The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 109 of 197 complaints (55%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (8) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 75 in 2024 to 197 in 2025.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 197
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,900–$2,950
- Combined MPG
- 21–33
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | vs. 2025 Minivan - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850 | 2,850 | 1,900–2,950 | 1,950–2,950 | 1,900–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 22 | 22 | 21–33 | 21–32 | 21–33 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19 / 26 | 19 / 26 | 18–34 / 26–31 | 18–34 / 25–31 | 18–34 / 26–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 408 | 408 | 274–426 | 275–428 | 274–428 | |
| Complaints filed | 53 | 75 | 197 | 55 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2025 Kia Carnival have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2025 Kia Carnival?
Electrical: 109 of 197 NHTSA complaints (55%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Kia Carnival get?
EPA rates it 21–33 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2025 Kia Carnival?
EPA estimates $1,900–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minivan - 2WD | 18 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 426 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minivan - 2WD | 34 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | $1,900 (low) | 274 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 109 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 9 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 30 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
- 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. Kia's number for this recall is SC368. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 24, 2026.