2022 Kia Carnival Safety Report
2022 KIA CARNIVAL SAFETY REPORT
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2022 Kia Carnival
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2022 Kia Carnival. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (125) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 3 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2026 | Compare against the 2026 Kia Carnival with 12 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2025 | Check the 2025 Kia Carnival before buying across this generation. |
Kia Carnival Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Carnival years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Kia Carnival | 43 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2024 Kia Carnival | 56 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2025 Kia Carnival | 96 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2026 Kia Carnival | 12 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2022 Kia Carnival Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2022 Kia Carnival, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
23 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyStructure
21 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Kia onlyElectrical System
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlyVisibility/Wiper
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Kia onlyVisibility
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility issues Kia onlyEngine
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2022 Kia Carnival
Reliability Score
The 2022 Kia Carnival receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2022 Kia Carnival
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2022 Kia Carnival:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Issues Kia has issued recalls for structural issues affecting the roof and pillars of the 2022-2024 models. These issues can lead to safety concerns. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Telematics System Malfunctions The Kia Connect telematics system has experienced failures, leading to navigation support cessation. Check for recalls and system updates. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Smell And Issues Engine smells like fire and fuel, and the vehicle may not start. This issue has been reported and may require immediate attention. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Door Malfunctions Driver-side passenger door can open by itself, posing a safety risk. This issue has been reported and may require immediate attention. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2022 Kia Carnival:
23% of reported issues are related to structural components, including roof and pillars.
11% of reported issues are related to the telematics system, including navigation support.
5% of reported issues are related to engine smells and starting problems.
4% of reported issues are related to doors opening by themselves.
Recall Details for the 2022 Kia Carnival
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Kia Carnival by NHTSA:
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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. Owne...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged.
Consequence: A damaged fuel rail tube may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the multi-port injection fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC211.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2022 Kia Carnival
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2022 Kia Carnival with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 11 reported injuries or fatalities.
I am submitting this complaint regarding the failure of the Kia Connect telematics system and the cessation of critical navigation support for my vehicle. Despite opening a formal support case with Kia (Ticket #25923650), the following issues remain unresolved: Loss of Trip History (Since January 2026): The Trip History feature within the Kia Connect suite has been completely non-functional since...
My engine smells like fire and fuel my can will not start or do anything. There was smoke coming out of it. The van has had several issues since buying it. Now it’s completely disabled I heard a popping noise as I was driving and then it died and has not started since.
The driver side passenger door will open by itself when the key fob is near. Today it injured me while pumping gas and almost knocked the gas tank door off and gas pump out. I locked my vehicle to go inside to pay for gas. When I came back to my car to open the gas tank door and inserted the gas pump, the sliding door opened and smashed my wrist in between it and the gas tank cover door. It almost...
I am unsure as for what is wrong with my car the dealership keeps saying its running rich and there is a recall on several 2022 Kia Carnivals that say it could be a faulty fuel rail tube. They have also said my map sensor is failing. My check engine light appeared a few days ago and has since been cleared and hasn't came back on, however it is just a matter of time. My children ride in this car as...
Fuel door will not open, there is no manual override, vehicle cannot be refueled and since there is no emergency release it caused me to be stranded at a gas station at night with my 4 kids which is a huge safety concern and should be taken seriously as this is a safety and drivability issue that I should not be held responsible to pay for when it is at no fault to me it is a design/system failure...
The dealer is attempting to classify the torn rubber and pulled-out wiring as “non-recall wear and tear,” but the damage is a direct result of: a latch that sticks, a door that does not close smoothly, a malfunctioning power sliding mechanism, and the repeated force required to compensate for the defect. Under recall law, when an unresolved defect causes additional damage, the owner cannot be held...
Vehicle: 2022 Kia Carnival Component: Liftgate — right-side support/strut (shoulder) failure Safety Issue: The right-hand side trunk strut/support has completely broken, causing the liftgate to drop unexpectedly. The trunk will not stay open and can fall abruptly during use. This creates a significant safety hazard for adults and children standing underneath, and while loading/unloading cargo. The...
In October 23, 2025 I started to notice a fuel smell while I was driving the vehicle. The smell of fuel seemed more strong while I had the air conditioning running.I would shut off the AC and put the windows down. There was no leaks of fuel on the ground or close to the motor. No check engine light or messages was displayed on dash at anytime. My concern was that I’m constantly driving my small ch...
Frame of drivers side seat broke in half. I weigh under. 200 pounds and am the primary driver of the car
I went to use my vehicle horn when another driver pulled out in front of me and the sound was way off...it sounded like a clown horn. I subsequently took to the Kia dealer where they diagnosed that one of the horns failed and it was replaced under an extended warranty with a deductible payment. The failure of the horn compromised my safety and the other driver's as the other driver may not have ...
