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2026 Kia Carnival
The verdict
Several concerns worth a close look before buying.
Cons
Official recall campaigns exist for this vehicle. See the Safety Recalls section for what failed and how it's fixed.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls
9 of 22 owner complaints are about the unknown or other. Tap it in the heatmap to read the real reports.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints
2 complaint(s) involved a crash and 0 involved a fire.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints
Pros
Nothing in this category from the official data.
Neutral
The government hasn't published a crash-test rating for this exact vehicle. We won't invent one.
Why we say this — NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings
Official EPA fuel economy. We show this as a neutral fact — whether it's 'good' depends on the vehicle's class.
Why we say this — U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov
Take this with you:
—Crash-test safety
0Safety recalls
0Owner complaints
9% involved a crash or fire
21Combined MPG
ℹ️ Recalls & complaints are reported per model — the same across every trim & engine. Fuel economy (and crash ratings by body style) can vary — use the pickers in those sections.
Safety Recalls
Official recall campaigns. Tap one to see the danger and the fix.
What is a recall, really?
A recall means the government made the manufacturer admit a safety defect — and the fix is free at any dealer, forever, even for used cars. Recalls range from a software update to "the steering wheel can detach," so read the danger line on each one. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof each recall was completed, or have a dealer run the VIN. Recalls also have a quieter cousin worth reading: technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Campaign 26V046000
What's wrong: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
The danger: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V232000
What's wrong: 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.
The danger: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours
Where Owners Report Problems
Where owners report the most trouble — based on 22 complaints (2 involved a crash, 0 a fire). Tap a part to read the real reports.
Raw count — best-sellers naturally log more complaints than rare cars, so judge it against the peer comparison below, not on its own.
Why don't we show complaints per vehicle sold?
Because no official source publishes sales counts per model — that data is sold by private firms, and the free numbers online are guesses. A rate built on a guessed denominator is a guess wearing a lab coat, so we refuse to show one. Instead we show comparisons where fleet size cancels out or is disclosed: the same model across its own years, the crash/fire severity mix, and the peer ranking below — each with its methodology attached.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 5 of 9):
Distracting feature which is dangerous to the operator: The control for the radio volume is the same knob as the control for the air and heating. As a result when you go to turn down the radio or change the volume you often change the fan and temperature... and likewise when you go to change the temperature you inadvertantly change the volume on the radio which is difficult to change back. The constant switching between the Radio control and the temperature/fan control for the car is a huge distraction for a driver who needs to stay focused on the road Thankfully we have not been in an accident at this time, but the distraction is a concern with this vehicle and we felt should be reported for review.
We were driving down [XXX] south towards home and out of nowhere, it sounded like something clapped against our passenger driver's side window. the window completely shattered and then proceeded to fall inwards onto my [XXX] old. It was absolutely traumatizing. Nothing hit us. It just exploded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The car now auto locks on the vehicle upon exit, even with key fobs in the car. The first few months I had the car this did not happen. I left me keys and phone in the car. I turned vehicle off, exited the vehicle and walked around to get my daughter out of her car seat. After about 5-8 seconds of walking around. The car automatically locked. The key fob was placed in the center console. My 1 year old daughter was left trapped in the vehicle, placing her life in danger. I had to call emergency services and have them open it for me. This is a huge saftey concern. I never changed any setting to allow for this. The car should not auto lock, and definitely should not lock with keys in the vehicle a few seconds after exiting.
2026 Kia Carnival MPV Hybrid SX Prestige(Exterior: Astra Blue Interior: Tuscan Umber / Off-Black) purchased December 2025. Two separate safety-related defects have gone unresolved for 31+ cumulative days across two dealer repair visits. DEFECT 1 — INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: Instrument cluster screen goes blank while driving, eliminating speedometer, TPMS, and all warning indicators. First observed February 2026. Dealer visit February 13–17 (4 days): technician said could not replicate. Defect recurred. Kia has since issued a federal safety recall confirming this exact defect — citing FMVSS noncompliance and stating the blank screen increases crash risk due to a software error causing overheat protection mode. Vehicle was at dealer for an active safety recall defect that went undiagnosed during a repair visit. DEFECT 2 — SEAT MODULE: Second-row seat module failed. Vehicle returned to dealer March 5 (still there, 27+ days). Wiring harness replacement attempted approximately March 21 — failed, defect persisted. Kia Engineering formally escalated approximately March 24. Seat module ordered but not yet installed. No resolution or completion date provided. Vehicle has been out of service 31+ cumulative days. Safety recall defect went undetected during prior dealer repair visit. Both defects remain unresolved on a vehicle purchased just 97 days ago.
Sliding Door Sensor Failed My daughter was getting in the van, when her brother hit the door button, if my husband wouldn’t have glanced over at that exact moment and pulled her back, this would’ve been another story. THE SENSOR IS NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH! We as mothers are demanding sensors sensitive enough to detect smaller, fragile children!
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 5 of 5):
The contact owns a . The contact stated that while parked when the brake was depressed, press start button, when put in reverse, it says gear is selected, the vehicle stayed in neutral. This happens intermittently. The stop button was pressed, all of the instrument panel warning indicators would not illuminate. When pressing p for parking to engage parking, it appeared as if it was in park; however the vehicle unexpectedly reversed. The vehicle was able to be stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the issue could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate mileage was 2,200.
Battery died at under 3,300 miles. After roadside came and jumped the batter, it died again after two days. Jumped again for the second time, when driving the car around it would randomly shut off even when the car is moving at higher speeds on freeway. The shut off would be for just one second and comes back on - everything starts resetting. And goes to user authoriztions notifications. Car shut off three times while driving around.
2026 Kia Carnival MPV Hybrid SX Prestige(Exterior: Astra Blue Interior: Tuscan Umber / Off-Black) purchased December 2025. Two separate safety-related defects have gone unresolved for 31+ cumulative days across two dealer repair visits. DEFECT 1 — INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: Instrument cluster screen goes blank while driving, eliminating speedometer, TPMS, and all warning indicators. First observed February 2026. Dealer visit February 13–17 (4 days): technician said could not replicate. Defect recurred. Kia has since issued a federal safety recall confirming this exact defect — citing FMVSS noncompliance and stating the blank screen increases crash risk due to a software error causing overheat protection mode. Vehicle was at dealer for an active safety recall defect that went undiagnosed during a repair visit. DEFECT 2 — SEAT MODULE: Second-row seat module failed. Vehicle returned to dealer March 5 (still there, 27+ days). Wiring harness replacement attempted approximately March 21 — failed, defect persisted. Kia Engineering formally escalated approximately March 24. Seat module ordered but not yet installed. No resolution or completion date provided. Vehicle has been out of service 31+ cumulative days. Safety recall defect went undetected during prior dealer repair visit. Both defects remain unresolved on a vehicle purchased just 97 days ago.
This new 2026 Vehicle faced multiple issues within a few weeks of purchase as stated below. 1. The instrument display panel or the main display screen of the car stopped working. The screen was completely blank and would not turn on. (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) 2. An electric short caused the radio to fail (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) 3. The car battery died, rendering the car completely unresponsive. The car had to be towed to the Kia Dealer. (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) All of the above 3 issues happened one after the other. The first issue essentially disabled safety features of the vehicle as the display panel that displays rear view camera, camera monitoring system (CMS), etc was not able to display any information. An eventual electric short and a dead battery rendered the vehicle inoperable. The official Kia dealer attempted to diagnose and repair the vehicle. The vehicle was at the dealer service for 15 days. The dealer initially suggested that a part needs to be replaced and is in backorder till May 2026. However subsequently the dealer then claimed that the vehicle is now operating normally and should be taken by the customer. No root cause of the electric short and battery and screen failure was disclosed. Also contrary to what is stated in the service order, the service manager at the dealer verbally suggested that they did not replace the malfunctioning component.
