YearToAvoid

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

—/100

The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid has 63 NHTSA complaints, with Engine issues making up 56% of them, including reports of the vehicle being stuck at 31 mph. It is the only model year with data on file, so it cannot be ranked against other years yet.

Complaints
63
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
33
34 city / 31 hwy

Top 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine35 (56%)
  2. Electrical System22 (35%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain12 (19%)
  4. Fuel System10 (16%)
  5. Other7 (11%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  7. Airbags2 (3%)
  8. Brakes2 (3%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle refusing to accelerate past 31 mph, often after sitting in cold temperatures overnight.
  • Some drivers say pressing the accelerator produces no response at all, including while merging onto a road or turning into a parking lot.
  • Several owners describe the 12-volt battery going completely dead after just a few days of the vehicle sitting unused in a garage.
  • One owner reported brakes failing to stop the vehicle at low speed while pulling into a parking spot, leading to a collision.
  • A reported horn that blared on its own and would not shut off eventually smoldered and started to burn.
  • An owner said the front airbag and second-row seatbelt appeared to malfunction after the vehicle was rear-ended.
2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month11Nov 2024Feb 2025May 2025Aug 2025Nov 2025Feb 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026
99 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2024 to Sep 2026; peak Feb 2025 (11).

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
34 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
33 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other Carnival Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2025No verdict—63033

All Kia Carnival Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA lists 63 complaints for the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid, with Engine problems accounting for 56% of them and a median failure mileage around 3,000 miles. This is the only model year with data, so there is no other Carnival Hybrid year to compare it against yet.
Does the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid have any recalls?
No. NHTSA shows 0 recalls, including 0 do-not-drive recalls, for the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid.
What is the most common problem with the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid?
Engine problems are the top complaint category, making up 56% of all 63 complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 3,000 miles. Owners describe the vehicle being unable to accelerate past 31 mph in cold weather.
How many crashes or fires have been reported for the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid?
NHTSA complaint data lists 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries associated with the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid, with 0 deaths reported.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid at 33 mpg combined (34 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.