YearToAvoid

2022 Kia Carnival Structure & Body Problems

Structure & Body complaints make up 43 of 135 total complaints (32%) for the 2022 Kia Carnival, mostly centered on power sliding doors that fail to auto-reverse. NHTSA lists four related recalls, including one specifically for the auto-reverse feature on 2022 Carnival power sliding doors.

Structure & Body complaints
43
32% of 135
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
18
Median mileage
1,010 mi
Related recalls
4

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Power sliding doors fail to reopen or reverse when they sense an arm, hand, or other obstruction, sometimes causing bruising or injury.
  • Rear passenger sliding door opens on its own while the vehicle is in motion, sometimes triggering a door-ajar warning and failing to latch afterward.
  • Owners describe the automatic doors closing with excessive force, making it hard to stop them manually before they pinch a limb.
  • Middle-row seats fold forward unexpectedly or spring back with significant force when not fully clicked into place, striking occupants in the head.
  • Passenger-side sliding door latching mechanism fails, requiring dealer diagnosis but sometimes going unrepaired.

When 2022 Kia Carnival body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint May 12, 2021, latest Sep 22, 2026.

2022 Kia Carnival structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month5May 2021Dec 2021Mar 2022Jun 2022Feb 2023Aug 2023May 2025Nov 2025
43 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2022 (5).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2022 Kia Carnival

  1. NHTSA 24V025000Jan 18, 2024Structure & Body101,049 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.

    Risk: A detached roof molding can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 23V236000Mar 31, 2023Structure & Body51,568 vehicles

    Structure:body:door

    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.

    Risk: A power sliding door that does not auto-reverse can close on an occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 23V179000Mar 17, 2023Structure & Body3,555 vehiclesPark Outside

    Trailer hitches

    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.

    Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    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.

  4. NHTSA 21V908000Nov 19, 2021Structure & Body2,956 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:electronic lock/latch actuator

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The remote controller assembly for the passenger-side power sliding door may malfunction, preventing the passenger-side sliding door from securely latching.

    Risk: A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger-side power sliding door release actuator's drum and holder inside the remote controller assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC221.

Structure & Body complaints by Carnival model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 202243 (32%)
  2. 202314 (27%)
  3. 202413 (18%)
  4. 20258 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

What structure and body problems does the 2022 Kia Carnival have?
Owners mainly report power sliding door issues, including doors that fail to auto-reverse when they detect an obstruction, doors that open on their own while driving, and latching mechanism failures. NHTSA lists 43 Structure & Body complaints for this model year, 32% of all complaints filed.
Is there a recall for the 2022 Kia Carnival sliding doors?
Yes. Kia recalled all 2022 and certain 2023 Carnival vehicles (campaign 23V236000) because the auto-reverse feature for the power sliding doors may not activate in all situations. A separate 2021 recall (21V908000) addressed a malfunctioning remote controller for the passenger-side power sliding door.
How many injuries were reported for Structure & Body complaints on the 2022 Carnival?
NHTSA data shows 18 injuries linked to Structure & Body complaints for the 2022 Kia Carnival, though no crashes or fires were reported in this category.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2022 Kia Carnival is 1,010 miles, indicating these issues often appear very early in ownership.
Are there other recalls affecting the Carnival's structure or body?
Yes. Besides the sliding door recalls, Kia issued a 2024 recall (24V025000) for roof molding that may loosen and detach, and a 2023 recall (23V179000) for water accumulation related to tow hitch harnesses on 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles.

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.