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Exterior lightingPart report

2025 Kia Carnival Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
4%of 126 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2025 Kia Carnival, 4% of the 126 complaints for this model year.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“One night while driving all lights went out even panel radio too and in a couple of seconds came back to normal..a few weeks after that while driving a loud warning sound came on and the info panel turned Red when I felt a breeze my door was opened by inself”

NHTSA complaint #11648010, filed 2025-03

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11709944, filed 2026-01

“While driving at highway speeds the exterior and interior lighting/electrial system shut down completely. My headlights shut off, as well as all electrical/lighting inside the vehicle for approximately 1 minute before turning back on as if I had turned the car off and restarted it. I have a low tire pressure warning that comes on when the car is started, and it came on again as if my car had just started, while I was still driving. This poses a safety risk to myself and other drivers depending on the headlights for visibility. …”

NHTSA complaint #11627633, filed 2024-11

“Car Problems Purchased March of 2025 #1 First black out summer 2025-Driving at 10 PM and lost all electric driven items. Headlights turned off as well while driving 70 MPH in the dark Scheduled an appointment to get the car looked over. They said that there was a part that they were waiting on to help with electrical issues. #2 Next black out fall of 2025 Used the update part to see if that would fix the problem #3 February 6th, 2026 Got my oil changed and it blacked out when I left the dealership. Went back to tell them and they documented it. #4 April 14th, 2026”

NHTSA complaint #11732059, filed 2026-04

“In the general design of the Kia Carnival, among other vehicles from the same manufacture (i.e. Kia Sportage) and different manufacturers (i.e. Chevy Bolt), the false taillight cluster has created a safety issue when signaling. With specific mention of the turn signals being in the lower third of the vehicle height, and not in the taillamp cluster, drivers may not ever see the turn signals from the rear of the Kia Carnival, as most drivers are looking at the large taillamp cluster, not the bottom of the rear bumper for turn signals. …”

NHTSA complaint #11623060, filed 2024-11

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202554%
202411%
202232%

Other parts of the 2025 Kia Carnival

Electrical system
84 complaints
Other or unknown
22 complaints
Engine
15 complaints
Fuel system
10 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaints
Seats
4 complaints
Body and structure
4 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
3 complaints
Lane departure
3 complaints
Air bags
2 complaints
Seat belts
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2025 Kia Carnival

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology