2025 Kia Carnival Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2025 Kia Carnival ranks worst of 4 model years with a complaint index of 100 and 124 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Electrical system issues, mainly parasitic battery drain, make up 67% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 34,967 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 4 Carnival years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 124
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2025 Kia Carnival problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System83 (67%)
- Other22 (18%)
- Engine16 (13%)
- Fuel System10 (8%)
- Structure & Body8 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (3%)
- Lane Departure3 (2%)
- Airbags2 (2%)
- Seat Belts2 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report parasitic battery drain that leaves the Carnival unable to start or drive.
- Dealers suspect a parasitic draw but often cannot identify the cause after multiple visits.
- Some owners describe camera errors occurring alongside the battery drain issue.
- Owners say the Kia Access app may be linked to the battery drain and have tried deleting it as a workaround.
- Vehicles have been kept at dealerships for extended repair attempts without a confirmed fix.
2025 Kia Carnival recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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.
2025 Kia Carnival fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2025 Kia Carnival reliable?
- Among the 4 model years with data, the 2025 Carnival ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict. Electrical system problems, especially battery drain, account for 67% of its 124 complaints.
- What is the main problem with the 2025 Kia Carnival?
- The top problem area is the electrical system, with 83 complaints (67% of the total) centered on parasitic battery drain, at a median mileage of 34,967 miles.
- Does the 2025 Kia Carnival have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall for the 2025 Carnival, campaign 26V232000, covering fuel leaking at the connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2025 Carnival compare to other Carnival years?
- The 2025 has the highest complaint index (100) among the 4 years with data, worse than 2022 (67, Caution), 2023 (0, Caution), and 2024 (33, Good).