Reliable Auto DB

2023 Kia Carnival reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Kia Carnival holds 51 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 13 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 3 Carnival years on this site. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Hoses and fittings, Roof and pillars, and Door.

2022 Kia Carnival
Photo by JamesYoung8167, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

51

Per year

13

Recalls

4

Years on the road

4

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (12 of 51), then Electrical system (6) and Engine (5). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 7 that report an injury.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 Carnival has 135 complaints, 33 per year, and the 2024 has 73 complaints, 24 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Kia Carnival. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2026-04-10 · NHTSA campaign 26V232000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall structure, body, roof and pillars 2024-01-18 · NHTSA campaign 24V025000
Summary Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the roof molding and replace or secure it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC292.
Recall structure, body, door 2023-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 23V236000
Summary 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.
Remedy Dealers will update the power sliding door control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC266.
Recall trailer hitch 2023-03-17 · NHTSA campaign 23V179000
Summary 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.
Remedy Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and verify whether the vehicle is equipped with a Genuine Kia accessory trailer tow hitch assembly. If equipped, dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC265.

Complaints by component (51 total)

Structure
12
Electrical system
6
Engine
5
Fuel and propulsion system
3
Chest clip, buckle, and harness
2
Fuel system, gasoline
2
Lane departure
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
2
Seat belts
2
Steering
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Powertrain
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 8 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

7

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

3202218202382024102025122026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Fuel door actuator is electrically tied to cabin door locks with no manual release and frequently fails to open after repeatedly cycling cabin door locks. Issue is not due to bad batteries or other vehicle related…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-23
  • "The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle, causing the contact’s six children to become dizzy from the odor. No warning light…"
    Fuel system, gasoline · filed 2026-08-04
  • "Vehicle air conditioning sends off a vinegar like aroma. Likely condensation on coils."
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-24
  • "I am filing a comprehensive complaint against Kia America and its authorized dealership for a prolonged failure to remedy a safety defect, ongoing consumer deception, and gross mismanagement of a federally mandated…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-23
  • "The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver’s side roof molding ejected from the vehicle. The contact immediately stopped the vehicle but was unable to…"
    Structure · filed 2026-06-05

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2023 Kia Carnival MV FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Carnival 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 19 26 22 MPG $2950

Specs and fitment

KA4 generation, 2022–present
Body styles Minivan
Oil 0W-20 , 5.5 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R17, 235/55R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 26V-232 covers certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles: fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail, increasing fire risk. Dealers inspect and tighten or replace the fuel pipe as needed.

Compare

Previous year 2022 Kia Carnival Next year 2024 Kia Carnival See every Kia Carnival model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Kia Carnival reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Kia Carnival holds 51 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 13 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 3 Carnival years on this site. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Hoses and fittings, Roof and pillars, and Door.

What are common problems with a 2023 Kia Carnival?

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (12 of 51), then Electrical system (6) and Engine (5). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 7 that report an injury.

Is the 2023 Kia Carnival more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Carnival has 135 complaints, 33 per year, and the 2024 has 73 complaints, 24 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

Has the 2023 Kia Carnival been recalled?

The 2023 Kia Carnival has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Kia Carnival?

Owners have filed 51 complaints about the 2023 Kia Carnival with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Kia Carnival get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Kia Carnival is 22 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Kia Carnival take?

US KA4 Carnival listings use 0W-20 (about 5.5 qt with filter).

Does recall 26V-232 cover the Kia Carnival?

It covers certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles: fuel may leak at the pipe-to-rail connection, increasing fire risk; dealers inspect and tighten or replace the fuel pipe.

What generation is the Kia Carnival?

KA4 generation, model year 2022 onward in the US.