Minivan · Gas
Kia Carnival 2022–2026 (1st gen US)
- Your fit
- Take the quiz
- Price
- $32,900–$47,000
- MPG
- 33
- Strength: Excellent cargo & utility
- Strength: Strong running costs
- Strength: Strong passenger space
- Watch-out: Poor reliability
How it scores for you10 scores
A cavernous, comfortable eight-seat hauler with class-leading cargo and strong horsepower, though electrical complaints and no full crash rating temper confidence.
Recalled about as often as cars of the same model years (over-the-air software recalls count half); 4 of its 7 recalls were serious. About 11% of its owner complaints describe a crash, fire or injury. Based on recalls and serious defect reports — it doesn't capture everyday repairs or problems fixed by warranty extensions. Adjusted -3 points for its wider reputation.
No overall NHTSA crash rating yet, so this is scored as middle-of-the-road.
About $2,050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate) — cheaper to run than about 73% of cars we track.
40.2 cu ft of cargo space — more than about 92% of other minivans we track.
Minivan with 8 seats, four doors and 145 cu ft max cargo offers excellent people and gear capacity, a strength of the body style.
290 hp is strong for a minivan and gives confident acceleration, but FWD-only, minivan handling and softly-tuned dynamics keep it segment-typical for enthusiasts.
Carnival offers modern dual-screen displays, available features and Kia's up-to-date infotainment, above minivan average though not class-leading versus tech-heavy rivals.
Roomy, quiet cabin with available plush second-row lounge seats and smooth ride give it above-average comfort for the segment.
Typical resale value for a minivan.
Rated to tow 3,500 lb; front- or rear-wheel drive only.
Safety & recalls15 recalls
15 recalls · 9 common complaint areas across 2022–2026
- Electrical — 97 complaints (2025)
- Recall — Electrical: instrument cluster/panel (2026)
- Structure — 29 complaints (2022)
2026
- RecallElectrical: instrument cluster/panel26V046000
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 suc
- RecallFuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings26V232000
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.
- Complaint clusterElectrical13 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery shuts down overnight. To get the car to start you need to pop the hood the night before use a jump start and keep your manual key handy. All electronics shut down completely
- Complaint clusterPowertrain11 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a . The contact stated that while parked when the brake was depressed, press start button, when put in reverse, it says gear is selected, the vehicle stayed in neutral. This happens intermittently. The stop button was pressed, all of the instrument panel warning indicators woul
- Complaint clusterUnknown or other10 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The alert “consider taking a break” with the coffee cup symbol won’t stop going off. It goes off when I first start driving, it goes off every other minute sometimes, it does off for no reason all the time. It is so distracting. Today it was rainy and I’m sure is one reason it kept going off. It was
- Complaint clusterCruise control5 complaintscomplaints:VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The car will not accelerate past 31 mph no matter the gas petal position, during cold mornings. Downhill or uphill, in any “drive mode” it will not go past 31 with the petal all the way down. Acceleration onto a highway is impossible. Stopping and restarting the entire vehicle seems to reset this an
2025
- RecallFuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings26V232000
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.
- Complaint clusterElectrical97 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a complete stop, the vehicle shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence. The following day, the vehicle shut off again a
- Complaint clusterPowertrain20 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN
The vehicle (2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid) has suffered from a systemic parasitic 12V battery drain since the first month of ownership. The first occurrence was July 20, 2025, requiring a jump-start from Kia Roadside Assistance. On 02/26/2026, the vehicle was presented at Moritz Kia Alliance for the sa
- Complaint clusterUnknown or other19 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear sliding door on the driver's side was not locking. I took it to the dealership and they have replaced the actuator, the wiring harness, and the IPM power module. None of this has fixed it. We now have a Kia special mechanic coming to [XXX] to take a look at it. I was told there are 19 other
- Complaint clusterCruise control14 complaintscomplaints:VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was stopped in in the left turn lane with my right foot on the brake pedal. Suddenly the car began to rapidly move forward. I jammed my right foot down and stopped the car, avoiding an accident.
