2023 Kia Carnival Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report power sliding doors that do not stop or reverse when they meet a person or object, and some describe a child or adult being pinched or crushed. Strong fuel odors and fuel line leaks are also common, and some owners say the smell continued after recall or dealer repairs. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 100 to 77,000 miles, and because the model is recent, the reports cover a short ownership period.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Power sliding doors not stopping or reversing on objects

   • 19 complaints (37%)
   • median 63,476 mi at 3.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe rear or side power sliding doors that keep closing after they meet a person or object, sometimes after a hand, finger, or arm is caught. Some say the door needed considerable force before it would reverse, and some describe sensors that did not detect an object, a toy, or a child's hand. An owner says the dealer did not return calls after a visit, and another describes a door closing without its chime after a recall repair. Mileage is not listed in these reports, though one describes the door problem after a recall repair done at about 3,074 miles.

   Recall 23V2360005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 23V236000 for the auto-reverse feature was completed and whether the sensor settings were checked, and request the paperwork. During a test drive, place a soft object in the doorway to confirm the door stops and reverses.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Auto-stop/reverse on power side doors is not sensitive enough to prevent crushing hazard if someone gets caught in the dirt closing. I have to push with considerable force to get door to reverse and it still slams my arm or body hard against the frame before reversing. We are concerned or 6 small children will be seriously injured. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11508931, filed 2023-02

   “The power sliding door does not reverse when an object is in its path. The door closed on my sons body. He was okay we were able to pull the handle to make it open again but it did not stop on its own. Another instance the door did not stop closing when a toy went into the door. The door just crunched the toy and shut while beeping.”

   NHTSA complaint #11683764, filed 2025-08
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Strong fuel odor and fuel pipe leaks

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • median 46,712 mi at 3.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell in the cabin or around the vehicle, sometimes while driving at speed and sometimes right after starting, with no warning light. Some say the smell continued after repairs, including replacement of the fuel tank, canister, and vent valve, or of fuel injection parts after a leak was found. A complaint links the smell to recall 26V232000 for a fuel pipe connection, and another says the recall repair did not stop the odor. Mileage is listed in only a few reports, at about 35,000 and 58,425 miles, and the odor was described while driving at speeds such as 40 MPH.

   Recall 26V232000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 26V232000 was completed and whether the fuel pipe connections were rechecked, and request dealer records for any fuel odor visits. During a pre-purchase inspection, check for a gasoline smell after the engine has been running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On August 23, 2025, I purchased a certified pre-owned Kia Carnival. Within hours, the vehicle had a severe fuel leak that produced a strong gasoline odor. Driving it made me sick, and I feared for the safety of my three children in the vehicle. A Kia technician later confirmed a crossover fuel line leak so severe that he became ill while inspecting it and feared the vehicle could explode. Even after repair, the gas odor persisted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11685602, filed 2025-09

   “I am filing a comprehensive complaint against Kia America and its authorized dealership for a prolonged failure to remedy a safety defect, ongoing consumer deception, and gross mismanagement of a federally mandated safety recall involving a severe fire hazard. Vehicle: 2022-2026 Kia Carnival NHTSA Recall Number: 26V232 (High-Pressure Fuel Pipe Leak) [Chronology of Complete Events] June 29, 2026 (First Attempt): I brought my vehicle to Kia dealer shop to have Safety Recall 26V232 performed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11752515, filed 2026-07
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Glass cracking or shattering without impact

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • typically at 1.9 yrs old
   • filed 2022–2025

   Owners describe glass breaking without impact: a sunroof that shattered with a loud bang while driving, windshields that cracked while the car was parked, and a passenger sliding door window that popped and shattered at about 35 mph. Some say dealers refused repair or told them to contact their insurer, and a complaint notes there is no recall for the problem. Owners say a dealer and an insurance agent suggested the heat could be a factor. Mileage is not listed in these reports, and the failures were described both while the car was parked and while driving at about 35 mph.

