PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to install steel reinforcement plates on the second-row seat outer rails in certain 2022-2024 MY Kia Carnival vehicles equipped with sliding and removable second-row seats (excluding SX-Prestige equipped with the second-row lounge seats). Customers receiving this letter have already had this product improvement campaign performed. Since then, there have been additional improvements to the mounting bolts used for the installation of the steel reinforcement plates. Kia is requesting that customers contact an authorized Kia dealer to replace t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Kia Carnival body problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
12injuries
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Kia Carnival we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 28.
Owners have filed 28 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: INSTALLATION OF STEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATES FOR 2ND ROW SEAT OUTER RAILS (PI2301) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install steel reinforcement plates on the second-row seat outer rails in certain 2022-2024MY Carnival (KA4) vehicles (excluding SX-Prestige with the second-row lounge seats) produced from January 4, 2021 through August 21, 2023. This campaign is to reinforce the mounting points of the 2nd-row seat to the floor and minimize potential seat rail detachment, should a certain rare crash event occur
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: INSTALLATION OF STEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATES FOR 2ND ROW SEAT OUTER RAILS (PI2301) - PI2301 TEMPORARILY ON HOLD PENDING UPDATED PARTS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to install steel reinforcement plates on the second-row seat outer rails in certain 2022-2024 MY Kia Carnival vehicles equipped with sliding and removable second-row seats (excluding SX-Prestige equipped with the second-row lounge seats). This is an update following a notice that was issued in August 2023. Kia is currently experiencing an unexpected parts supply issue which is expected to continue until the first week of October 2023. Kia is requesting that customers wait until after the first week of October before contacting an autho
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the Dealer Principals that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to install steel reinforcement plates on the second-row seat outer rails in certain 2022-2024 MY Kia Carnival vehicles equipped with sliding and removable second-row seats (excluding SX-Prestige equipped with the second-row lounge seats). This is an update following a notice that was issued to Kia dealers in August 2023. Kia is currently experiencing an unexpected parts supply issue which is expected to continue until the first week of October 2023. Since the remedy is not going to be available during this period, Kia is reques
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The power sliding door sensor is the dominant complaint across these 28 narratives. Owners report the auto-reverse feature routinely fails to stop or reverse when a hand, arm, or leg is in the way—doors crush fingers and bruise arms instead. Children have been injured repeatedly, with several parents describing their toddlers and young kids getting hands or arms smashed in the closing door. One owner tested the sensor intentionally and confirmed it would not stop if anything was placed in its path. Multiple owners state that dealerships have confirmed the sensor is defective or insufficiently sensitive but offered no repair; one dealership deactivated the automatic doors entirely rather than fix them. Kia acknowledged in writing to at least one owner that the auto-reverse is a "supplemental feature" and should not be relied upon—an extraordinary admission for a family vehicle.
Secondary issues include doors failing to latch or lock after closing (with warning lights staying illuminated), doors that will not respond to open buttons, and one incident of a door flying open at 20 mph while driving. One owner reported a door closing so rapidly it tore a bolt in the body frame and damaged the frame itself; the dealership had never seen the problem and took over three weeks without completing the repair. An A-Pillar trim panel detached at highway speed and struck another vehicle.
Same Kia Carnival body reports on nearby years: 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Power sliding door auto-reverse/sensor failure
The auto-reverse feature fails to engage when the closing door encounters an obstruction (hand, arm, leg, body). Owners report the door crushes or severely bruises appendages instead of stopping and reversing. One owner noted that Kia's own dealership confirmed extra force is needed to stop the door but offered no solution. Another reported that after sensor replacement by a Kia dealership, the problem persisted; Kia subsequently stated in writing that the auto-reverse is merely 'supplemental' and should not be relied upon as a primary safety feature.
When: 500 miles, 820 miles, 1,020 miles, and throughout ownership; incidents occur during entry/exit, buckling children, and accidental button presses
Symptoms owners cite: Door does not stop when arm, hand, or leg is in the way; Door crushes or severely bruises child's hand or arm; Excessive force required to stop door manually; Child's leg trapped under door track; Door smashes fingers when child places hand in path during closure
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement attempted at dealership; problem persisted. Dealerships have deactivated power sliding doors on some vehicles. One dealership stated they had never seen the issue and damaged the body frame trying to open a jammed door after rapid closure; repair timeline exceeded three weeks.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia has acknowledged sensor defects in written correspondence. One owner reported Kia stated the auto-reverse feature is supplemental and should never be relied upon as a primary safety feature. Manufacturer referred contact to dealer. Case opened with manufacturer on at least one vehicle.
Power sliding door latch/locking failure
The passenger or rear sliding doors fail to latch or lock properly after closing, or fail to respond to open commands. Doors remain ajar with warning light illuminated, or become stuck in closed position. One incident involved door flying open at 20 mph while driving.
When: Intermittently, with one incident occurring three months into ownership then recurring; one incident at 820 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not latch or lock after closure; Door ajar warning light illuminated; Door does not respond to open button (neither interior nor exterior switch); Door will not respond even after turning off automatic door feature; Door flying open at approximately 20 mph while driving; Door fails to stay in open position (liftgate drops unexpectedly)
Repairs/costs cited: Manual force required to open jammed door. One dealer diagnosed the need for latching mechanism replacement but vehicle was not repaired. One owner's father (a mechanic) examined the door but could not determine the cause or fix.
Power sliding door rapid/uncontrolled closure
The sliding door closes abruptly at high speed without warning, described as closing 'like a guillotine.' This occurs even when manually operated. One incident resulted in damage to the body frame and bolt failure, requiring dealership repair exceeding three weeks.
When: Vehicle parked on slight decline; no prior warning; approximately 22,023 miles on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Door closes rapidly without warning; Uncontrolled closure with excessive force; Door becomes unable to open after rapid closure
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle sustained damage to body frame and bolt failure; dealership stated they had never encountered the issue. Repair timeline exceeded three weeks with no completion date provided.
A-Pillar trim detachment
The windshield exterior A-Pillar trim flew off the vehicle while driving, striking the vehicle behind. Repair not covered under bumper-to-bumper warranty.
When: At approximately 22,023 miles, while driving 50 mph
Symptoms owners cite: A-Pillar trim detaches and becomes airborne; Strikes following vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer determined trim replacement needed; not covered under bumper-to-bumper warranty. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; referred contact back to dealer.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Rear passenger sliding door shows that it is still open, even when closed. Rear passenger sliding door will open while driving even if the automatic doors are turned off.
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 contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the sliding door inadvertently opened without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the latching mechanism replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately…
Had body trouble with your 2022 Kia Carnival?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2022 Kia Carnival?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 28 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 11,522 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/Kia/Carnival.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.