Left sliding door window (Drivers side) exploded while driving down the highway. Nobody was around us on a sunday afternoon at [XXX]. [XXX] We were on a flat road so no tension. There is no reason for it to have shattered (my daughter was sleeping laid back in the seat) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Dealer says recall sc211 doesn’t apply to this vehicle, however CEL is displaying (once again) with DTC “P0191 Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor Range/Performance”. Kia dealer has does minimal investigation/diagnosis with no resolution.
The Kia Carnival was parked a slight decline and when the button to close the passenger sliding door the door closed rapidly like a guillotine. Thankfully no children or body part were in the path of the door because it would have severely damaged them. After it closed rapidly the door was unable to be opened. The dealership is still working on the Carnival and it has been over 3 weeks and they sa...
When traveling on the highway, the vehicle would not shift into a higher gear limiting the control of the vehicle to accelerate to the flow of traffic. The transmission would not shift for approximately 1/4 of a mile and was stuck at a max speed of ~35 mph and it would not accelerate. This loss of control almost caused an accident and put my family and self at extreme risk. Eventually the vehicle ...
While driving my 2022 Kia Carnival Prestige, the engine started knocking and the vehicle started sounding like it was going to turn off. There was no alert or light on until we got to the service center where the check engine light came on. I took to the nearest dealer with service center for Kia for inspection and repair which the dealer's service center indicated it was an engine failure at 62,2...
My front windshield on my 2022 Kia Carnival has shattered in two places from a small hit. I have owned lots of cars and never had a windshield break in two places all the way across. There must be an issue or problem.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the driver's side windshield exterior A-Pillar trim flew off and struck the vehicle behind, almost causing a crash. The contact pulled over to the side of the road temporarily. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the vehicle was inspected. The dealer determined that the trim needed to be replaced; however, th...
My car was jerking between 1-2 rpm while driving on the highway, on other roads as well. It was very hard to accelerate and merge with traffic with this issue. Check engine light came on two days later and it’s says it’s the torque converter.
The passenger side sliding door would not respond to any button pushed to open the door. Once I get it manually opened, it will not latch upon closure resulting in a beeping and warning in my dash. I can turn off power doors and manually force it to shut and most of the time that works but this specific incident it was not working. I ensured that there was nothing blocking the door from shutting a...
On [XXX], my kids were getting into the vehicle to go to a playdate. My [XXX] got in the car and into his seat. I was on the driver's side buckling my [XXX] in her car seat and my [XXX] was climbing into the door/her seat on the passenger side. The passenger side sliding door shut on my [XXX] 's hand. I immediately tried to open the door with the button next to the steering column and it would ...
Showing 20 of 125 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2022 Kia Carnival
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Structure:Body:Door
Opened 2022-04-10 · Closed 2023-06-13
On April 10, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving 5 consumer complaints alleging the Power Sliding Doors (PSD) auto-reverse function failed to work properly in the model year (MY) 2022 Kia Carnival minivan vehicles.At that time, ODI was aware of 3 complaints alleging injuries to consumer?s arm, hand or shoulder caused by the closing PSD.Additionally, consumers alleged being trapped against the closing door while it was traversing...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2022 Kia Carnival
Has the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL been recalled?
Yes, the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL have?
The 2022 KIA CARNIVAL has 125 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 3 involved crashes. 34 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
The 2022 KIA CARNIVAL does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL involve unknown or other (23 complaints), structure (21 complaints), electrical system (11 complaints). Other affected components include visibility/wiper, visibility, engine.
How many crash reports does the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL have?
There are 3 crash reports associated with the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL out of 125 total complaints (2.4% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL have?
There are no fire reports for the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL.
How many injuries are reported for the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
34 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 125 complaints, 5 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
The components with the most failures on the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (23 complaints), 2. STRUCTURE (21 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11 complaints), 4. VISIBILITY/WIPER (8 complaints), 5. VISIBILITY (6 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 23 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
Inspect the vehicle for structural issues and ensure the telematics system is functioning properly before purchase. The 2022 KIA CARNIVAL has 125 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
The 2022 KIA CARNIVAL receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 125 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 3 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Structural Issues and Telematics System Malfunctions.
What are the known issues with the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
Known issues with the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL include: Structural Issues, Telematics System Malfunctions, Engine Smell and Issues, Door Malfunctions. These are based on patterns found across 125 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2022 KIA CARNIVAL?
Yes, there are recalls for structural issues and telematics system malfunctions. Check for recalls before purchasing.
What should I do if I notice an engine smell like fire?
Stop driving immediately, check for any fuel leaks, and seek professional assistance.
Can the driver-side passenger door open by itself?
Yes, this has been reported as an issue. Ensure the vehicle is inspected for this defect.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Inspect the vehicle for structural issues and ensure the telematics system is functioning properly before purchase.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2022 Kia Carnival
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2022 Kia Carnival. The data includes 125 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 3 reported crashes, 34 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16