Vehicle parked for 48 hours (Sunday 23 Nov evening) under carport, no keys near it. When approached on 26 Nov 10am , it was found with dead battery. Nothing was on when it was parked.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 4 of 4):
The contact owns a . The contact stated that while parked when the brake was depressed, press start button, when put in reverse, it says gear is selected, the vehicle stayed in neutral. This happens intermittently. The stop button was pressed, all of the instrument panel warning indicators would not illuminate. When pressing p for parking to engage parking, it appeared as if it was in park; however the vehicle unexpectedly reversed. The vehicle was able to be stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the issue could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate mileage was 2,200.
When accelerating, the car feels stuck to gear up. After 2 seconds of loud revving, it would switch and have a prominent jerk motion that it finally switched gears. There have been times the car wouldn't go past 30 mph, stuck at the gear making a loud noise. This is dangerous! There's absolutely no way I can get on the freeway never getting past 30ish mph. I checked recalls for this vehicle and there isn't any. No warning lights in the dash.
After purchasing vehicle (4Sep25) the following week's notice wet spots in drive way first assumed to be from A/C but not the it is November and A/C is off the wet spots are still showing up. Checked under the vehicle and noticed oil all around the PCV tube. Took vehicle to Allentown Kia. They confirmed there is a oil leak but the leak is from the oil pan gasket. The vehicle has 400 ish miles on it and was i believe a quart low on oil by the time I took it in for repairs.
URGENT SAFETY CONCERN/ISSUE On [XXX], while driving my 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige, it lost all power without warning, leaving me unable to accelerate or control the vehicle. This created an unsafe situation as I was traveling at 40 mph when all power was lost. What happened to me was a serious safety hazard. The vehicle was brand new with only 1351 miles at the time. Several warning lights came on including the hybrid system warning light. The vehicle was not drivable; there was no power at all. I had to tow the vehicle to a Kia dealer where it took 17 days to repair with a new power module. On [XXX], (after the vehicle was repaired), I was driving the vehicle when the POWER alert flashed on the dashboard. I did not lose total power yet, but the literature advises that I take the vehicle into the dealership asap to have them look into the Power warning light coming on. I have an appointment on September 18, 2025. I have reported my issue to Kia customer service, and the dealership is aware of what is going on. I believe what is happening, (the abrupt loss of total power while driving) may be a widespread defect affecting the Carnival hybrid system in 2025 and 2026 model years. This is a serious safety issue that need corrected before someone is killed or seriously injured. Total loss of power at 40 mph or more cannot be permitted to happen. There should be some sort of safety bypass whereby the gas engine totally engages to the exclusion of the hybrid system, so total power is NOT lost at High speeds. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 3 of 3):
The car will not accelerate past 31 mph no matter the gas petal position, during cold mornings. Downhill or uphill, in any “drive mode” it will not go past 31 with the petal all the way down. Acceleration onto a highway is impossible. Stopping and restarting the entire vehicle seems to reset this and allow for speed over 31mph. This has happened 5-6 separate times when the temperature is below 35F.
