Kia Carnival research: recalls, reliability and buyer's guide
The Carnival is Kia's minivan, styled to look like an SUV but with power sliding doors, seven or eight seats and 145 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front row. 2022-2024 models use a 290-hp V6 (about 22 mpg combined) and can tow 3,500 lb; the 2025 refresh added a 242-hp hybrid rated about 33 mpg combined, new tech and new styling. All Carnivals are front-wheel drive.
Model years covered: 2022–2026. The Carnival nameplate begins in the U.S. with the 2022 model year (2011-2021 Kia minivans are Sedonas). Verify 2026 trim content and specifications against current Kia data.
Last updated 2026-10-15.
Strengths
- Huge cargo and passenger space
- SUV like styling
- Strong V6 and 3500 lb towing
- Efficient hybrid from 2025
- Vip lounge second row seats available
- Lots of standard driver assistance
Things to know before you buy
- No all wheel drive option
- Several early recalls check by VIN
- 2025 is a major refresh year with hybrid
- Hybrid tows less than V6
- Test power sliding doors
- Recall status should be checked by VIN
Generations
Generation 4 (2022–present)
The fourth-generation (KA4) Carnival is the first sold under the Carnival name in the U.S., replacing the Sedona for 2022. It launched with a 290-hp, 262 lb-ft 3.5L V6 and 8-speed automatic, front-wheel drive, and 7- or 8-seat layouts. The 2025 refresh updated styling and the cabin, retuned the V6 to 287 hp and added a 242-hp 1.6L turbo hybrid with a 6-speed automatic.
Buyer takeaway: Choose 2022-2024 for the lowest price with V6 towing, or 2025-2026 for the updated cabin and the hybrid's fuel savings. Buyers who need all-wheel drive should look at the Toyota Sienna or Chrysler Pacifica AWD instead.
Kia Carnival by model year
2026 Kia Carnival
The 2026 Carnival carries over the refreshed design with the 287-hp 3.5L V6 (8-speed automatic, about 18/25 mpg) or the 242-hp turbo hybrid (6-speed automatic, about 34/31 mpg), all front-wheel drive. Dual 12.3-inch screens and VIP Lounge Seats remain available. Verify 2026 trim content against current Kia data, and check the VIN for the fuel-pipe and instrument-display recalls.
- Engines: 3.5 liter V6 287 hp 260 lb ft; 1.6 liter turbo I4 hybrid 242 hp 271 lb ft total
- Transmissions: 8 speed automatic; 6 speed automatic hybrid
- Drivetrain: Front wheel drive
- Body style: 5 door minivan mpv
What changed:
- Largely carryover from 2025
- Rear seat entertainment limited to sx dark edition and sx prestige vip
What to inspect: Open recalls by VIN; Fuel pipe leak recall status; Power sliding door operation and auto reverse; Instrument display software recall status; Hybrid system warnings if hybrid; Second row seat removal and sliding mechanisms; Third row fold in floor operation; Driver assistance sensors and cameras; Infotainment and rear seat entertainment if equipped; Suspension and tires; Brakes; Maintenance history.
2025 Kia Carnival
The refreshed 2025 Carnival gets new styling, a new dash with dual 12.3-inch screens on upper trims, and its first hybrid: a 1.6L turbo four with an electric motor and 6-speed automatic making 242 hp, rated about 34/31 mpg and towing 2,500 lb. The V6 is now 287 hp with an 8-speed (about 18/26 mpg, 3,500-lb towing). Both remain front-wheel drive. Trims run LX to SX Prestige; the hybrid starts at LXS.
- Engines: 3.5 liter V6 287 hp 260 lb ft; 1.6 liter turbo I4 hybrid 242 hp 271 lb ft total
- Transmissions: 8 speed automatic; 6 speed automatic hybrid
- Drivetrain: Front wheel drive
- Body style: 5 door minivan mpv
What changed:
- Refreshed styling and interior
- New hybrid with 1.6 liter turbo and electric motor
- V6 retuned to 287 hp
- New lxs trim and dark edition
- Updated driver assistance and connected car tech
What to inspect: Open recalls by VIN; Fuel pipe leak recall status; Power sliding door operation and auto reverse; Hybrid system warnings and 12v battery if hybrid; Second row seat removal and sliding mechanisms; Third row fold in floor operation; Driver assistance sensors and cameras; Infotainment and rear seat entertainment if equipped; Suspension and tires; Brakes; Maintenance history.
2024 Kia Carnival
The 2024 Carnival is the last year of the original design, with only minor packaging changes. It keeps the 290-hp 3.5L V6, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (about 19/26 mpg) and LX, EX, SX and SX Prestige trims. Because the 2025 refresh added a hybrid and new tech, a 2024 can be a value buy; confirm the roof-molding and fuel-pipe recalls.
- Engines: 3.5 liter V6 290 hp 262 lb ft
- Transmissions: 8 speed automatic
- Drivetrain: Front wheel drive
- Body style: 5 door minivan mpv
What changed:
- Minor packaging changes
- Ex loses all auto up down windows
- Last year before 2025 refresh
What to inspect: Open recalls by VIN; Fuel pipe leak recall status; Power sliding door operation and auto reverse; Roof molding recall status; Tow hitch harness recall if equipped; V6 oil level and oil change records; Second row seat removal and sliding mechanisms; Third row fold in floor operation; Driver assistance sensors and cameras; Infotainment and rear seat entertainment if equipped; Suspension and tires; Brakes; Maintenance history.
2023 Kia Carnival
The 2023 Carnival is a carryover with small seat and tech updates: the SX gets standard dual 12.3-inch screens and Blind-Spot View Monitor, and the SX Prestige offers 8-seat Slide-Flex or optional second-row VIP Lounge Seats. It keeps the 290-hp 3.5L V6 and 8-speed automatic (about 19/26 mpg). Some 2023s are in the sliding-door auto-reverse and tow-harness recalls.
