YearToAvoid

2023 Kia Carnival Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#4 most-complained of 4 Carnival years

The 2023 Kia Carnival ranks best among its 4 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and 51 complaints. It has 4 recalls, none marked do-not-drive, mainly tied to structure/body and fuel system issues.

Complaints
51
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 26 hwy

Top 2023 Kia Carnival problems

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

  1. Other24 (47%)
  2. Structure & Body14 (27%)
  3. Engine7 (14%)
  4. Electrical System6 (12%)
  5. Fuel System5 (10%)
  6. Lane Departure2 (4%)
  7. Seat Belts2 (4%)
  8. Steering2 (4%)
  9. Brakes1 (2%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Power sliding doors close with excessive force and fail to reverse or stop even when a hand, arm, or child's fingers are caught in the door.
  • Rear power door sensors sometimes do not detect a person standing in the door's path before closing.
  • Some owners report the engine cutting off in the middle of traffic, jerking during acceleration, or shaking uncontrollably below 40 mph without triggering the check engine light.
  • One owner reported a total loss of motive power along with inoperable brakes and power steering and multiple warning lights while driving at highway speed shortly after purchase.
  • ABS reportedly activated inappropriately, causing a grinding and pulsating noise and failing to bring the vehicle to a stop before a crash.
2023 Kia Carnival complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2022Mar 2023Aug 2023Aug 2024May 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026
66 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2023 (5).

2023 Kia Carnival recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V232000Apr 10, 2026Fuel System141,032 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2023 Kia Carnival →

2023 Kia Carnival fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
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.

2023 compared with other Carnival years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2022Caution67135622
2023Best051422
2024Good3373222
2025Avoid100124121

All Kia Carnival years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Kia Carnival reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 Carnival ranks best of the 4 model years with data, with a complaint index of 0 and 51 total complaints.
What problems does the 2023 Kia Carnival have?
The top problem area is Structure & Body, at 27% of complaints, largely tied to power sliding door sensors. Engine issues account for 14% and Electrical System issues for 12% of complaints.
Does the 2023 Kia Carnival have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Carnival, covering the fuel system, roof molding, power sliding door auto-reverse software, and a tow hitch harness that requires parking outside. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2023 Carnival compare to other Carnival years?
The 2023 Carnival has a complaint index of 0, better than the 2022 (67, Caution), 2024 (33, Good), and 2025 (100, Avoid) model years.

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.