RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, EV9, K5 and Sorento vehicles. This update is designed to improve the vehicle’s network communication performance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2025 Kia Carnival electrical problems
moderate 76 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
76
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1injury
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Kia Carnival we track for electrical problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 76.
Electrical accounts for 64% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for supported vehicles (2021-2026MY All Models).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗RELEASE NOTES: OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 1) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, 2025 - 2026MY K5 and 2025 - 2026MY Sorento vehicles. This update is designed to improve the vehicle’s network communication performance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software downloads and USB preparation process is similar across all supported platforms; however, in‑vehicle installation procedures vary by head unit type.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DCU COMMUNICATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) system software on some 2025–2026MY vehicles listed in the table below. Kia has identified that Connected Car Services (CCS) functionality may intermittently fail due to temporary DCU communication issues. This condition can impact convenience and connectivity features by causing the Remote Start and Remote Climate functions to become inoperative, prevent vehicle status updates in the Kia Access app, and interrupt connected navigation routing services.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2025 Carnival has emerged with critical electrical failures hitting owners within days to weeks of purchase. Parasitic battery drain is the dominant complaint—the 12V battery dies overnight or within 2–3 days of parking, sometimes dropping to 4–7 volts. Owners report low battery warnings in the Kia Access app before the vehicle goes dead, and some experience the drain only in specific locations like attached garages. Dealerships have attempted network resets (TSB ELE341) and battery replacement, but neither works. A significant pattern also exists: when the battery dies and gets jump-started, critical safety systems—automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warnings, airbags, tire pressure monitoring—report malfunctions until the vehicle restarts.
Secondary electrical failures compound the problem. Several owners describe a complete electrical blackout while driving at highway speeds—all lights, headlights, and dashboard power cut off for 1–2 seconds to 1 minute before everything resets. One owner's infotainment screen became unresponsive while backing up, displaying static and colored artifacts, disabling all camera safety functions. A body domain controller failed outright at 4,000 miles on a brand-new vehicle.
Unusual defects also appear: a passenger seat auto-reclined into a flat position despite being parked and powered off, pinning a child in a rear car seat until manual controls were used. A rear sliding door lock refuses to stay engaged even after dealership repair. Wiring harnesses with soy-based insulation attract rodents that damage the wiring, creating risk of total power loss.
Kia and dealerships have provided little support. Owners report being told issues are "by design," blamed for user error, or left at service departments for weeks with no diagnosis or timeline for repair. Multiple owners cite thousands of online posts—Facebook groups, Reddit, forums—indicating this is not isolated.
Same Kia Carnival electrical reports on nearby years: 2022 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Parasitic Battery Drain
Battery drains to dead or critical voltage when vehicle is parked and off, often overnight or within 2–3 days of non-use. Owners report the 12V battery dropping to 4–7V range. Some experience the issue only when parked in specific locations (e.g., attached garage). The cause remains unidentified despite multiple dealership diagnostic attempts. Kia Connect app typically shows low battery warning (<40%) before failure. Hard resets and TSB ELE341 network resets have not resolved the issue.
When: Begins within 3 days to first month of ownership; affects vehicles with sub-2,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start after sitting overnight or 2–3 days; Low battery warning in Kia Access app before dead battery; Battery drains to 4–7 volts when parked; Remote start and remote functions fail when battery is low; Safety systems disabled after jump-start (automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, airbags, tire pressure monitoring); Vehicle stalls or shuts down during operation if AC is turned on while battery is low
Codes mentioned: TSB ELE341
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership hard reset/network reset attempted; battery replacement does not resolve the issue. No permanent fix identified. Owners report purchasing portable chargers and battery tenders to prevent failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB ELE341 (Network Reset) provided; Kia Customer Care denies widespread battery issue despite owners citing 60+ internal cases and thousands of online posts.
Electrical System Power Loss While Driving
All exterior and interior lights, including headlights, shut off completely while vehicle is in motion at highway speeds. Electrical system resets as if vehicle was turned off and restarted. Occurs without warning and lasts 1–2 seconds to approximately 1 minute.