- Engines: 3.5 liter V6 290 hp 262 lb ft
- Transmissions: 8 speed automatic
- Drivetrain: Front wheel drive
- Body style: 5 door minivan mpv
What changed:
- Minor seat and technology updates
- Sx gains dual 12.3 inch screens and blind spot view monitor
- Sx prestige 8 passenger slide flex or vip lounge seats
What to inspect: Open recalls by VIN; Fuel pipe leak recall status; Power sliding door operation and auto reverse; Roof molding recall status; Tow hitch harness recall if equipped; V6 oil level and oil change records; Second row seat removal and sliding mechanisms; Third row fold in floor operation; Driver assistance sensors and cameras; Infotainment and rear seat entertainment if equipped; Suspension and tires; Brakes; Maintenance history.
2022 Kia Carnival
The 2022 Carnival replaced the Sedona as Kia's minivan and was the first U.S. Kia with the new logo. It pairs SUV-like styling with sliding doors, seven or eight seats and a huge cargo area. Every one has a 290-hp 3.5L V6, an 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (about 19/26 mpg city/highway) and can tow up to 3,500 lb. Trims are LX, EX, SX and SX Prestige. Several 2022 recalls exist, so check the VIN.
- Engines: 3.5 liter V6 290 hp 262 lb ft
- Transmissions: 8 speed automatic
- Drivetrain: Front wheel drive
- Body style: 5 door minivan mpv
What changed:
- Carnival name replaces sedona in the US
- First US kia with the new kia logo
- SUV styled minivan with dual power sliding doors
- 7 or 8 seat layouts with slide flex second row
- Up to 3500 lb towing
What to inspect: Open recalls by VIN; Fuel pipe leak recall status; Power sliding door operation and auto reverse; Roof molding recall status; Tow hitch harness recall if equipped; V6 oil level and oil change records; Second row seat removal and sliding mechanisms; Third row fold in floor operation; Driver assistance sensors and cameras; Infotainment and rear seat entertainment if equipped; Suspension and tires; Brakes; Maintenance history; Fuel rail and sliding door latch recalls 2022.
Known issues and what to check
- Fuel Pipe Connection Leak Recall (2022-2026) (2022–2026)
NHTSA recall 26V-232 covers certain 2022-2026 Carnivals: fuel may leak at the connection between the fuel pipe and the fuel rail. Dealers inspect and tighten or replace the pipe free of charge. Separately, recall 21V-277 covered certain early 2022 Carnivals with a possibly damaged plastic fuel rail tube.
What to do: Check the VIN and have any open fuel-system recall performed before buying. - Power Sliding Door Recalls and Operation (2022–2026)
Recall 23V-236 covers all 2022 and certain 2023 Carnivals: the power sliding doors' auto-reverse may not activate in all situations, fixed with a software update. Recall 21V-908 covers certain 2022 cars whose passenger-side door may not latch securely. On any year, sliding doors are worth testing because they get heavy family use.
What to do: Confirm the door recalls are done and operate both sliding doors several times before buying. - Tow Hitch Harness Fire-Risk Recall (2022-2023) (2022–2023)
NHTSA recall 23V-179 covers certain 2022-2023 Carnivals with a factory or dealer-accessory tow hitch harness: water on the harness module's circuit board could short and cause a fire. Owners were advised to park outside until repaired.
What to do: If the van has a tow hitch harness, confirm the recall remedy was completed. - Roof Molding Detachment Recall (2022-2024) (2022–2024)
Recall 24V-025 covers certain 2022-2024 Carnivals whose roof molding may loosen and detach while driving. Dealers inspect and secure or replace it.
What to do: Look at the roof trim and confirm the recall status by VIN. - V6 vs. Hybrid Powertrain Resolution (2025+) (2025–2026)
From 2025 the Carnival is offered with a 287-hp 3.5L V6 (8-speed automatic, up to 3,500-lb towing) or a 242-hp 1.6L turbo hybrid (6-speed automatic, up to 2,500-lb towing, about 33 mpg combined in 2025). Both are front-wheel drive only; no Carnival offers all-wheel drive.
What to do: Match the powertrain to towing and mileage needs, and confirm it by VIN. - 3.5L V6 Maintenance and Oil Care (2022–2026)
The Carnival's 3.5L V6 uses both direct and port fuel injection, which helps limit intake carbon buildup, but like any family hauler it benefits from on-time oil changes, especially with towing or short trips.
What to do: Ask for maintenance records, especially on vans used for towing. - Instrument Display Software Recall (2026) (2026)
Recall 26V-046 covers certain 2026 Carnival and Carnival Hybrid models (and other Kia models) whose instrument panel display may fail due to a software error; the fix is a software update over the air or at a dealer.
What to do: Confirm the display software update has been applied.
Recalls
Recall applicability varies by model year, production date, engine or battery, transmission, equipment, and VIN. Check the VIN for current open recalls and completed remedies.
Similar vehicles to consider
- Honda Odyssey
- Toyota Sienna
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Chrysler Voyager
- Kia Sedona
- Kia Telluride
- Hyundai Palisade
- Kia EV9
Questions this guide answers
- Is the Kia Carnival a minivan or an SUV?
- What replaced the Kia Sedona?
- What engine does this Carnival have, and is there a hybrid?
- What changed for the 2025 Carnival?
- Does the Carnival come with all-wheel drive?
- How much can the Carnival tow?
- What fuel economy does the Carnival get?
- What recalls should I check on a used Carnival?
- What should I inspect on a used Carnival?
- How does the Carnival compare with the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna?