOWN OR OTHERAugust 7, 2024
UNKNOWN. Center rails for middle seat in second row were hot to the touch. The floor mats in the second row were hot as well as some items and a shirt on the floor. Kids noticed heat, and at first I thought heat was accidentally on but confirmed ac was still on in the rear. Could feel heat radiating, almost as if your hand was over the hood when hot. Concerned about plastics melting, or a fire starting from this.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAugust 5, 2024
Battery randomly died in the car overnight
STRUCTUREAugust 4, 2024
Just purchased the 2024 Kia Carnival LX seat package 2 months ago. My wife and I noticed the floor of the Kia in the 2nd row up until the 3rd row gets so hot that it is unable to be touched. The railing system that the seats slide on get so hot that it will burn you. My children cannot stand on it or touch it or it will burn them. Very high risk for causing a fire. We cannot put any belongings on the floor because we are afraid that it will melt and cause a fire. We do not want anything to happen to our family. This is extremely dangerous and after researching, this has been going on for years. Something needs to be done.
SEATSJuly 29, 2024
The rails/tracks that the seats slide forward and back on get extremely hot while the car is on. The seat rails/tracks are exposed so the seats can slide and passengers have to step on them to get in and out. The amount of heat coming from the seat rails/tracks poses a burn risk, especially to children’s delicate feet.
1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11605093UNKNOWN OR OTHERJuly 23, 2024
I am currently sitting in the middle row, right seat with my wife in the driver seat and my [XXX] in the far left middle row seat. We just bought our 2024 Kia Carnival brand new from Camelback Kia a couple weeks ago. It has 1823 miles on it. As I’m sitting idled in a parking lot I pulled my foot out of my shoe and burnt my foot (hot black top in the summer kind of hot) on the rails for the middle seat and right seat (both in the middle row). It’s hot enough it feels like it could be a serious safety issue. I looked up this issue and there have been reports of fires because of this. What options do I have to get this resolved? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
AIR BAGSJuly 5, 2024
Car hit a ditch at over 40MPH and rolled over on its side and no airbags deployed
Crash reported1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11599345SEATSJune 30, 2024
The seat tracks/rails (what the seats go forward and backwards on) are extremely hot. It burnt my daughter’s foot as she stepped down. My husband and I felt with our hand and it was uncomfortable hot for the both of us. This is a major concern and safety issue.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJune 28, 2024
Horn not working. Second time less than 1 year old. First time dealer said it was blown fuse. There are 2 fuses associated with horn shown on diagram. I tested continuity on both and they are good. I believe there is a deeper electrical system issue with this vehicle. Quick forum search indicates this could be a widespread issue.
VISIBILITY/WIPERJune 19, 2024
Windshield spontaneously cracked while sitting still. Vehicle was parked on a hot day with AC running and windshield burst as if it were shot and cracks streaked across entire windshield by next day causing visibility issues. We are not aware of vehicle being hit by anything at the time it burst.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMay 25, 2024
1 - Electrical systems, All Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Blinker, Analog Speedometer, Digital Speedometer, RPM gauge, Climate Control Systems, were all showing as failed or malfunctioning while driving. Driver's unsure if other systems were affected. Driver distractibility was drastically increased and driver and passenger safety was at risk. Unknown component at fault, still in service at dealership. 2 - Very distracted driving, all dashboard lights blinking erratically and beeping noises constantly filling the cabin. Blinker would not work and other gauges were not functioning so driver could not tell speed of vehicle. Driver unsure if other systems affected such as airbags, lighting, braking systems, etc. Family did not want to drive the vehicle. 3 - Problem was not reproduced at dealership but vehicle produced 33 different fault codes. Dealer states another 2024 Kia Carnival is in for the same reasons. 4 - The vehicle has only been inspected by Bob Sight Kia employees. 5 - Nothing else happened prior. Vehicle had less than 200 miles on odometer when first incident occurred on [XXX], 2024. As stated previously, every warning indicator was flashing on and off sporadically. Some warnings weren't on the dashboard screen long enough to read. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 23, 2024
I was driving down the interstate and the front sunroof shattered while the vehicle was in operation. We were not passing under an overpass and there was not car ahead of us to kick up debris to cause an impact on the sunroof.
