Fourth generation (KA4) · first-year watch
2025 Kia Carnival, day 801
- 124complaints since Jul 23, 2024
- 1recalls
- 0involved a crash
- 6,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Changed since August
- 2 new complaints in September, about tires and fuel system.
- Nothing filed yet on sticky steering, transmission failure, engine failure or fire.
- 18th most complaints of the 36 2025 models on this site.
What is your Carnival doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2025 model year.
What's been reported
NHTSA's own component codes. One report can cite several.
- Electrical82
- Other19
- Engine15
- Fuel and propulsion8
- Collision avoidance5
- Exterior Lighting5
- Transmission and drivetrain5
- Seats5
Problems so far
- Battery dies or the car will not start 61 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 10 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 7 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 7 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 7 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 6 reports
Recent reports
“My bran new 2025 with 3,000 miles has a completely dead battery. The Kia roadside assistance person was unable to jump start it.”
Filed Aug 16, 2024
“I have a dead brand new car after not driving it for 3 days. And, the dealer is unable to tell me how to get into it because the key fob does not have a physical key in it. This appears to be a slow battery draining issue that is being reported heavily online it appears on Reddit, Facebook and multiple forums related to the 2025 Kia Carnival EX and SXP.”
Filed Aug 5, 2024
“Parasitic battery drain. Battery dead at 244 miles when left in garage for two nights with no explanation of drain.”
Filed Aug 5, 2024
“Battery died within 2 days on purchasing vehicle. Took to the the dealer and they replaced the battery but said to keep key fob away 32 ft at night. I carry around a portable charger with me since so many other people are having this issue if not worse.”
Filed Aug 2, 2024
At a glance
- Next to the 2024
- The 2025 is too new for a fair per-year comparison. It has 124 complaints so far; the 2024, on sale longer, has 74.
- Top problem
- One problem takes up much of the file: dead battery, named in 61 of the 124 complaints (49%). Too few of the dead battery reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 5 of the 124 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as dead battery. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2024 at 55 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 33. So far in 2026, 36 more have come in.
Service bulletins for the 2025 Kia Carnival
Kia filed 48 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2025 Kia Carnival. 5 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 4 bulletins · 10 complaints
RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SERVICE ACTION SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR ELECTRIC WATER PUMP (SA617) This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Motor Control Unit (MCU) logic of certain 2025 Carnival vehicles.
COMBINATION TSB/SERVICE ACTION: CCNC – DEALER MODE, FACTORY & NETWORK RESET (SA613) This bulletin provides information to access the ‘Dealer Mode’ function on 2024MY~ models listed on page 5 equipped with a Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) head unit, and to perform a ‘Reset Network’ and/or ‘Factory Reset’ to address customer concerns ...
2 more on this problem
SERVICE ACTION: KIA CONNECT ACTIVATION FAILURE (SA600) This bulletin provides information to access the ‘Dealer Mode’ function and perform a ‘Reset Network’ on certain 2025MY Multiple Model vehicles listed on page 7 equipped with a Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) head unit to address customer concerns ...
CCNC – DEALER MODE, FACTORY AND NETWORK RESET This bulletin provides information to access the ‘Dealer Mode’ function on 2024MY~ models listed on page 5 equipped with a Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) head unit, and to perform a ‘Reset Network’ and/or ‘Factory Reset’ to address customer concerns ...
Multiple warning lights come on at once 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: CCU FUSE OPEN AFTER WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT This Pitstop provides information regarding a condition on 2022-2026MY Carnival (KA4 and KA4 HEV) vehicles in which the CCU 10A fuse may open and multiple warning lights may illuminate after replacement of the front dash wiring harness.
Recalls
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
The recall on the 2025 Kia Carnival, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Seeing this on your own car? How to file a complaint with NHTSA
The log
Complaints by the month NHTSA received them, newest first. Blue bars mark a month with a recall or an investigation.
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2025 Kia Carnival?
Dead battery, with 61 of the 124 complaints.
At what mileage do 2025 Kia Carnival problems start?
Of the 11 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 3,000 miles and half by about 6,000.
How many 2025 Kia Carnival complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
5 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for dead battery on the 2025 Kia Carnival?
No recall on file for the 2025 Kia Carnival is on the same system as dead battery. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.