When: Occurs during highway driving; mileage and time of ownership varies.
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights turn off while driving at night or highway speeds; All interior and exterior electrical lighting shut off; Dashboard lights go dark; Electrical system resets/restarts while vehicle is in motion; Low tire pressure warning reappears as if vehicle just restarted; Screen message about 'loss of' something (exact message not recalled by owner)
Repairs/costs cited: Not yet inspected or reproduced by dealership.
Infotainment Screen Malfunction and Camera System Failure
Infotainment screen becomes unresponsive while vehicle is moving, displaying visual noise (snow/static), colored jagged/blocky artifacts, and black screen. Screen occasionally reverts to normal but with severe lag and stuttering. All camera-related safety functionality becomes unusable during incident. Issue resolves after vehicle restart, during which screen cycles through black, white, red, and green colors before normal operation returns.
When: Occurred while backing up and using camera safety features.
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment screen unresponsive during driving; Visual noise ('snow') and colored artifacts on screen; Black screen flickering; Severely lagging touch response; Stuttering screen transitions; All camera safety functionality becomes unresponsive; Screen cycles through solid colors (black, white, red, green) during restart before returning to normal
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has video of incident; dealership appointment requested but not yet serviced.
Body Domain Controller Failure
Central body control module fails at very low mileage (under 4,000 miles), rendering vehicle unsafe for operation. Dealership confirms BDC replacement required. Vehicle remains at dealership pending parts availability, with potential delays exceeding one week.
When: At approximately 4,000 miles on brand-new vehicle with normal maintenance.
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic system failure requiring dealership diagnosis; Vehicle not safe for normal operation
Repairs/costs cited: Body Domain Controller (BDC) replacement required; parts availability uncertain, repair timeline could exceed one week.
Passenger Seat Auto-Recline Without User Input
Front passenger seat auto-reclines into fully flat position despite no buttons being pressed. Vehicle in park and powered off, but seat continues reclining. Seat travels so far back it pins child in rear car seat. Manual controls remain functional to reverse the recline.
When: No warning; occurred during stop at intersection.
Symptoms owners cite: Seat reclines automatically without button input; Continues to recline even with vehicle in Park; Continues to recline even with vehicle powered off; Seat travels into middle section of vehicle; Pins child's legs against car seat
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to reproduce issue on two separate occasions. Dealership suggested user error or damage to seat components. Dealership stated that owner unplugging power to seat means issue 'could not occur again' but did not identify or solve root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership blamed user error; declined to identify actual cause.
Rear Occupant Sensor Module Failure
Rear occupant sensor warning light illuminates on dashboard. Dealership diagnoses defective occupant sensor module that affects airbag system, rendering vehicle unsafe to drive. Part is back-ordered due to high number of 2025 Carnival vehicles with same issue.
When: Warning light appears; exact mileage/timing not specified.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear occupant sensor warning light on dashboard; Module defect affecting airbag function
Repairs/costs cited: Module replacement required; back-ordered due to widespread issue affecting multiple 2025 Carnival vehicles.
HVAC System Malfunction and Ambient Temperature Sensor Failure
Heat and AC do not function properly when ambient temperature reading on cluster is incorrect. Cluster displays wrong temperature (e.g., -15°F when actual is 34°F). Check engine light on but no code or code history found. Dealership has previously cleared water from HVAC module, replaced module, and disconnected/reconnected battery to reset codes. Issue persists especially when temperature changes seasonally or fluctuates throughout the day.
When: Ongoing issue; especially problematic when temperatures change seasonally or fluctuate throughout the day.
Symptoms owners cite: Heat and AC do not work properly; Ambient temperature display incorrect on cluster (e.g., -15°F when actual is 34°F); Check engine light on with no code found; Snowflake indicator showing on cluster; Issue worse when temperature changes or fluctuates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership cleared water from HVAC module, replaced HVAC module, disconnected and reconnected battery to clear codes. Issue persists. Owner reports running three different temperature settings and cracking windows as temporary workaround. Scheduled for further diagnostics.
