KIA CARNIVAL · model year

2025 KIA CARNIVAL

129 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2025KIACARNIVAL carries 129 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2025 CARNIVAL is electrical system with 72 filings, followed by unknown or other (14) and engine (11). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2025 CARNIVAL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

129
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

129 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: 4/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM72
UNKNOWN OR OTHER14
ENGINE11
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
POWER TRAIN4
STRUCTURE:BODY4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS3
AIR BAGS2
SEATS2
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING1
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY1
SEAT BELTS1
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST1

Recent Complaints

20260218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving the car it will stick in the electric mode and not go back into gas mode. You will only be able to go up to 30-35 miles an hour and in order to fix this issue as of right now all I could do was have to pull over to the side of the road put the car in park turn it off and turn it back on. I worry that this issue will be even worse if I was on the interstate and my car was getting stuck in electric mode and then it’s a safety issue, especially since I have kids in the car. I’m majority of the time being a minivan. I have seen other people post on forms about this issue and it not being fixed by Kia

20260218ENGINE

While driving the car it will stick in the electric mode and not go back into gas mode. You will only be able to go up to 30-35 miles an hour and in order to fix this issue as of right now all I could do was have to pull over to the side of the road put the car in park turn it off and turn it back on. I worry that this issue will be even worse if I was on the interstate and my car was getting stuck in electric mode and then it’s a safety issue, especially since I have kids in the car. I’m majority of the time being a minivan. I have seen other people post on forms about this issue and it not being fixed by Kia

20260218FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

While driving the car it will stick in the electric mode and not go back into gas mode. You will only be able to go up to 30-35 miles an hour and in order to fix this issue as of right now all I could do was have to pull over to the side of the road put the car in park turn it off and turn it back on. I worry that this issue will be even worse if I was on the interstate and my car was getting stuck in electric mode and then it’s a safety issue, especially since I have kids in the car. I’m majority of the time being a minivan. I have seen other people post on forms about this issue and it not being fixed by Kia

20260126ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

12v Battery died 2 times first on 12/26 then on 1/25. We had to call in roadside assistance for jump start. This was reported to Kia Dublin and Kia Manteca in California. Kia Dublin ran the diagnostics and couldnt find anything. Kia Manteca later found the battery logs showing issues. But said it could have been related to the HVAC recall which is now fixed. But the problem re-occured. This is a brand new vehicle less than 1 year old, still unders warranty. Have reported this to Kia customer care as well. Kia Customer Care Case#XXX So far, we have had the following issues: 1. The front passenger seat recliner stopped working. Kia Manteca replaced the seat frame under warranty. 2. Both rear entertainment screens stopped working. Kia Dublin has ordered them under warranty. Replacement planned for 1/26. 3. Battery died 2 times, luckily car was in the garage we were not stranded anywhere outside. But its frustrating how the new car is not working as expected and stalls so frequently.

20260120FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Was driving to work this morning and the first time I tried to get accelerate, I was unable to get above 31 MPH no matter how hard I pushed the pedal. Had to stop and restart. Not sure if it is due to the -1 degree weather this morning?

20260112ENGINE

TL;DR : Vehicle engages limp home mode without any notification to the driver that it is in limp home mode and doesn’t generate any codes for technicians to identify why the vehicle went into limp home mode. During oil changes, a significant amount of residual oil remains in the engine. When the lube tech fills the oil using the recommended amount, engine is actually over full of oil as indicated on the dip stick. The vehile will start and run fine for a while. Later however, an oil pressure sensor will detect the over full status and put the car into limp home mode. No check engine light, no oil light, no indicator saying it’s in limp home mode, and when the service tech investigates, no code thrown for the issue. A manual checking of the dip stick will reveal the oil is over full. The fix is to drain oil to normal levels as shown on the dipstick. It isn’t a defect considering that it’s reasonable to expect a vehicle to be operated with the correct amount of oil. A

20260112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid produces externally audible audio while the vehicle is locked, with all doors and windows fully closed. Private phone calls, navigation instructions, and other in-vehicle audio can be clearly heard from outside the vehicle indefinitely, even after locking the car. This behavior occurs without warning to the driver and cannot be disabled or controlled through any user setting. The dealership and manufacturer have confirmed this behavior is “by design” and have declined to correct it. This presents a safety and security concern, as it exposes private communications, signals whether a vehicle is occupied, and may attract unwanted attention or increase the risk of harassment, stalking, or theft—especially in parking garages, residential areas, or public locations. The vehicle appears secure to the driver (locked, windows closed), yet continues to broadcast audio externally, which is unexpected and undocumented behavior. I believe this constitutes an uninte

20260109EXTERIOR LIGHTING

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? While driving all of the lights in the car went off. Everything internal, and atleast the head lights externally. This lasted for a second or 2 before everything came back on. The screen said something about loss of something, but I don't remember what exactly. This has only happened once. Yes it can be inspected How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Atleast the head lights went off while driving at night. Possibly my break lights as well. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Just the message on the screen

20260109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? While driving all of the lights in the car went off. Everything internal, and atleast the head lights externally. This lasted for a second or 2 before everything came back on. The screen said something about loss of something, but I don't remember what exactly. This has only happened once. Yes it can be inspected How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Atleast the head lights went off while driving at night. Possibly my break lights as well. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Just the message on the screen