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKESMay 13, 2024
Driver was approaching the end of [XXX] and attempted to turn left onto the ramp to [XXX] but without prior warning the brakes and the steering wheel failed and he couldn’t turn or stop the car which resulted in the vehicle hitting the guardrail. The driver endured injuries on his hand, and overall emotional trauma. My insurance company refused to check the cars computer to prove that the car indeed failed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash reported1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11588543STRUCTUREMay 2, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Carnival. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V025000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTUREApril 14, 2024
In June 2023, I purchased a 2024 Kia Carnival with approx. 17 miles on it. One thing I noticed after purchasing the vehicle is when I pushed the button to close the power sliding door on the driver side of the vehicle is that halfway during closing it would hesitate, open back up slightly, and then proceed to close. I didn't think anything of it at the time. Prior to [XXX], I had the same issue again but this time the door stopped halfway while closed and just went back and forth over and over again. It did this continually until I turned off the power sliding door and manually closed it. On [XXX], I took the vehicle to a Kia dealership and explained the problem to them and they kept it for a day and stated there was nothing they could do because they could not replicate the problem. Kia wanted to charge me a $180 diagnostic fee which I refused to pay because I knew the problem existed and I had purchased a warranty through Kia which they stated they would not honor unless they found a problem. They advised me to video record the issue if it happened again. Prior to [XXX], the issue happened again only this time my 3 year old child was almost caught in the door, but my wife grabbed her and in doing so the door closed on my wife. After this incident, I was able to duplicate the issue two more times and was able to get it on recording. On [XXX], I took my vehicle to the same dealership and left it for a week. I provided them with my videos. During this time the issue also happened with the service rep and she also had two lube techs witness it, but this didn't satisfy them enough to say they could fix it. Eventually a tech worked on it and stated code "b15a200" showed as "pending" but they needed an "active" code in order to do any work on it. This code showed as "lh outside door handle switch short low". Kia again stated they couldn't work on it because the "tech" ever duplicated the problem. The problem has still persisted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINEJanuary 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was shuddering and vibrating while attempting to accelerate with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer on several occasions, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,500.
WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHERJanuary 8, 2024
I hit a piece of 4X4 in the road that fell off of the vehicle in front of me. In doing so, I thought I busted my front driver’s side tire, but later found out at the dealership that my rim is completely split. I'm baffled at the fact that the wheel failed as severely as it did, so were the technicians who witnessed the damage. I was driving 50mph when it happened & I'm worried about major safety issues & the integrity of the other wheels. I was told by the service advisor that a new wheel could be ordered for $1,100.00 however, the delivery is backdated with no delivery date in sight. I'm currently driving on a spare tire that is only good for driving 50 miles. I drive approximately 68 miles per day to get my children to & from school & to & from work & I have been driving on this spare tire since the incident occurred. I feel this is a safety hazard to not only myself & my family, but other drivers on the road. I am concerned that other Carnival drivers could hit a pot hole or speed bump just right & have the same thing happen to them or cause them to lose control of the vehicle. **I would like to upload a photo but that feature does not appear to be working from the button below, please contact me if you wish to have the photo.**
SEATSDecember 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a manual and an automatic control system that allowed the seats the move forward. The contact stated that he activated the automatic control button on the left side of the second-row driver's side seat to move the seat forward. The contact stated that the backrest of the seat lowered, and the seat moved forward abruptly within a second and struck the right side of his forehead. The contact sustained a bruise. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 500.
1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #11558716UNKNOWN OR OTHERNovember 30, 2023
After driving a short period of time the metal rail tracks that allow 2nd row seats to slide are extremely HOT to touch on the inside of the car. Very dangerous could cause a fire if I had a blanket on the ground or a piece of paper. Also hot enough to burn my childs feet if she steps on them getting in and out of car.
STEERING,AIR BAGSOctober 9, 2023
The steering wheel was clicking at low speeds (turns after stops, turns in reverse and while parking). The Kia dealer initially said it was an improperly routed air bag harness and said they fixed it. The noise returned within a day. When I brought it back, they identified cables from the air bag were slipping from the hold down clip causing the air bag wires to rub on the steering wheel. Service advisor noted the airbag and clock spring harness were not being held down by the wire hold clip. The technician put two zip ties to attach the wire harness to the hold down clip.