- Complaint clusterEngine10 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE
Carnival was working fine then, without warning, I was unable to accelerate. Had entered highway and reached a maximum speed around 30 mph in a 55 mph zone. Pedal fully depressed and zero acceleration, dashboard read "check hybrid system, stop safely". Tried changing driving modes to no effect. Lots
2024
- RecallStructure: body: roof and pillars24V025000
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
- RecallFuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings26V232000
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.
- Complaint clusterUnknown or other20 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2024 Kia Carnival smells strongly like gasoline after about 15–20 minutes of driving. The smell gets worse at idle, worse the longer I drive, and seems even stronger with the A/C on. Two dealerships in Las Vegas have told me this is “normal.” Meanwhile, I can’t park it in my garage because the
- Complaint clusterElectrical13 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident description: While driving, the vehicle’s dashboard illuminated all warning lights (ABS, traction control, battery, check engine, forward safety system) and the engine revved to approximately 8,000 RPM with unintended rapid acceleration. Driver had to apply hard braking to maintain control
- Complaint clusterSteering7 complaintscomplaints:STEERING
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 fe
- Complaint clusterSeats5 complaintscomplaints:SEATS
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 an
- Complaint clusterStructure5 complaintscomplaints:STRUCTURE
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
2023
- RecallTrailer hitches23V179000
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 s
- RecallStructure: body: door23V236000
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.
- RecallStructure: body: roof and pillars24V025000
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
- RecallFuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings26V232000
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.
- Complaint clusterUnknown or other18 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle air conditioning sends off a vinegar like aroma. Likely condensation on coils.
- Complaint clusterStructure11 complaintscomplaints:STRUCTURE
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 manufactur
- Complaint clusterElectrical6 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that during freezing weather, the button was depressed to open the driver's side rear sliding door, and the door automatically opened; however, the motor reached a point of resistance and attempted to close the sliding door. Due to the failure
2022
- RecallFuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail21V277000
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged.
- RecallLatches/locks/linkages: electronic lock/LATCH actuator; structure: body: door21V908000
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.
- RecallTrailer hitches23V179000
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 s
- RecallStructure: body: door23V236000
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.
- RecallStructure: body: roof and pillars24V025000
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
- RecallFuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings26V232000
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.
- Complaint clusterStructure29 complaintscomplaints:STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V908000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages, Structure); however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side power sliding door failed to latch securely.
- Complaint clusterUnknown or other28 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The power sliding door on my Kia Carnival has repeatedly failed to reopen when an occupant was caught in the doorway. On multiple occasions, my young child has become trapped by the sliding door after it began closing. Instead of consistently detecting the obstruction and reversing as expected, the
- Complaint clusterElectrical22 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2022 Kia Carnival, approximately 80,000 miles, had intermittent dashboard warning lights and grinding brake noise for a few weeks. I brought the vehicle to Tasca Kia White Plains first time on 4/14/26 then again on 5/8/26. The dealership initially could not reproduce the issue, then later suspect
- Complaint clusterVisibility/wiper10 complaintscomplaints:VISIBILITY/WIPER
My front windshield on my 2022 Kia Carnival has shattered in two places from a small hit. I have owned lots of cars and never had a windshield break in two places all the way across. There must be an issue or problem.
- Complaint clusterPowertrain7 complaintscomplaints:POWER TRAIN
Engine light turns on every couple months. The Kia either stops accelerating and goes into “limp mode” or gives code for misfiring cylinders. Took to dealership several times, they did nothing but reset battery so light goes off. Unsafe when driving my family around and has turned into an unreliab
Cost to own$27,100 / 5 yr
MSRP, new
$32,900–$47,000
Estimated used price, by model year
$2,050/yr
EPA estimate, combined fuel cost per year.
Specs
City MPG
34
Highway MPG
31
Combined MPG
33
Horsepower
290 hp
Doors
4
Length
203.1 in
Width
78.3 in
Height
68.5 in
Wheelbase
121.7 in
Curb weight
4,495 lb
Cargo volume
40.2 cu ft
Cargo (seats folded)
145.1 cu ft
Towing capacity
3,500 lbs
Check a listing
Sign in to check a specific listing against this car's data.