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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2026 Kia Carnival Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
17%of 30 total for the year
Median mileage
2,200miles
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2026 Kia Carnival, 17% of the 30 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 2,200 miles.

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.

“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

“When accelerating, the car feels stuck to gear up. After 2 seconds of loud revving, it would switch and have a prominent jerk motion that it finally switched gears. There have been times the car wouldn't go past 30 mph, stuck at the gear making a loud noise. This is dangerous! There's absolutely no way I can get on the freeway never getting past 30ish mph. I checked recalls for this vehicle and there isn't any. No warning lights in the dash.”

NHTSA complaint #11726379, filed 2026-03

“After purchasing vehicle (4Sep25) the following week's notice wet spots in drive way first assumed to be from A/C but not the it is November and A/C is off the wet spots are still showing up. Checked under the vehicle and noticed oil all around the PCV tube. Took vehicle to Allentown Kia. They confirmed there is a oil leak but the leak is from the oil pan gasket. The vehicle has 400 ish miles on it and was i believe a quart low on oil by the time I took it in for repairs.”

NHTSA complaint #11698804, filed 2025-11

“The contact owns a . The contact stated that while parked when the brake was depressed, press start button, when put in reverse, it says gear is selected, the vehicle stayed in neutral. This happens intermittently. The stop button was pressed, all of the instrument panel warning indicators would not illuminate. When pressing p for parking to engage parking, it appeared as if it was in park; however the vehicle unexpectedly reversed. The vehicle was able to be stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the issue could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11739601, filed 2026-05, 2,200 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026517%
202554%
202423%
202312%
202275%

Other parts of the 2026 Kia Carnival

Other or unknown
14 complaints
Electrical system
8 complaints
Body and structure
3 complaints
Vehicle speed control
3 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
2 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
2 complaints
Lane departure
2 complaints
Seats
2 complaints
Air bags
1 complaints
Engine
1 complaints
Fuel system
1 complaints
Seat belts
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2026 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