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERSeptember 14, 2023
Hello, this is my second report file on your team. The first filed is sept 8 2023, its all about my steering column issues, ill already talk with kia customer care unit, they said its still working on, i talk also with my dealership service center, they said its still waiting for the back orders, its almost a month this vehicles is still have leakage, its unsafe because this is a part of steering wheel, if the seal are stock inside, then when i running my vehicles around 65mph in a highway then ill have my 2 kids at the back then accident may do happen, its a big problem for us, i think i reported this vehicles since 2600 miles then now its already 3k plus miles already. The dealer doesnt give me a loaner because they said theres no available! I have only one vehicles we have, please please, this is consider a safety issues, i called how many times your agencies about this but they dont understand my concerned. They said they base on recalls? A lot of kia carnival same like my issue, one of my friend suggest to call you or have a file a report on your agencies so you can help to push the dealer or manufacturer to solved this issue, im hoping that you can help me guys to solve this issue. Im so thankful because i have till now safe my family while driving. I put a file attached. Please guys help me for this concerned! I reported this leakage since 21 of august 2023 to the dealership then scheduled me around 28 of august 2023. Then they said wait for 10 days, till now theres no updated about this,. And they are not concerned about this issue,. I hope this concerned will be highly favorable,. And focus for our goal to help concerned citizen of the united states. God bless america! Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATSSeptember 11, 2023
Leakage on power steering column, steering little bit hard to handle and some issues while driving at straight line highway,. Heated area, second row seat underneath flooring, electrical issue about seat concerned!
SEATSAugust 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that upon inspection, he became aware that the mechanism for the slide-flex seats became extremely hot to the touch, with occupants unable to touch the surface without shoes. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 4,969.
UNKNOWN OR OTHERAugust 12, 2023
Hi I just purchased this Veichle yesterday from the KIA dealer “ https://www.almkiasouth.com/?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=gmb&utm_campaign=local“ This morning I was just looking at the setup and the car was in idle. My little son who was in barefoot screamed when the accidentally touch the under the seat me tail rails. I’ve informed the dealership about this today 8/12/2023. When I searched in Internet I found the below blog. This is strange how Kia has still not fixed this danger safety issue? I’m sure this is not easy to notice unless someone with barefoot tries to touch the rails. Please take this to Kia seriously and have a recall open. This is really danger. When I touched and checked every where the rails were hot under the middle sit not the far side ones. Like someone mentioned in the blog possibly the rails are just above the exhaust and no proper sealing is there otherwise why the middle rails will be hot and not the side ones? https://www.carnivalforums.com/threads/floor-rails-getting-hot-while-idling.690/
VISIBILITY/WIPERJuly 26, 2023
On Monday 07/24/2023 (a clear sunny day) our less than 1 month old Kia Carnival spontaneously developed a crack in the middle of the drivers side of the windshield and over the course of a few hours this crack grew to over half the windshield. outdoor temperature was around 82 degrees. There was no impact that I know of and when you look at the windshield there is no evidence of an impact. No chip, no star, nothing. It looks like the crack started from the literal edge and spread to the middle. Having a brand new vehicle PLUS having bought all the extended warranties I thought, ok we are covered. The Kia dealership said "must have been an impact" and "we don't do glass". They also told me "it's safe to drive, the windshield won't shatter". Ok it's got a crack you can literally see growing and they are trying to tell me its perfectly safe to drive? This is clearly a manufacturing defect and the manufacture did not seem interested in it. I have serious concerns about the safety and reliability of this windshield even after replacement. when I was researching companies to replace the windshield because the dealer told us "we don't do glass" I found this is a common complaint (there's even a class action lawsuit against the Telluride for windshield failure). If I thought this was a manufacturing defect before I am convinced of it now.
VISIBILITY/WIPERJune 24, 2023
While driving at low speed (35mph or less), we heard a dull “pop”. We then noticed a large crack on the passenger side of the windshield beginning at the edge of the glass. After parking in our garage, I inspected the crack, which was at least 8 inches in length. As suspected, there was no sign of any sort of impact. The windshield spontaneously cracked. After approximately 2 hours of the car parked and off in the garage, I checked the windshield again. The crack had grown by another 3 inches in that short amount of time. It is important to note that we have only had this brand new 2024 Kia Carnival for one week at the time of this issue. I was disappointed to find many accounts online of this same problem in various new model Kias, particularly Tellurides and Carnivals. There is even a class action lawsuit. The visibility and structural integrity of a windshield are paramount safety elements of any car. I cannot confidently put my family in this car if I cannot trust the safety of the windshield. Additionally, no car owner who has spent $40,000+ on a brand new vehicle should be dealing with this kind of problem. I have no confidence that this won’t be a perpetual issue over the lifetime of this car, which I bought with the intent to keep for at least 10 years to serve my growing family.
SEAT BELTSJune 15, 2023
Seat belt is torn