2025 Kia CARNIVAL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
122 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 82 of 122 complaints (67.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 67 | 54.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.3% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 82 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
Electrical System: 82; Unknown Or Other: 19; Engine: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Exterior Lighting: 5; Power Train: 5; Seats: 4; Structure:Body: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 117 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 |
| 2025 | 33 |
| 2026 | 34 |
2024: 55; 2025: 33; 2026: 34
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 67 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11603952 · 2024-07-23 (July 23, 2024)
Brand new 2025 Kia Carnival models are experiencing major electrical failure right off the lot, which is my experience. Kia will not acknowledge the issue but there is parasitic draw issues with the vehicle and mine is rendered unable to drive and dealer service departments won’t accept my vehicle for repair.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11603952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11603968 · 2024-07-23 (July 23, 2024)
Battery is dying repeatedly due to electric system failure. Dealership mechanics suspect a parasitic drain but have not been able to identify the cause. There are many other 2025 Kia Carnival owners reporting the same issue. Our car has been at the dealer multiple times for 17 days (so far) without a cause identified.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11603968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11604108 · 2024-07-23 (July 23, 2024)
07/23/2024 13:48:24 Dealership confirmed battery is fine and did not need to replace it. I'm going to delete the Kia Access app and see if that has any affect on the battery drain. This needs to be fixed ASAP. 07/23/2024 05:25:47 The 2025 Kia Carnival appears to have some parasitic battery drain, leaving vehicles unable to start or use functions/features like remote start, AC and others. This has affected many Carnival owners and no one knows what to do. I know other owners have towed their car to the dealership and they're clueless. It could …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11604108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11605763 · 2024-07-31 (July 31, 2024)
I purchased my 2025 Kia Carnival SXP on July 10th. Since then, I've encountered significant issues with battery drain and camera errors. I've had to jump-start the car and drive it at least every other day due to these problems. On Monday, July 22nd, I sent my car to the dealer for repairs. Six days later, they informed me it was ready for pick-up. However, when I arrived, I found the car battery had died in the dealership. While they claimed the camera issue was resolved, they admitted they needed to investigate the battery problem further. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11605763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11605784 · 2024-08-01 (August 1, 2024)
Battery is continually draining while vehicle (2025 Kia Carnival SX Prestige) is off due to some unknown electrical system failure. I have owned the vehicle for only 24 days. In that time, I have experienced 4 instances where the battery has drained that has required the vehicle to be jump-started to operate. Upon jump starting the vehicle, several vehicle safety systems (automatic emergency breaking, blind spot warning, forward collision warning, lane departure warning etc) indicate a malfunction evidenced by error messages/lights on the dash.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11605784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11605886 · 2024-08-01 (August 1, 2024)
The battery was completely dead after just 300 miles. And then it happened again at 450 miles. The car must be jumped and then the battery has to charge again. This is on a 2025 Kia Carnival (brand new).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11605886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11606009 · 2024-08-02 (August 2, 2024)
This car was purchased new on [XXX]. In the ~30 or so days since purchase, the battery has died on 4 occasions and would not turn over, requiring it to be jump started, and began just 3 days after purchase on [XXX] and as recent as [XXX]. This is my wife's vehicle and she was left stranded with our newborn child on one of these occasions in the 110+ degree Arizona weather. We ensure that everything is off before leaving the vehicle and the problem still persists. This is not an isolated issue, as there are thousands of posts online of others de…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11606009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11606024 · 2024-08-02 (August 2, 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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11606024 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
26V232000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2026-04-10 (April 10, 2026)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