2026 Kia Carnival problems and recalls

Owners have filed 22 complaints on the 2026 Kia Carnival, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (9 complaints).

22
Complaints
2
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
4
Injuries
82.8
Severity index

Severity index 82.8 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 82.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 9 complaints (40.9%)9 41%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 5 complaints (22.7%)5 23%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (18.2%)4 18%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (13.6%)3 14%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 2 complaints (9.1%)2 9%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 2 complaints (9.1%)2 9%SteeringSteering: 1 complaints (4.5%)1 5%StructureStructure: 1 complaints (4.5%)1 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER940.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM522.7%
POWER TRAIN418.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL313.6%
BACK OVER PREVENTION29.1%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE29.1%
STEERING14.5%
STRUCTURE14.5%

Complaints filed per year

07142025: 82026: 14 (partial year)252614
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20258
2026 (year to date)14

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
26V04600027/01/2026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANELKia 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 disp
26V23200010/04/2026FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSKia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.

Other Kia Carnival model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 5 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.