2025 KIA CARNIVAL Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2025 Kia Carnival. This model year has 107 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Electrical Faults.
Model-Year Complaints
107 owner reports
Recall Campaigns
1 NHTSA campaigns
Top Failure Area
Electrical Faults
Worst 2025 Kia Carnival Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Uncategorized Issues
Engine Problems
AI Interpretation — 2025 Kia Carnival
Low ConfidenceComplaints for the 2025 Kia Carnival are heavily concentrated in electrical faults, which account for the majority of reports. Other issues include engine problems and uncategorized complaints, though the overall confidence in this data is low due to limited model year coverage.
- Electrical faults dominate complaints for the 2025 model year.
- Engine problems and uncategorized issues are the next most reported categories.
- No crash-related complaints were reported.
- Electrical faults
- Engine problems
- Uncategorized issues
- Inspect electrical systems, including infotainment and power accessories.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for electrical and engine-related repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Considering a 2025 Kia Carnival?
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2025 Kia Carnival. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 76 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Chest Clip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Buckle | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Harness | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2025 Kia Carnival. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
The harness straps on the seat have begun to loosen while my child is riding in the seat. You do not need to use the harness adjuster button to loosen the straps. This is allowing a secure fit to become dangerously loose while the vehicle is in motion. I removed the car seat from…
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding the driver monitoring/driver assistance system in the 2025 Kia Carnival. The system repeatedly issues “take a break” or inattentive driver warnings during normal, attentive driving conditions. These alerts are overly sensitive, frequen…
Carnival was working fine then, without warning, I was unable to accelerate. Had entered highway and reached a maximum speed around 30 mph in a 55 mph zone. Pedal fully depressed and zero acceleration, dashboard read "check hybrid system, stop safely". Tried changing driving mode…
I was on the on-ramp getting on the highway and whenever I started to increase speed and try to get over into the next lane, I noticed the car all of a sudden jumped a little bit and then it started consistently jumping in the check engine light was flashing, and I couldn’t keep …
On the motor, when off for more than a certain time prolonged, when is a cold start motor make a noise like it doesn’t have oil in it since new I let the dealer know but they say it’s normal and I don’t believe so. Also, the transmission have a problem since New it shifted weird …
Kia has a recall (Campaign SC 368) on a fuel pipe that may be defective causing a gas leak leading to fire. I called the dealer I bought the vehicle from to request an inspection of the part. I was told Kia will not send letters out until June 2 so dealers are under no obligati…
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 the…
The component of the vehicle that malfunction was the front passenger seat. The driver came to a stop at an intersection and the front passenger seat started auto reclining. The seat was reclining into a life, flat position, almost. The driver was concerned because no one was pre…
I am writing concerning the Driver Attention Warning system and how it seems to be way too sensitive and when it keeps going off, trying to see what is causing this issue. This seems to be creating more distractions than it is designed to solve. From my understanding Kia through …
Due to soy-insulated wiring used in wiring harnesses, rodents are attracted to the wiring components in the engine bay. Even using deterrents doesn't see to affect them. What started as a simple check engine light for what was assumed to be a faulty sensor turned into a total wir…
The vehicle (2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid) has suffered from a systemic parasitic 12V battery drain since the first month of ownership. The first occurrence was July 20, 2025, requiring a jump-start from Kia Roadside Assistance. On 02/26/2026, the vehicle was presented at Moritz Kia…
Date/time of incident 03-16-2026 18:09-18:17 * Faulting component: Infotainment screen (screen to the right of gauge cluster) * Incident: While backing out of a parking spot and utilizing the cameras to watch my surroundings, the infotainment screen became unresponsive and began …
Today, my young daughter pressed the button on the inside of the door to close the sliding door. Her hand was still in the way and the door did not stop. Part of her hand was completely closed in the door and she screamed and cried in excruciating pain. Right away I noticed bruis…
12v Battery died 2 times first on 12/26 then on 1/25. We had to call in roadside assistance for jump start. This was reported to Kia Dublin and Kia Manteca in California. Kia Dublin ran the diagnostics and couldnt find anything. Kia Manteca later found the battery logs showing i…
Was driving to work this morning and the first time I tried to get accelerate, I was unable to get above 31 MPH no matter how hard I pushed the pedal. Had to stop and restart. Not sure if it is due to the -1 degree weather this morning?
TL;DR : Vehicle engages limp home mode without any notification to the driver that it is in limp home mode and doesn’t generate any codes for technicians to identify why the vehicle went into limp home mode. During oil changes, a significant amount of residual oil remains in th…
My 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid produces externally audible audio while the vehicle is locked, with all doors and windows fully closed. Private phone calls, navigation instructions, and other in-vehicle audio can be clearly heard from outside the vehicle indefinitely, even after lock…
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 s…
I am submitting a safety-related complaint regarding my 2025 Kia Carnival with approximately 4,000 miles. The vehicle experienced an electronic system failure that required diagnosis by an authorized Kia dealership. The dealer has informed me that the issue is due to a failed Bo…
The component that has failed are both Rear Entertainment System (RES). The vehicle is at the dealership and they are unable to determine the cause hence the vehicle is at the dealership for an additional day. There were no warning lamps, messages or other systems of the problem…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2025 Kia Carnival.
Recalls for 2025 Kia Carnival
1 campaignNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2025 Kia Carnival. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2025 Kia Carnival — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2025 Kia Carnival reliable?▾
Minor Issues. The 2025 Kia Carnival has 107 NHTSA owner complaints, 0 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Electrical Faults (76 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Kia Carnival?▾
#1: Electrical Faults (76 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (17 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (13 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2025 Kia Carnival?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2025 Kia Carnival?▾
The 2025 Kia Carnival has 0 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 107 total NHTSA complaints. 3 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2025 Kia Carnival have any recalls?▾
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2025 Kia Carnival. The largest issue: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2025 Kia Carnival?▾
The 2025 Kia Carnival has a relatively low complaint rate. Pay particular attention to Electrical Faults issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Carnival reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
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Check Your Specific 2025 Kia Carnival
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $12.95 (vs. Carfax $39.99).