Verdict
2025 Kia Carnival: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2025 Kia Carnival — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for minivan.
Owners filed 170 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 50% of 2025 minivans. Electrical System leads the reports (53%). 1 safety recall campaign on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2025 minivans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
170
Reports to NHTSA, 2025
Safety recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
21
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 50% of 2025 minivans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2025 minivans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (53% of 170 reports), followed by unknown or other (11%).
+ 8 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 170 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11748893, ODI 11747231, ODI 11740593, ODI 11740406, ODI 11737111.
Recalls(1)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Fuel SystemOct 2026 · 26V232000Details +Close −
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: 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.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2025 Kia Carnival PV FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 18 | 26 | 21 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2025 Kia Carnival: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2025 Kia Carnival?
Owners filed 170 NHTSA complaints about the 2025 Kia Carnival — fewer complaints than 50% of comparable 2025 minivans, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2025 Kia Carnival?
The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (53% of complaints) and unknown or other (11%).
How many recalls does the 2025 Kia Carnival have?
1 recall has been issued that affect the 2025 Kia Carnival, covering components such as fuel system. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Kia Carnival get?
The EPA rates the 2025 Kia Carnival at 21 mpg combined.