Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2027.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Carnival | 28 | 2 |
| 2025 Carnival | 126 | 1 |
| 2024 Carnival | 75 | 2 |
| 2023 Carnival | 52 | 4 |
| 2022 Carnival | 136 | 6 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system138
- Unknown or other116
- Structure59
- Engine45
- Fuel/propulsion system32
- Power train19
- Visibility/wiper17
- Seats15
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 Carnival vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 5 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 | 4 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 6 model-year variants; 3 of 3 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2027 KIA CARNIVAL PV ICE FWD | ★★★★★ | 14.0 % |
| 2026 | 2026 KIA CARNIVAL PV N/A FWD | ★★★★★ | 14.0 % |
| 2025 | 2025 Kia Carnival HEV PV FWD | — | 14.0 % |
| 2024 | 2024 Kia Carnival PV Later Release FWD | ★★★★★ | 14.0 % |
| 2023 | 2023 Kia Carnival MV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2022 | 2022 Kia Carnival MV FWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 5 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 10.6–11.3 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Carnival · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.0 | 9.3 | 11.3 |
| 2025 | Carnival · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.8 | 11.1 |
| 2024 | Carnival · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 9.0 | 10.7 |
| 2023 | Carnival · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.9 | 10.6 |
| 2022 | Carnival · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 8.9 | 10.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
5,655 Carnival cars are on the New Zealand register; 2% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 663 | 663 | 0 |
| 2025 | 703 | 703 | 0 |
| 2024 | 595 | 592 | 3 |
| 2023 | 432 | 428 | 3 |
| 2022 | 559 | 558 | 1 |
| 2021 | 413 | 408 | 2 |
| 2020 | 71 | 67 | 4 |
| 2019 | 367 | 358 | 5 |
| 2018 | 297 | 288 | 6 |
| 2017 | 343 | 295 | 41 |
| 2016 | 276 | 267 | 7 |
| 2015 | 158 | 153 | 4 |
| 2014 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| 2013 | 102 | 98 | 2 |
| 2012 | 122 | 119 | 3 |
| 2011 | 51 | 49 | 1 |
| 2010 | 103 | 97 | 4 |
| 2009 | 95 | 89 | 2 |
| 2008 | 66 | 64 | 1 |
| 2007 | 88 | 84 | 0 |
| 2006 | 69 | 63 | 2 |
| 2005 | 20 | 17 | 1 |
| 2004 | 10 | 9 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
51 Carnival cars are on Dutch roads; 8% arrived later as imports, and 16 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 24 | €32,527 |
| 2006 | 27 | €36,889 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
129 Carnival cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 55% petrol, 45% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 12 | 270,000 km |
| 2009 | 11 | 243,000 km |
| 2008 | 57 | 258,000 km |
| 2007 | 33 | 273,000 km |
| 2006 | 9 | 272,000 km |
| 2005 | 7 | 228,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
New registrations in Europe
2,339 new Kia Carnival cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Germany (2), Italy (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 306 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 2 | 211 (NEDC) |
| 2018 | 1 | 208 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2 | — |
| 2013 | 3 | — |
| 2012 | 86 | — |
| 2011 | 642 | — |
| 2010 | 1,600 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Carnival in 4 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The shift lever (gearbox) may have been assembled incorrectly, not locking the gears properly. This can allow the vehicle to roll unintentionally, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market su…
Oil and humidity may penetrate into the into the power supply of the ABS control module. As a result, short-circuit may occur, leading to electrical overload and increased risk of fire.
Due to corrosion, the safety catch for the bonnet might not work correctly. There is consequently a risk that the bonnet may open while the car is being driven.
A fault in the brake light switch may result in the brake light not coming on when the brake pedal is pressed or in the brake light remaining on. Moreover, in vehicles with automatic transmission it may not be possible to move the lever out of the ‘P’ position…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
7 campaigns cover the Carnival.
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
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.
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. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
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.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged.
NHTSA recalls