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Kia CarnivalModel year report

2026 Kia Carnival Problems

Compared with other Kia Carnival years

Too new to compare

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
30filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
2,379miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2026 Kia Carnival (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2026 Kia Carnival. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 14 complaints (47% of the total), followed by electrical system (8) and transmission and drivetrain (5). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,379 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 27 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine (1), Fuel system (1), Seat belts (1), Steering (1).

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “Sliding Door Sensor Failed My daughter was getting in the van, when her brother hit the door button, if my husband wouldn’t have glanced over at that exact moment and pulled her back, this would’ve been another story. THE SENSOR IS NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH! We as mothers are demanding sensors sensitive enough to detect smaller, fragile children!”

NHTSA complaint #11728404, filed 2026-03

Electrical system: “I purchased a new 2026 Kia Carnival EX and noticed an unusually intense amount of heat coming from underneath the vehicle on the passenger side, particularly around the rear passenger door/second-row seating area. I first noticed the issue while the vehicle was parked and I was standing outside the open rear passenger door installing car seats and floor mats. …”

NHTSA complaint #11761186, filed 2026-09

Transmission and drivetrain: “I have taken my car 3 times to 3 different Kia dealerships for this issue. First on 9/13/2026, then 10/13/2026 and on 10/26/2026. While driving at highway speed my vehicle suddenly begins to loose power and the check engine light comes on. This is dangerous for myself as well as other drivers.”

NHTSA complaint #11773840, filed 2026-10

Body and structure: “Grill on bumper allows large objects to fly through hitting condenser. This is an issue, it happened to my vehicle and the identical loaner car we were given while our car was in the shop for repairs. I was told by the dealership to solve this problem carnival owners should follow other cars at a greater distance. Because I have children I already set my cruise control to follow other vehicles at a 4 car distance…. How much further should a carnival owner allow?”

NHTSA complaint #11764627, filed 2026-09

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,200 and 29,272 miles.

67%0–100%10–2533%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 2,379 miles.

Complaints by year filed

This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

2025202622
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2026 Kia Carnival. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Carnival · PV FWDnot rated5 / 4——4 · 14.0% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2026 model year: forward collision warning standard on some versions, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard on some versions.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2026 Kia Carnival version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Carnival FWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic182521$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2026 Kia Carnival → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 27 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 27 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Carnival

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026302,3792—21Too new to compareToo new
202512613,0001—21Too new to compareToo new
2024757,0002522Too new to compareToo new
20235232,5004—22Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Too new
20221362,4386—22Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable

All Kia Carnival model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2026 Kia Carnival have?

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2026 Kia Carnival as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2026 Kia Carnival is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 14 complaints (47% of the total), followed by electrical system with 8.

Has the 2026 Kia Carnival been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2026 Kia Carnival get?

The EPA rates the 2026 Kia Carnival (Carnival, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2026 Kia Carnival reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,379 miles and the middle half falls between 2,200 and 29,272 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.