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Kia Carnival VIN Check

NHTSA holds 416 owner complaints on the Kia Carnival from 148 production runs; the worst run has 11, the typical one 2.8.

NHTSA complaint records · 416 complaints · 148 runs · 2022–2026 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Carnival run is KNDNB4H30N6 (2022 builds) with 11 complaints, 3.9× the typical run. Electrical system problems make up 31% of reports; NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for Carnival model years 2022–2026.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Kia Carnival has 148 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 12% of every Carnival complaint on file.

FIG.01·Kia Carnival — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
KNDNB4H30N6••••••202211——
KNDNE5K39S6••••••202511——
KNDNB4H31N6••••••202210——
KNDNE5K37S6••••••202510——
KNDNE5H37N6••••••20229——
KNDNB4H32N6••••••20229——
KNDNE5H30N6••••••202281—
KNDNB4H38N6••••••20228——
KNDNE5H3XN6••••••20228——
KNDNE5K30S6••••••20257——
KNDNE5KAXS6••••••20257——
KNDNE5K36S6••••••20257——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 136 Carnival runs has 7 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 66 Carnival VINs so far, most often 2026, 2025, 2024 builds; 2 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list.

FIG.02·Kia Carnival — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20261.322172
20253125411
20242.574302
2023251261
20224.5135304
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2022 at 4.5 complaints per run; lightest is 2026 at 1.3. The 2026 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 31% of everything Kia Carnival owners report: Electrical System, 132 of 416 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Kia Carnival — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Electrical System1321—
Unknown Or Other1121—
Structure56——
Engine45——
Fuel/propulsion System31——
Power Train19——
Visibility/wiper17——
Seats14——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 7 recall campaigns on the Kia Carnival; the 6 below cover build years 2022 to 2026. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Kia Carnival — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
26V232000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings2022–2026
24V025000Structure:body:roof And Pillars2022–2024
23V179000Trailer Hitches2022–2023
23V236000Structure:body:door2022–2023
26V046000Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel2026
21V908000Latches/locks/linkages:electronic Lock/latch Actuator2022
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

26V232000 was opened in 2026 on cars built from 2022: 4 years on the road before the recall.

The Carnival against its rivals

The Carnival draws 2.8 complaints per production run; the Toyota Sienna 6.6 and the Chrysler Pacifica 6.9. That is the lowest rate of the 3.

FIG.05·Kia Carnival VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Kia Carnival4161482.82.6%
Toyota Sienna7,0711,0776.65%
Chrysler Pacifica6,4949366.92.9%
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 416 reports on the Kia Carnival, 2.6% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Kia Carnival — complaint severity
OutcomeKia CarnivalAll vehicles
Complaints filed4161,116,631
Involved a crash11 (2.6%)64,221 (5.8%)
Involved a fire0 (0%)26,977 (2.4%)
Injuries reported6658,047
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 55% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The Kia Carnival share of that is 416 complaints over 148 runs, 0.04% of everything on record.

Everything on the Kia Carnival
Recalls16 campaignsFuel economy33 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems419 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices214 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2022–2026

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Kia Carnival VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 416 NHTSA complaints from 148 Carnival runs and 7 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Carnival production run has the most complaints?

KNDNB4H30N6, a 2022 build, with 11 complaints. The typical Carnival run has 2.8.

Which Carnival years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2022 is heaviest at 4.5 complaints per run and 2026 lightest at 1.3.

Does the Carnival get more complaints than the Toyota Sienna?

No: 2.8 complaints per production run for the Carnival against 6.6 for the Toyota Sienna.

How many Carnival complaints involve a crash?

2.6% of 416 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 0 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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