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Kia Carnival VIN Number Check

Run a free NHTSA vPIC decode on a Kia Carnival VIN to confirm the model year and engine, then see which of the 7 NHTSA recall campaigns for 2022–2026 cover that year.

VIN prefixKND

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Kia Carnival

About the Kia Carnival

Kia has sold the Carnival in the US since the 2022 model year. Across those years NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recall campaigns and 500 owner complaints. The 2025 has the most complaints of any model year (190). EPA rates it at 21–33 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2022–2026
EPA classMinivan
NHTSA recall campaigns7
Owner complaints500 at NHTSA
Kia Carnival photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Kia Carnival at a glance

One generation in the data, 2022–2026: 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 500 owner complaints.

1 / 1
Carnival
2022–2026Minivan
Kia Carnival (2022–2026)

Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20222025
2022–2026

Kia Carnival

PlatformHyundai-Kia N3
EPA combined mpg21–33
NHTSA recalls7

Engines (EPA)

  • 3.5 L 6-cyl · 2022–2026
  • 1.6 L 4-cyl (turbo, hybrid) · 2025–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • FWD
  • automatic (2022–2026), automated manual/dual-clutch (2025–2026)

Known issues to check

Electrical system (171)Engine and cooling (70)Structure and body (62)3 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 500 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · CarnivalKNDNE5KA?S6······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2025 Kia Carnival SX, SX PRESTIGE, built in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province
Check a Carnival VIN

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Carnival model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 7 campaigns on file for Carnival model years 2022–2026, and the 2022 shows up in more of them than any other year (6), ahead of the 2023 (4). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2022
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Kia Carnival owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2025 and 2022 hold 326 of the 500 complaints, or 65%. Tap any bar or generation.

500NHTSA complaints, 2022–2026
13mention a crash
1mention a fire
70injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearCarnival: 500 complaints · most for the 2025 (190)

Top complaint areas · Carnival

Mentions in 500 complaints, 2022–2026.

Electrical system171
Engine and cooling70
Structure and body62
Fuel system48
Speed control / acceleration43
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)36
Crashes 13Fires 1Injuries 70

2022–2026

NHTSA data summary

Electrical system owns this generation. Its 171 mentions are more than twice the next area, engine and cooling (70). Complaints peak with the 2025 (190 of 500).

What Carnival owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2022–present (4th generation)

Owner data is modest, and CarComplaints has only a handful of reports. NHTSA owners of the 2022 most often describe power sliding door problems and cracked windshields, while 2025 owners, including hybrid owners, often report a 12 volt battery that drains. CarComplaints owners mention air bags that did not deploy and rear wipers that run on their own for 2022, and a battery that drains within days for 2025. Recalls cover sliding door auto reverse on all 2022 and some 2023 models and fuel leaks at the fuel rail on 2022–2026 models. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the sliding door and fuel rail recalls.
  • Ask whether the battery has been replaced.
  • On the drive, open and close both sliding doors several times and confirm they reverse when blocked, check the windshield for cracks and notice any fuel smell.
Sources (4) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2022 Kia Carnival
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2022 Kia Carnival problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2025 Kia Carnival
  4. CarComplaints.com, 2025 Kia Carnival problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Carnival complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Hybrid Carnival versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

500complaints, 2022–2026
13mention a crash
1mention a fire
70injuries reported
Most complaints: 2025 (190), 2022 (136), 2024 (75)
136’2275’24190’25

2025 · 190 complaints

Crashes 3 · fires 1 · injuries 13

Electrical system106
Engine36
Vehicle speed control28
Unknown or other27
Fuel/propulsion system18

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Carnival CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 7 Carnival versions for model years 2022–2026 (gas and hybrid). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 274 g/mi, for the 2025 hybrid. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Carnival2022–2026

21–33 mpg · CO₂ 274–428 g/mi

2025
21combined MPG
426CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,200EPA yearly fuel cost
5/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
4/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV50 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 50Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2025: Carnival · Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.5 L — 21 MPG · 426 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
20030040050060020252022 · Gas: 4072023 · Gas: 4082024 · Gas: 4082025 · Gas: 4262026 · Gas: 4282025 · Hybrid: 2742026 · Hybrid: 275
GasHybrid

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Carnival vs Honda Odyssey vs Chrysler Pacifica

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2022–2026. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the Carnival, against 10 for the Honda Odyssey and 25 for the Chrysler Pacifica. Pick a range to compare.

Kia Carnival

Model years 2022–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
7
NHTSA owner complaints
500
EPA combined mpg
21–33
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.6 L · 6-cyl 3.5 L
Also listed
turbo, hybrid
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2024)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 171
  2. Engine and cooling 70
  3. Structure and body 62

Honda Odyssey

Model years 2022–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
10
NHTSA owner complaints
774
EPA combined mpg
22–22
Engines (EPA)
6-cyl 3.5 L
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2024)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 330
  2. Engine and cooling 294
  3. Forward collision avoidance 120

Chrysler Pacifica

Model years 2022–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
25
NHTSA owner complaints
632
EPA combined mpg
20–30
Engines (EPA)
6-cyl 3.6 L
Also listed
plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2024)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 219
  2. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 213
  3. Electrical system 183

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Kia Carnival VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Carnival

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

White Kia Carnival (fourth generation) minivan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Locate the Carnival minivan's VIN at the lower driver's side windshield. The door jamb sticker and a B-pillar label between the sliding door and front door are secondary locations.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Kia Carnival VIN questions

Which Kia Carnival model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2025 leads with 190, ahead of the 2022 (136) and 2024 (75). Those first two alone make up 65% of the 500 Carnival complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Kia Carnival had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 7 vehicle campaigns for model years 2022–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Kia Carnival recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 21V-277, 23V-179 and 26V-232. Park-outside advisories came with 23V-179. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Kia Carnival get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2022–2026 Carnival at 21–33 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Kia Carnival compare with the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica on recalls?

For 2022–2026 models the Carnival has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Honda Odyssey has 10, the Chrysler Pacifica 25. Complaints run 500, 774 and 632 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Kia Carnival have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2024 Carnival 5 stars overall. One version, Later Release FWD, is rated. NHTSA lists 2 versions for that year, 1 of them rated.

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