2022 Kia Carnival Problems & Complaints

Not enough data

Owners have filed 136 complaints about the 2022 Kia Carnival with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There isn't enough complaint history for the Carnival to compare model years reliably. The most reported problem area is the body & structure (34 complaints, typically around 1,000 miles). 6 recalls cover this model year, including one with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.

136complaints
6recalls
4crashes
0fires
34injuries
0deaths

Most common 2022 Kia Carnival problems

  • Other / not specified
    3526%
  • Body & structure~1,000 miles
    3425%
  • Electrical system~80,000 miles
    2317%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~20,000 miles
    1813%
  • Engine & cooling~2,000 miles
    1713%
  • Fuel & propulsion system
    1511%
  • Locks & latches~2,000 miles
    75%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~2,000 miles
    75%
  • Driver assistance~20,000 miles
    54%
  • Seats~1,000 miles
    43%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    43%
  • Lights~2,000 miles
    32%
  • Steering
    32%
  • Brakes
    21%
  • Air bags
    21%
  • Suspension
    11%
  • Wheels & tires
    11%

Share of the 136 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Kia Carnival complaints by model year

20222023202420252026136527512628
Owner complaints per model year, Kia Carnival. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Compare all Kia Carnival years →

2022 Kia Carnival recalls (6)

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

NHTSA recall 26V-232 · Apr 10, 2026 · 141,032 vehicles

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.

Structure › Body › Roof and pillars

NHTSA recall 24V-025 · Jan 18, 2024 · 101,049 vehicles

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the roof molding and replace or secure it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.

Structure › Body › Door

NHTSA recall 23V-236 · Mar 31, 2023 · 51,568 vehicles

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling all 2022 and certain 2023 Carnival vehicles. The auto-reverse feature for the power sliding doors (PSD) may not activate in all situations.

Remedy: Dealers will update the power sliding door control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.

Trailer hitches

NHTSA recall 23V-179 · Mar 17, 2023 · 3,555 vehiclesPark outside

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and verify whether the vehicle is equipped with a Genuine Kia accessory trailer tow hitch…

Latches/locks/linkages › Electronic lock/latch actuator

NHTSA recall 21V-908 · Nov 19, 2021 · 2,956 vehicles

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The remote controller assembly for the passenger-side power sliding door may malfunction, preventing the passenger-side sliding door from securely latching.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger-side power sliding door release actuator's drum and holder inside the remote controller assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021.

Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Fuel rail

NHTSA recall 21V-277 · Apr 21, 2021 · 2,744 vehicles

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the multi-port injection fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2022 Kia Carnival:

Power Sliding Door Auto Reverse Failure

NHTSA investigation PE22004 · opened Apr 10, 2022 · closed Jun 13, 2023 · led to recall 23V-236

On April 10, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving 5 consumer complaints alleging the Power Sliding Doors (PSD) auto-reverse function failed to work properly in the model year (MY) 2022 Kia Carnival minivan vehicles.At that time, ODI was aware of 3 complaints alleging injuries to consumer?s arm, hand or shoulder caused by the closing PSD.Additionally,…

What 2022 Kia Carnival owners say

Body & structure all 34 →

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that the passenger's side rear power sliding door auto-reverse failed to engage. Additionally, the contact stated that while her husband was buckling a child in the car seat located in the rear driver's side seat, her daughter who was also inside the vehicle pressed the door switch button, and the driver's side rear power sliding door engaged. The door closed in on her husband instead of stopping and engaging the auto-reverse function. The contact's husband was able to release himself and advised the children that were inside the vehicle to not move for their safety. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Action Number: PE22004 (Structure). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …

Body › Door · 1,000 miles · May 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the rear driver's side automatic sliding door sensor malfunctioned, causing injury to the contact's daughter's shoulder when it closed while she was exiting the vehicle. No medical attention was received. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an unknown failure. The dealer informed the contact that an unknown part needed to be replaced and deactivated the rear-powered sliding doors. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 1,020.

Body › Door · 1,000 miles · Dec 2021 · 1 injury

Electrical system all 23 →

My 2022 Kia Carnival, approximately 80,000 miles, had intermittent dashboard warning lights and grinding brake noise for a few weeks. I brought the vehicle to Tasca Kia White Plains first time on 4/14/26 then again on 5/8/26. The dealership initially could not reproduce the issue, then later suspected an ABS sensor issue and ordered the part. On 5/12/26, before the repair was completed, I was driving downhill with my children in the vehicle when the brakes failed to respond properly. I had to steer off the roadway and go over rocks/boulders to stop the vehicle. At that time, the brakes would not respond normally, and I could not immediately shift the vehicle into Park. Police and towing services were involved. The dealership later replaced an ABS sensor. …

May 2026 · crash

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument cluster malfunctioned, and the screen failed to display as needed. During the failure, the driver was unable to view the speedometer, and fuel gauge, and check engine warning light. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but later the instrument cluster became permanently inoperable. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.

Instrument cluster/panel · 80,000 miles · Apr 2023

Windows, wipers & sunroof

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, she noticed that the windshield was cracked from the passenger's side to the driver's side of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to an auto glass repair shop, where it was determined that the windshield needed to be replaced; however, the replacement windshield was not available. The windshield was replaced and was recalibrated after a month. The contact stated that after the repair, the Forward Collision Avoidance system was intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on another occasion, she noticed that the windshield was cracked. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Windshield · 20,000 miles · Jan 2023

The contact owned a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the passenger's side rear window shattered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they informed the contact that an object had struck the window. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000.

Glass, side/rear · 3,000 miles · Aug 2021

2022 Kia Carnival engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automaticFWD19 / 26 / 22

EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Kia Carnival a good car?

There isn't enough complaint history for the Carnival to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA.

What is the most common problem with the 2022 Kia Carnival?

The body & structure — 34 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the electrical system (23) and windows, wipers & sunroof (18).

How many recalls does the 2022 Kia Carnival have?

There are 6 recalls for the 2022 Kia Carnival, the most recent from April 10, 2026 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Kia Carnival?

Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025. See the full Kia Carnival years comparison.

At what mileage do 2022 Kia Carnival problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 3,000 miles; 88% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.