Most common 2023 Kia Carnival problems
Share of the 52 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Carnival complaints by model year
2023 Kia Carnival recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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
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
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
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…
What 2023 Kia Carnival owners say
Body & structure
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver's side roof molding ejected from the vehicle. The contact immediately stopped the vehicle but was unable to locate the molding. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V025000 (STRUCTURE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 77,000.
The door closing automation applies excessive force before the safety function engages to re-open. This poses a high risk to children and small adults with narrow limbs and/or the fingers of any aged person. On January 11, 2023, my 4 year old's hand was closed in the door without the door stopping or re-opening. This resulted in deep lacerations to his fingers and swelling necessitating emergency room medicine and imaging to eliminate potential of fracture. I tested this morning with the doors by opening and closing and inserting objects as well as my body to determine an approximation of closing force. Even with a full sized adult, the closing force is sufficient to move the trunk of an adult body to the side before safety mechanisms engage. Door travel continues for 2 to 3 inches before safety retraction engages. …
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that during freezing weather, the button was depressed to open the driver's side rear sliding door, and the door automatically opened; however, the motor reached a point of resistance and attempted to close the sliding door. Due to the failure of the cable in the door snapped behind the glass window. The contact manually opened the sliding door and used excessive force to close the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the door cable had snapped. The contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty; however, the dealer reached out to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer later agreed to partial assistance with the repair. The contact paid for the remaining cost of the repair. The manufacturer was contacted about the repair and provided a case number. The vehicle was repaired. …
The contact's daughter owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving 65-70 MPH, within 48 hours of purchasing the vehicle brand new, the vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, the brakes and power steering became inoperable. Several unknown warning lights illuminated, and alarms sounded. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known failure, and that the manufacturer was working on a fix. The contact stated that the taillights also failed to work intermittently. The contact also stated that the reverse lights would engage unintendedly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was due to a system update error and that the fix was currently being developed. …
Engine & cooling
I am reporting a safety defect involving my 2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige. On June 6, 2025, I brought the vehicle to Yonkers Kia Service Center because of a strong gasoline odor. The dealership told me the fuel tank was swollen and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle remained at the dealership from June 6, 2025 through October 17, 2025. Kia later indicated that the fuel tank, canister, and vent valve had been replaced. When the vehicle was returned to me on October 17, 2025, it still smelled like gas. Within 24-48 hours, the same or related safety issues returned, including strong fuel odor, loss of engine power, check engine light, abnormal fuel consumption, and later a visible fuel leak, which I documented on video. Because the vehicle did not feel safe, I stopped driving it on October 19, 2025. In March 2026, the vehicle was towed back to Kia for renewed diagnosis. …
Unknown. My vehicle has cut off in the middle of traffic several times. Another incident was when my vehicle was shaking uncontrollably and couldn't go over 40. The check engine light never comes on. One dealership looked at it and said nothing was wrong even though one of the techs heard the vehicle. They said because the check engine light wasn't on that there was nothing that they could do. Took it to the kia dealership in Huntsville. They know something is wrong but because no check engine light or codes. They don't know where the problem is . My main issue is when something is wrong. No lights or codes show up. I haven't had it a year yet. Safety concerns with it cutting off in the middle of traffic .
2023 Kia Carnival engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2023 Kia Carnival a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Carnival to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Carnival?
The body & structure — 12 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the electrical system (6) and engine & cooling (6).
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Carnival have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2023 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 2023 Kia Carnival problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 35,000 miles; 63% 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.