   What to check: Ask whether any glass damage was noted or repaired before purchase, and inspect the sunroof and windshield for cracks or chips. Ask for the warranty terms covering glass in writing, since some owners report that dealers declined repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car keeps shutting of while driving ,the car jerks when accelerating, I press on the gas and sometimes it doesn't accelerate at all .the car windshield cracked, the doors closed on my hands when I was retrieving my coat the doors didn't open back up i had to snatch my hands and arms back. I have a video of car shutting off if you need it”

   NHTSA complaint #11513801, filed 2023-03

   “My 2023 KIA Carnival has a windshield cracked even without hitting rock or anything. My vehicle was parked on the driveway overnight. I can prove that the damage occurred without the car moving. I have this issue on my dash cam too. The data is saved with date and time. Kia Findlay Las Vegas refuses repair. It's not an official recall about this problem. But Similar cases can be read on the Internet.”

   NHTSA complaint #11608607, filed 2024-08
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Metal floor rails in middle row get very hot

   Mentioned in 4 of 48 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the metal rails on the floor under the middle-row seats becoming hot enough to burn or blister skin, including a child's toe. They report the heat both on longer trips and while the vehicle is idling. According to a complaint, a service visit verified the heat, and the only remedy offered was to buy floor mats, which the owner says do not cover the rails. Mileage is not listed in these reports, and the heat is described on both short and long trips as well as while idling.

   What to check: Ask whether the seat rails were inspected and what remedy, if any, was offered in writing. During a visit, check whether the floor rails under the middle row feel hot after the engine has been idling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The metal rails where the middle seat of the middle row is located occasionally gets too hot to touch. My daughter who was sleep had her sandals off. She woke up because her foot was hot. Shortly after her toe blistered. You won’t notice it if you have shoes on. It has happened while we were traveling and it happens when we’re just idle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11529374, filed 2023-06

   “I have an issue that involves the metal railings in the center of the vehicle (on the floor) to get hot enough to burn and blister you. I filed a complaint with Kia which opened a case. I also took my vehicle in and this issue was verified by their mechanic. I was assigned a case number and after the employee on my case spoke with the enginer team it was determined that the only option for me was to purchase mats to cover the metal railings. I purchased both all weather and fabric mats when i purchased the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11538635, filed 2023-08
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine cutting out or losing power while driving

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 100 mi at 0.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the car cutting out or losing motive power while driving, sometimes at highway speeds and sometimes in traffic. Some report jerking or hesitation on acceleration, and a complaint describes brakes and power steering becoming inoperable during a loss of power. Another describes a warning that the engine was off while driving down a hill, which cleared after a restart. A complaint says the check engine light never came on, and the dealer reportedly said there was nothing to act on without a check engine light or code. A report lists about 100 miles and says the loss of power came within 48 hours of buying the vehicle new, while the other reports do not list mileage.

   What to check: Ask for a full scan for stored codes and for dealer records of any warning lights, since the check engine light may stay off. During a test drive, check for hesitation or jerking on acceleration and for any warning messages.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We drove an hour then sat in the car while it was on for about 30 minutes. The gas tank was 14% full. We started driving again down a bit of a hill & got to a stop light. The car started beeping & said “engine off! Switch to N then start engine” We turned the car off and back on & it started working.”

   NHTSA complaint #11598816, filed 2024-07

   “Unknown. My vehicle has cut off in the middle of traffic several times. Another incident was when my vehicle was shaking uncontrollably and couldn't go over 40. The check engine light never comes on. One dealership looked at it and said nothing was wrong even though one of the techs heard the vehicle. They said because the check engine light wasn't on that there was nothing that they could do. Took it to the kia dealership in Huntsville. They know something is wrong but because no check engine light or codes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11526804, filed 2023-06

Buying note. For someone considering this model year, ask for proof that recall 26V232000 for fuel pipe leaks and recall 23V236000 for the power sliding door auto-reverse were completed, and test the sliding door reversal and fuel odor during a test drive. Some complaints describe dealers declining repairs or offering only floor mats, so ask for any remedy in writing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.