System failure the warning lights on dash went crazy all of them flashing Speedometer wouldn’t work, lights won’t work, camera system won’t work, abs won’t work, tailgate won’t open, side doors won’t open, heat/ac controls stop working , windshield wipers stop working. They had 20 error codes the first time this happened Yes vehicle has been in shop 2 different times This happened the first time on November 24 shop had my car until November 28. Drove car for 9 days took car back in on dec 8 shop has had it still do not have as of 12-18-25 They have said the first time they had no idea what was wrong with it but got it to stop doing it. On dec 8 it started doing the same thing. I brought it back and they at first couldn’t get it to stop. From my understanding it has stopped and tests are coming back good but that is what I was told the first time. They are trying to get it to do it again by driving it before Kia motors will allow them to release it to me. I am getting no where with Kia motors, they are not calling me to let me know what they are going to do for me. I feel this vehicle is unsafe there is no garintee this won’t happen again while I am driving. All I want is out of this lease. 9 days and brought it back in for same issue. I was driving when all of this took place
On Dec 12th the speedometer repeatedly showed very incorrect values, both displaying much faster than the vehicle was traveling and displaying zero when the vehicle had accelerated. We have not been able to replicate the issue. And it went away after shutting down and restarting the vehicle. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by anyone. From a safety perspective the speedometer accuracy is in question. Prior to this incident the screens had all shut themselves off. After the incidents the main screen (with the speedometer) rebooted itself a few times while driving. We have video of the speedometer acting incorrectly but unable to upload the correct format. See included screenshot while driving about 30mph with the speedometer showing zero.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
This new 2026 Vehicle faced multiple issues within a few weeks of purchase as stated below. 1. The instrument display panel or the main display screen of the car stopped working. The screen was completely blank and would not turn on. (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) 2. An electric short caused the radio to fail (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) 3. The car battery died, rendering the car completely unresponsive. The car had to be towed to the Kia Dealer. (confirmed and reproduced by Kia dealer, service order attached) All of the above 3 issues happened one after the other. The first issue essentially disabled safety features of the vehicle as the display panel that displays rear view camera, camera monitoring system (CMS), etc was not able to display any information. An eventual electric short and a dead battery rendered the vehicle inoperable. The official Kia dealer attempted to diagnose and repair the vehicle. The vehicle was at the dealer service for 15 days. The dealer initially suggested that a part needs to be replaced and is in backorder till May 2026. However subsequently the dealer then claimed that the vehicle is now operating normally and should be taken by the customer. No root cause of the electric short and battery and screen failure was disclosed. Also contrary to what is stated in the service order, the service manager at the dealer verbally suggested that they did not replace the malfunctioning component.
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding unexpected and inappropriate automatic braking behavior at low speeds involving the parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and/or automatic emergency braking system. While performing normal, low-speed maneuvers such as backing out of street parking spaces or parking in tight urban environments, the vehicle abruptly applies the brakes even when no imminent collision exists and when obstacles or traffic are clearly visible to the driver. In one frequent scenario, while exiting a parallel out of a parking spot into traffic, the vehicle suddenly stops itself while partially in the roadway due to a car approaching in the rear. This occurs despite sufficient clearance and approaching vehicles slowing to yield or even happens AFTER the approaching vehicle has passed already! This creates a dangerous situation where my vehicle is immobilized in active traffic, increasing the risk of rear-end or side collisions. The driver behind me sees me stopped in middle thinks that I'm waiting for him, when really my intention was to come out of the spot and then finally it releases the emergency brake and then my vehicle juts out into the roadway. Also, during parking maneuvers, the vehicle applies emergency braking despite having enough space, SLOW speed, & the driver having full visual awareness via the backup camera. This removes the driver’s ability to make precise low-speed adjustments. The override behavior is also unsafe. Regaining control requires a firm brake press, after which releasing the pedal causes the vehicle to move abruptly, eliminating precise control and increasing collision risk. This behavior is unpredictable, inappropriate for dense urban driving, & creates hazardous situations rather than preventing them. I believe this constitutes a safety defect in the vehicle’s braking and driver-assist systems. Concerned this could lead to serious accidents, particularly in urban environments. Friends have same problems!