Soy-Based Wiring Insulation and Rodent Damage
Wiring harnesses use soy-insulated wiring that attracts rodents to engine bay. Rodent damage to wiring causes check engine light and potential total power loss risk. Initial diagnosis appeared to be faulty sensor, but extensive wiring harness replacement was required. Multiple vehicles at dealership required full wiring harness replacement due to similar rodent damage.
When: Discovered when check engine light illuminated; damage had already occurred.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Multiple wires damaged by rodent gnawing; Risk of total vehicle power loss from damaged wiring; Rodent deterrents ineffective
Repairs/costs cited: Total wiring harness replacement required. At dealership, at least 2 other 2025 Carnival vehicles required full wiring harness replacement for same reason. Insurance confirmed rodent damage was cause.
Rear Sliding Door Lock Failure
Rear sliding door does not lock. Issue persists even after dealership repair attempt (repair took 16 days). Door lock fails again immediately after vehicle is picked up from service.
When: Discovered shortly after purchase when attempting to place car seats.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear sliding door will not lock; Locking issue recurs after dealership repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repair took 16 days; issue recurred immediately after pickup. Kia Customer Care escalation team promised follow-up but no contact received.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia Customer Care escalation team contacted but no follow-up provided.
External Audio Broadcast When Vehicle Locked
Vehicle broadcasts private phone calls, navigation instructions, and in-vehicle audio externally while vehicle is locked, doors and windows fully closed. Audio is clearly audible from outside indefinitely and cannot be disabled through user settings. Dealership and manufacturer confirm this is 'by design' and declined to correct it.
When: Occurs whenever vehicle is locked; occurs indefinitely without warning.
Symptoms owners cite: Private phone calls audible from outside locked vehicle; Navigation instructions broadcast externally; In-vehicle audio broadcast externally; Audio broadcast indefinitely; Cannot be disabled or controlled by user settings; No warning to driver
Repairs/costs cited: None; manufacturer and dealership state this is design specification.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership and manufacturer confirm behavior is 'by design' and declined to correct.
Synthesized from 76 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
While driving at highway speeds the exterior and interior lighting/electrial system shut down completely. My headlights shut off, as well as all electrical/lighting inside the vehicle for approximately 1 minute before turning back on as if I had turned the car off and restarted it. I have a low tire pressure warning that comes on when the car is started, and it came on again as if my car had just…
Brand new car and the battery is draining. Leaving the vehicle unable to start.
Battery went dead. Been at dealer 2 weeks. They are waiting to hear from Kia but nothing is being done.
The battery has died twice within 3 months. I couldn’t leave my house to collect my kids. The problem has been commented on by a dealership. No.
The 12-volt battery fully discharges and leaves the vehicle inoperable ONLY when parked in my attached townhouse garage (overnight or 1–3 days). The vehicle starts and runs normally when parked elsewhere (work, airport, etc.) for the same duration. Symptoms: No warning lights prior to failure Dashboard completely dark; no power to doors, lights, or start button Requires jump-start or tow
There seems to be a very common problem of the 2025 Kia Carnival having a battery drain issue, leaving people stranded. I had a dead battery today with only one month and 300 miles of use. Thousands have had the same experience and have discussed this on various forums.
12V Vehicle battery drained. Unable to start Vehicle.
I live in Alabama. Temperature here is 34 degrees so far in the morning. My check engine light is on. I have taken it in and had diagnostics and they can't find a code or code history. My heat and AC do not work properly if the ambient temperature on the cluster doesn't show up or is not correct. 72 degrees when it's not working right will run you out of the car it's so hot. The cluster…
12V battery drains if the car is left unused for more than 3-4 days. Car needs to be jumped to start it up again. The issue occurred in August and I jumped it first time. It started happening again September and had a service appointment with Kia. They hard reset the software but the issue occured again every time I left the car unused for more than 3-4 days.
I was driving about 6:30ish in the morning and my whole dashboard went black and my head lights turned off couple seconds later it came back on while i am driving. I will be calling the dealership to see what can be checked.
Had electrical trouble with your 2025 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 electrical problem on the 2025 Kia Carnival?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 76 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 76 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 25,100 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2025/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.