20260108ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I am submitting a safety-related complaint regarding my 2025 Kia Carnival with approximately 4,000 miles. The vehicle experienced an electronic system failure that required diagnosis by an authorized Kia dealership. The dealer has informed me that the issue is due to a failed Body Domain Controller (BDC), which must be replaced. The vehicle is currently not safe or suitable for normal operation and will remain at the dealership for at up to one week, with the possibility of a longer delay depending on parts availability. The vehicle has very low mileage and has been maintained normally. A failure of a central body control module at under 4,000 miles raises serious concerns regarding vehicle reliability, quality, and potential safety implications, as the Body Domain Controller manages multiple critical vehicle systems. Additionally, during this repair period, the dealership has provided only a Kia K5 sedan as a loaner vehicle. This is not a comparable replacement to a Kia Carnival mi

20251124UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The component that has failed are both Rear Entertainment System (RES). The vehicle is at the dealership and they are unable to determine the cause hence the vehicle is at the dealership for an additional day. There were no warning lamps, messages or other systems of the problem prior to the failure. The failure happened Oct. 5, 2025. I also called KIA Connect Center on Oct. 9, 2025 and they recommended a soft reset which did not resolve the issue hence finally able to take it to the dealership on Nov. 24, 2025.

20251112UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The 12-volt battery fully discharges and leaves the vehicle inoperable ONLY when parked in my attached townhouse garage (overnight or 1–3 days). The vehicle starts and runs normally when parked elsewhere (work, airport, etc.) for the same duration. Symptoms: No warning lights prior to failure Dashboard completely dark; no power to doors, lights, or start button Requires jump-start or tow

20251112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The 12-volt battery fully discharges and leaves the vehicle inoperable ONLY when parked in my attached townhouse garage (overnight or 1–3 days). The vehicle starts and runs normally when parked elsewhere (work, airport, etc.) for the same duration. Symptoms: No warning lights prior to failure Dashboard completely dark; no power to doors, lights, or start button Requires jump-start or tow

20251104UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THEN THE SOUND OF GLASS SHATTERING. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT ALL MY WINDOWS AND DIDNT SEE ANYTHING. I CONTINUTED DRIVING AND I COULD HEAR AIR COMING FROM ABOVE, WHILE AT A REDLIGHT I STARTED OPENING THE SUNROOF COVER AND SAW GLASS. I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED IT AND RETURNED HOME AND GOT MY OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND NOTHING ABOVE ME.

20251103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I live in Alabama. Temperature here is 34 degrees so far in the morning. My check engine light is on. I have taken it in and had diagnostics and they can't find a code or code history. My heat and AC do not work properly if the ambient temperature on the cluster doesn't show up or is not correct. 72 degrees when it's not working right will run you out of the car it's so hot. The cluster currently says it's -15 degrees outside and has the snowflake beside it. I am scheduled bc they are booked out at the dealership to have diagnostics run on 11/14. I don't know if it is wiring, ambient temperature sensor, max air sensor, HVAC module (dealership had previously cleared water out of the module and then replaced the module, initially when they couldn't find the problem they disconnected the battery and reconnected to reset and clear the code). The dealership in Auburn Al has addressed all the issues and done all the services, updates, and trouble shooting. I'm having to run three different

20251103ENGINE

I live in Alabama. Temperature here is 34 degrees so far in the morning. My check engine light is on. I have taken it in and had diagnostics and they can't find a code or code history. My heat and AC do not work properly if the ambient temperature on the cluster doesn't show up or is not correct. 72 degrees when it's not working right will run you out of the car it's so hot. The cluster currently says it's -15 degrees outside and has the snowflake beside it. I am scheduled bc they are booked out at the dealership to have diagnostics run on 11/14. I don't know if it is wiring, ambient temperature sensor, max air sensor, HVAC module (dealership had previously cleared water out of the module and then replaced the module, initially when they couldn't find the problem they disconnected the battery and reconnected to reset and clear the code). The dealership in Auburn Al has addressed all the issues and done all the services, updates, and trouble shooting. I'm having to run three different

20251103UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I live in Alabama. Temperature here is 34 degrees so far in the morning. My check engine light is on. I have taken it in and had diagnostics and they can't find a code or code history. My heat and AC do not work properly if the ambient temperature on the cluster doesn't show up or is not correct. 72 degrees when it's not working right will run you out of the car it's so hot. The cluster currently says it's -15 degrees outside and has the snowflake beside it. I am scheduled bc they are booked out at the dealership to have diagnostics run on 11/14. I don't know if it is wiring, ambient temperature sensor, max air sensor, HVAC module (dealership had previously cleared water out of the module and then replaced the module, initially when they couldn't find the problem they disconnected the battery and reconnected to reset and clear the code). The dealership in Auburn Al has addressed all the issues and done all the services, updates, and trouble shooting. I'm having to run three different

20251024VEHICLE 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.

20251013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

12V battery drains if the car is left unused for more than 3-4 days. Car needs to be jumped to start it up again. The issue occurred in August and I jumped it first time. It started happening again September and had a service appointment with Kia. They hard reset the software but the issue occured again every time I left the car unused for more than 3-4 days.

20250924ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I was driving about 6:30ish in the morning and my whole dashboard went black and my head lights turned off couple seconds later it came back on while i am driving. I will be calling the dealership to see what can be checked.

Compare 2025KIACARNIVAL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2025 KIA CARNIVAL have?
The 2025 KIA CARNIVAL has 129 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2025 KIA CARNIVAL?
The 2025 KIA CARNIVAL received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 KIA CARNIVAL?
The most-complained component for the 2025 KIA CARNIVAL is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 72 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ENGINE.
Is the 2025 KIA CARNIVAL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2025 KIA CARNIVAL has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.