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding unexpected and inappropriate automatic braking behavior at low speeds involving the parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and/or automatic emergency braking system. While performing normal, low-speed maneuvers such as backing out of street parking spaces or parking in tight urban environments, the vehicle abruptly applies the brakes even when no imminent collision exists and when obstacles or traffic are clearly visible to the driver. In one frequent scenario, while exiting a parallel out of a parking spot into traffic, the vehicle suddenly stops itself while partially in the roadway due to a car approaching in the rear. This occurs despite sufficient clearance and approaching vehicles slowing to yield or even happens AFTER the approaching vehicle has passed already! This creates a dangerous situation where my vehicle is immobilized in active traffic, increasing the risk of rear-end or side collisions. The driver behind me sees me stopped in middle thinks that I'm waiting for him, when really my intention was to come out of the spot and then finally it releases the emergency brake and then my vehicle juts out into the roadway. Also, during parking maneuvers, the vehicle applies emergency braking despite having enough space, SLOW speed, & the driver having full visual awareness via the backup camera. This removes the driver’s ability to make precise low-speed adjustments. The override behavior is also unsafe. Regaining control requires a firm brake press, after which releasing the pedal causes the vehicle to move abruptly, eliminating precise control and increasing collision risk. This behavior is unpredictable, inappropriate for dense urban driving, & creates hazardous situations rather than preventing them. I believe this constitutes a safety defect in the vehicle’s braking and driver-assist systems. Concerned this could lead to serious accidents, particularly in urban environments. Friends have same problems!
System failure the warning lights on dash went crazy all of them flashing Speedometer wouldn’t work, lights won’t work, camera system won’t work, abs won’t work, tailgate won’t open, side doors won’t open, heat/ac controls stop working , windshield wipers stop working. They had 20 error codes the first time this happened Yes vehicle has been in shop 2 different times This happened the first time on November 24 shop had my car until November 28. Drove car for 9 days took car back in on dec 8 shop has had it still do not have as of 12-18-25 They have said the first time they had no idea what was wrong with it but got it to stop doing it. On dec 8 it started doing the same thing. I brought it back and they at first couldn’t get it to stop. From my understanding it has stopped and tests are coming back good but that is what I was told the first time. They are trying to get it to do it again by driving it before Kia motors will allow them to release it to me. I am getting no where with Kia motors, they are not calling me to let me know what they are going to do for me. I feel this vehicle is unsafe there is no garintee this won’t happen again while I am driving. All I want is out of this lease. 9 days and brought it back in for same issue. I was driving when all of this took place
Of 1 reports about this part, 1 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
The contact owns a 2026 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, while avoiding another vehicle that almost crashed into the vehicle, the contact attempted to turn the steering wheel, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver, and the front passenger side of the vehicle crashed into a guard rail and the front bumper detached. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags had not deployed. A Police report was filed. The contact sustained back, neck, and head pain from the impact in the crash. Medical attention was sought, and the contact was diagnosed with a whiplash. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,272.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Subject: Safety Complaint – Power Sliding Door Failure Injuring Child (2026 Kia Carnival) I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a 2026 Kia Carnival. During normal use, the vehicle’s automatic power sliding door closed while my [XXX] child was partially outside the vehicle near the door track area. The door continued to close and did not stop or reverse when it encountered my child, resulting in the child being pinned between the sliding door and the vehicle body. I physically intervened by placing my body in the path of the door to stop it and remove my child. The child sustained bruising to the legs and torso. The concern is a potential failure of the anti-pinch / obstruction detection system on the power sliding door, which is intended to prevent this type of injury. I am requesting that this incident be documented and reviewed as a potential safety defect. Vehicle: 2026 Kia Carnival Incident involved: automatic power sliding door failure to reverse upon obstruction Injury: bruising to a [XXX] child (legs and torso) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Of 1 reports about this part, 1 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
The contact owned a 2026 Kia Carnival. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently hit a deer. The check engine warning light illuminated after the collision. The contact's wife was occupying the front passenger's side seat and the contact's daughter was occupying the rear driver's side seat during the collision. The air bags failed to deploy, and the seat belts failed to retract as needed. There was no reported injury. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was then towed to an autobody, where it was totaled by the insurance company after further investigation. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle operated as designed upon reviewing pictures of the damaged vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 2,379.
