2024 Kia Carnival Complaint Log

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

Rearview camera not available and car is operational when car is processing an over the air update.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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)

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.

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)

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.

Center rails for center seats get so hot they burn bare skin. (Center rails in the floor)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Battery randomly died in the car overnight

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.

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.

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)

Car hit a ditch at over 40MPH and rolled over on its side and no airbags deployed

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.**

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.

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.

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.

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.