2025 Kia Carnival Problems: 15 Known Issues

On the 2025-2026 Kia Carnival, certain Carnival and Carnival Hybrid digital instrument clusters can unnecessarily enter an overheat-protection mode due to excessive signal noise from the cluster's power-management circuit. When this happens the screen temporarily goes blank while driving, so the speedometer, warning lights and tire-pressure display disappear. Kia recalled the affected vehicles (Kia campaign SC361, tied to NHTSA) as a non-compliance with FMVSS 101 (Controls and Displays) and FMVSS 138 (TPMS). A blank cluster that hides speed and warning telltales raises crash risk.

On the 2025 Kia Carnival, kia Service Action SA593 applies to certain 2025 Carnival and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Central Communication Unit software may fail to enter its normal sleep state, creating a dark-current draw from the 12V battery while parked and potentially causing low battery voltage or a no-start condition.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, the side-mirror Blind-Spot View Monitor cameras that display a live feed in the cluster when signaling can flicker, show a distorted image, or go blank. Owners report the cluster feed dropping out and the blind-spot/rear-cross-traffic systems disabling entirely, sometimes needing a replacement rear radar sensor with long parts backorders. Beyond lens contamination, defective cameras and grounding/software faults are implicated.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, owners report the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) / AEB system braking or alarming with no real obstacle present (phantom braking), including on highways, on curved roads, and when cresting slopes where the radar misreads adjacent vehicles or terrain. Unexpected automatic braking at speed is a safety hazard because it can startle the driver and risk being rear-ended. Owners also see 'Check Forward Safety system' warnings when the ADAS faults.

On the 2022-2026 Kia Carnival, kia is recalling 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles because the second- and third-row seat belt buckle anchor bolts do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209 (Seat Belt Assemblies). The anchor bolts may not hold the buckle securely, so in a crash a rear-seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury. This is separate from the previously documented captain's-chair-detachment finding and applies to the belt hardware itself.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, owners report the air conditioning gradually losing cooling or quitting entirely, sometimes at low mileage. Kia issued service action SA632 for certain 2025-2026 Carnivals citing excessive clearance between the compressor piston and cylinder that reduces its ability to compress refrigerant. Separately, earlier (2022-2024) owners report DVE18C compressor failures with internal shorts, occasionally denied as not covered, with replacements quoted around $1,400. The compressor is the costliest A/C component, so weak-cooling complaints carry high repair exposure. The OEM compressor is part 97701-R0100 (DVE18C, 6-groove belt-driven).

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, a common Carnival complaint is a musty/mildew or sour smell from the vents, sometimes appearing within days of a new purchase. The cause is moisture and organic debris collecting on the A/C evaporator and in the HVAC case, where bacteria/mold grow, worsened by constant recirculation use and a slow/blocked evaporator drain. Kia's documented dealer treatment masks the odor and owners report it returning within days, making this a recurring annoyance rather than a one-time fix.

On the 2025 Kia Carnival, nHTSA complaints for the 2025 Carnival Hybrid are dominated by loss of acceleration — the vehicle suddenly limiting power, with owners held to roughly 30-35 mph, frequently in cold weather (sometimes below 10 F). Restarting the vehicle often temporarily clears it, and dealerships frequently cannot reproduce the fault. This poses a hazard when merging or in traffic. Vehicle-speed-control is the single largest complaint category for the model.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, nHTSA campaign 26V232000 (Kia SC368) covers 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. High-pressure cross-over fuel-pipe nuts may loosen over time, allowing fuel to leak at the connection between the pipe and fuel rail. Fuel odor or a check-engine light may precede the leak; fuel near an ignition source increases fire risk.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, the Kia Carnival (2022-2025) develops issues with the power sliding door system where the door fails to open, close, or latch properly. The power sliding door motor can fail or the latch mechanism becomes misaligned. Some owners report the door opening on its own while driving. Kia has issued TSBs for latch adjustment and motor replacement.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, carnivals with the panoramic sunroof can leak water into the cabin, showing up as a wet headliner or damp footwells after heavy rain. The sunroof relies on corner drain tubes that route water down the pillars; debris clogs the tubes (or seals age/misalign), so water backs up and overflows into the interior. Owners report wet headliners the dealer could not immediately diagnose. Left unchecked, trapped water causes mildew and can affect electronics.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival 3.5L V6 GDI (Lambda III), some Carnival owners report the 3.5L GDI V6 consuming noticeable oil between changes (commonly 0.25-0.5 qt, with heavier cases reported), a pattern tied to low-tension piston rings and GDI carbon buildup that affects many direct-injection engines. The risk with the Carnival's larger oil capacity and 7,500-mile intervals is that an owner who never checks the dipstick can run the engine low between services, accelerating wear. Heavy consumers should be documented because excessive consumption can be a warning sign of ring/cylinder wear.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival 3.5L Lambda III GDI V6, owners of 3.5L Lambda III V6 Carnivals report a distinct ticking or rattling noise for a few seconds on cold start that fades as the engine warms and oil pressure builds. Reported root causes include the timing-chain tensioner briefly losing its prime, the high-pressure GDI fuel pump, and VVT/cam gear chatter until oil pressure rises. Some owners had belts, tensioners, alternators and oil pumps replaced without resolution while others were told it is normal GDI-pump noise.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, multiple owners report front brake rotors warping early, producing steering-wheel/brake-pedal pulsation and vibration under braking, with some reporting recurrence even after rotors are replaced or resurfaced. Owners and forum discussion attribute it to the minivan's curb weight relative to the rotor sizing. Premature rotor warping plus squeal/grinding from pad wear are among the most frequently reported chassis complaints and add ongoing maintenance cost.

On the 2022-2025 Kia Carnival, owners report the paint on low-mileage, often garage-kept Carnivals chipping down to primer within weeks and, in some cases, the base coat/clear coat delaminating and lifting in sheets. Light colors, particularly Snow White Pearl, appear most affected, consistent with a wider Hyundai/Kia clear-coat adhesion pattern attributed to thin paint, poor prep, or inadequate UV protection in the clear coat. One 2022 Carnival owner counted numerous hood chips within eight weeks of purchase.