Of 1 reports about this part, 1 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
The contact owned a 2026 Kia Carnival. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently hit a deer. The check engine warning light illuminated after the collision. The contact's wife was occupying the front passenger's side seat and the contact's daughter was occupying the rear driver's side seat during the collision. The air bags failed to deploy, and the seat belts failed to retract as needed. There was no reported injury. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was then towed to an autobody, where it was totaled by the insurance company after further investigation. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle operated as designed upon reviewing pictures of the damaged vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 2,379.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
2026 Kia Carnival MPV Hybrid SX Prestige(Exterior: Astra Blue Interior: Tuscan Umber / Off-Black) purchased December 2025. Two separate safety-related defects have gone unresolved for 31+ cumulative days across two dealer repair visits. DEFECT 1 — INSTRUMENT CLUSTER: Instrument cluster screen goes blank while driving, eliminating speedometer, TPMS, and all warning indicators. First observed February 2026. Dealer visit February 13–17 (4 days): technician said could not replicate. Defect recurred. Kia has since issued a federal safety recall confirming this exact defect — citing FMVSS noncompliance and stating the blank screen increases crash risk due to a software error causing overheat protection mode. Vehicle was at dealer for an active safety recall defect that went undiagnosed during a repair visit. DEFECT 2 — SEAT MODULE: Second-row seat module failed. Vehicle returned to dealer March 5 (still there, 27+ days). Wiring harness replacement attempted approximately March 21 — failed, defect persisted. Kia Engineering formally escalated approximately March 24. Seat module ordered but not yet installed. No resolution or completion date provided. Vehicle has been out of service 31+ cumulative days. Safety recall defect went undetected during prior dealer repair visit. Both defects remain unresolved on a vehicle purchased just 97 days ago.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
When accelerating, the car feels stuck to gear up. After 2 seconds of loud revving, it would switch and have a prominent jerk motion that it finally switched gears. There have been times the car wouldn't go past 30 mph, stuck at the gear making a loud noise. This is dangerous! There's absolutely no way I can get on the freeway never getting past 30ish mph. I checked recalls for this vehicle and there isn't any. No warning lights in the dash.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
System failure the warning lights on dash went crazy all of them flashing Speedometer wouldn’t work, lights won’t work, camera system won’t work, abs won’t work, tailgate won’t open, side doors won’t open, heat/ac controls stop working , windshield wipers stop working. They had 20 error codes the first time this happened Yes vehicle has been in shop 2 different times This happened the first time on November 24 shop had my car until November 28. Drove car for 9 days took car back in on dec 8 shop has had it still do not have as of 12-18-25 They have said the first time they had no idea what was wrong with it but got it to stop doing it. On dec 8 it started doing the same thing. I brought it back and they at first couldn’t get it to stop. From my understanding it has stopped and tests are coming back good but that is what I was told the first time. They are trying to get it to do it again by driving it before Kia motors will allow them to release it to me. I am getting no where with Kia motors, they are not calling me to let me know what they are going to do for me. I feel this vehicle is unsafe there is no garintee this won’t happen again while I am driving. All I want is out of this lease. 9 days and brought it back in for same issue. I was driving when all of this took place
Many crash/fire reportsSome crash/fire reportsNo crash/fire in reports
Color = how serious (crash/fire involvement) · number = how many (share of all this car's reports). Tap any part to read real owner complaints.
Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours
Crash-Test Safety Ratings
Official U.S. government 5-star crash-test results.
How to read these stars
These come from the government physically crash-testing this vehicle — front, side, and rollover — and scoring it 1 to 5 stars. Ratings are per body style, so a sedan and its coupe twin can differ. If a vehicle shows no rating, it usually means the government never tested that exact configuration — untested is not the same as unsafe, and we'll never blur that line.
Source: NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings · re-checked about every 24 hours
Fuel Economy (MPG)
Official EPA estimates — the real numbers, not the brochure.
21Combined MPG
18City MPG
25Highway MPG
$2,950Est. fuel cost / yr
Across 1 official EPA configuration · Fuel: Regular. Pick an engine/trim above for exact numbers.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov · re-checked about every 24 hours