2024 Kia Carnival Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2024 Carnival most often write in about two things: second-row seat rails and floor areas that get hot enough to burn bare feet, and power sliding doors that close on people without reversing. Fuel odors in the cabin and repeated horn failures also come up, and many complaints were filed on vehicles with only a few thousand miles, so this is a young model year with mostly low-mileage reports rather than wear-related failures.

1. 1
   Seats

   Hot second-row seat rails and floor

   • 11 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 0.8 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2024

   Owners describe the tracks that the second-row seats slide on, and the floor around them, becoming very hot within minutes of idling or short drives, sometimes with the rear air conditioning on. Several say the rails were hot enough to burn a bare foot or hand, with children most often affected, and some worry about items left on the floor. Complaints also mention the slide-flex seat mechanism itself heating up; dealers are generally not reported as having a fix. Reported on vehicles from a few hundred to a few thousand miles, typically after short idling periods or in warm weather.

   What to check: With the engine idling and rear climate on, feel the second-row seat tracks and surrounding floor after 10-15 minutes; ask the seller whether this has been raised with a dealer and what was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11557783, filed 2023-11

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11597842, filed 2024-06
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Power sliding doors close on people

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 35,815 mi at 2.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe the power sliding doors failing to stop or reverse when an arm, hand, head or torso is in the way, both when closing from the button and when a child presses the rear button. Owners report bruises, pinched fingers and a trapped child, and in some cases say the door cycled back and forth instead of latching. Some dealers were reported as saying the sensor strip only reacts to certain objects or that the behavior was normal. Reported across a wide range of mileages, often on vehicles under a year old and frequently around loading or unloading children.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test both sliding doors opening and closing with an object in the path and confirm they reverse; note that Kia has issued owner reminders on proper power sliding door use, not a repair for this symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11656201, filed 2025-04

   “I was cleaning my van and my 2 year old daughter closed the opposite door and the sensors did not stop the door and she got her fingers smashed into the door and potentially broke her fingers, took her to the ER and we are to repeat X-rays in 7 to 10 days.”

   NHTSA complaint #11762516, filed 2026-09
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell inside the cabin

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 2.4 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners report gasoline odor reaching the cabin through the vents or from the rear of the vehicle, often stronger at idle, with the air conditioning on, or after longer drives. Several say dealers first called it normal or suggested a cabin filter or bacteria in the system, while others report a dealer finding raw fuel in the evaporative canister or a fuel tank problem. Some complaints were filed after a fuel-pipe recall repair, describing a smell that continued. Described from a few thousand miles up, often after 15-20 minutes of driving or at idle in warm weather.

   Recall 26V2320001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 26V232000 (fuel pipe connection) has been completed, and check for fuel odor around the filler area, under the hood and inside the cabin after a test drive with the A/C running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 smell fills my house. I’ve had headaches and nausea, and my kids have complained of headaches and stomach aches too.”

   NHTSA complaint #11763500, filed 2026-09

   “Recall SC368 was performed. After the recall repair, I began smelling gasoline. The dealer has diagnosed a separate fuel-system issue requiring multiple parts including replacement of the fuel tank. More details: My vehicle underwent a safety recall for a fuel leak/fire risk. Following that repair, I developed a strong gasoline odor. My Kia dealer has now identified a separate fuel-system problem that requires replacement of multiple components, including the fuel tank. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11756998, filed 2026-08
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Horn stops working

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 2.0 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe the horn going silent, sometimes intermittently or in cold weather, often within the first year and requiring replacement of the horn assemblies. Owners say the part was frequently on back order and appointments were slow, and a few report repeat failures after replacement. Kia has issued a warranty extension covering horn assembly repairs on certain 2022-2024 Carnivals. Mostly reported within the first year or around 20,000 miles; repeat failures after replacement are described.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Press the horn before buying and ask whether the horn assembly warranty extension (WTY048) work has been claimed; keep the repair paperwork if it has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11717275, filed 2026-02

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11727093, filed 2026-03
5. 5
   Engine

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 25,910 mi at 1.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle jerking, shuddering or losing power at speed, with reduced-power warnings or a check engine light, and in some cases the engine shutting off while driving. Owners report towing to the dealer, no cause found when the light was no longer on, and the problem returning; others describe hesitation on acceleration from a stop. Reported from about 3,500 miles upward, including highway driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive include a highway stretch and a stop-start acceleration, and ask whether any stored engine or electrical codes were read at recent service visits.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this 2024 Kia Carnival on 2/7/2026 with less than 10K miles. The vehicle has died while I was driving 4 different times. Twice each day that it happened. The first time was on 4/7/26. My car died on the way home from getting my kids from school after fixing a flat tire. The check engine light came on after getting a jump and when I took it to Auto Zone the battery was fully charged and the codes were for the Power Train, which didn't make sense for a brand new car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11734099, filed 2026-04

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11690165, filed 2025-09

Buying note. This is a recent model year with low-mileage complaints, so condition and recall status matter more than wear. Have a dealer confirm which recalls and warranty extensions have been completed, and during the test drive check the second-row seat rails for heat and both power sliding doors for reversing when blocked.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.