2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid problems

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Electrical · 16,000 miles · IL

The contact owns 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle unexpectedly switched to Safe Mode and decelerated. In addition, the check the hybrid system and the message to “Stop the Vehicle” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the hybrid system was repaired and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while accelerating from the vehicle idling. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Acceleration, Fuel system · TX

My 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid was purchased new in January 2025. The problem began almost immediately, with the vehicle first presented to an authorized Kia dealer for this condition at only 810 miles. The vehicle repeatedly and unpredictably enters reduced-power or “limp mode,” causing a sudden loss of normal acceleration and limiting it to approximately 35 mph. This creates a serious safety risk on highways, while merging, crossing intersections, or whenever acceleration is needed to respond to traffic. Equally concerning, the vehicle does not consistently display a warning or retain a hard diagnostic error code when the loss of power occurs. Sometimes a check-engine light or “Check Hybrid System - Stop Safely” message appears, but at other times the vehicle enters limp mode with no warning. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it, normal operation may return and the error disappears, leaving the dealer unable to retrieve a stored code showing what occurred. The vehicle has been presented to an authorized Kia dealer for this recurring issue at least five times. In August 2026, it remained in limp mode and had to be towed to the dealer. We were initially told no error code had been found. Near the end of the service period, we were told a code had appeared indicating a faulty sensor, which was replaced, but the reduced-power problem later recurred. The vehicle’s automatically generated August performance report also indicated no vehicle issues despite the August incident. A Kia TechLine case was later opened, but the recurring problem was not identified or permanently corrected. The vehicle is available for inspection.

Filed Oct 20, 2026 · KY · 1 injury

On XXX, at about 4:50 PM, my [XXX] son’s hand was caught in the left (driver-side) power sliding door of our 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid (VIN [XXX]; approximately 30,000 miles). The power sliding door was enabled and the door-close function was activated using the interior button. The door did not stop or automatically reverse. It closed completely and stayed latched on his finger. I had to open the door manually to release his hand. An X-ray confirmed a broken finger. I am concerned that the powered sliding door’s obstruction detection and reversal features did not prevent this crushing injury. I request that the federal safety agency review this incident as a potential child-injury motor vehicle safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · NC

In May 2026, after driving through a heavy rainstorm on the highway, the car suddenly cut off cruise control and showed multiple warning lights (for most, if not all assistance systems) and an error message that was some version of "check hybrid system." When searching the code it seemed to be related to an electrical short in the hybrid system. I had no electric power to the engine, but the gas functionality still sort of worked, so I could drive, but there was a 2-3 second delay between pushing the gas pedal and getting any acceleration, and said acceleration was minimal. This occurred at 70+ mph on a busy highway, so the sudden lack of acceleration and control was alarming and put us and the cars around us at risk due to sudden speed change. When we pulled into a safe stop and turned the car off for a few minutes and then back on, the error messages were gone and hybrid system seemed functional again. The check engine light remained, but turned off after the next short trip. There had been no warnings, lights, or symptoms of any issues at any point prior to this occurring. The car was not seen at the time due to being on vacation and not near any Kia dealership. It is being seen in a few weeks, but as this was 5 months ago, I do not anticipate anything being found to explain the issue, particularly after reading other online reports of this issue. A similar issue happened recently (Oct 2026) with no rain present. I had just started driving, and got a warning about lane-keeping assist, but no others. I pulled over, couldn't find any other errors or details, and everything else seemed fine. I continued driving, and 1-2 minutes later, while trying to accelerate onto the highway, I suddenly had no acceleration power with the pedal touching the floor. I was again at risk of a high-speed accident if I had not been able to move the car toward the shoulder quickly. No error code appeared at the time of acceleration loss. Power returned after restarting the car.

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Locks · 18,529 miles · TX · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that her child screamed when the rear passenger’s side sliding door failed to detect the child's hand and closed on the child’s hand on four separate occasions. The contact pressed the rear sliding door button to release the door from the child's hand. The failure resulted in a door indentation across the child's four fingers, but no medical attention was received. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the front driver's side door that failed to latch unless the door was slammed closed. The dealer previously inspected the doors, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by email. The failure mileage was 18,529.

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · MI

Within 5 minutes of driving, the car stopped accelerating. Check hybrid system alert appeared one minute later. Car stalled out within approximately 1-2 minutes after warning light appeared. No other warning lights were present prior. This is a 2025 new Kia Carnival Hybrid. I was stranded on the side of a 55mph road. The first time the police helped me roll it off the road. The second time it couldn’t be pushed even though it appeared to be in neutral. The car dies but the accessory functions will not turn off. We have to unplug the battery each time. This car could die ANYWHERE leaving you stranded in a very dangerous situation. There is very little warning. This is extremely hazardous. This is the SECOND time this has occurred with a combined total of 5 hours waiting for tow trucks and countless hours contacting Kia. Kia kept the car for two weeks and recharged the battery. That’s it. It died again within 24 hours of being returned to us. This is UNSAFE and unreliable.

Filed Oct 2, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · TX

This complaint is a follow up to complaint #XXX. I took the car in to Dennis Eakin Kia in [XXX] to repair what caused the car to go into Limp Mode after slamming on the brakes. The dealership did a deep scan of the hybrid control and power train control module for historical or iintermittent codes. They could find none because the car apparently does not save them after the ignition is turned off. They are trashed. They also tried 4 times to re-create the event by slamming on the brakes, but were unable to re create it. They returned the car to me without fixing it. This is another deep -imbedded safety hazard of this car that a well-documented safety hazard from many drivers cannot be fixed because the car trashes any evidence of these incidences. This car is a clear danger to drivers, a danger that can only be fixed through a recall to get them off the road until a fix is executed by the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 30, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · TX

I had to slam on my brakes and the car went into Limp Mode, not allowing acceleration above 20 MPh. I drove for a while and then pulled into a parking lot and turned off the car and back on again. I was able to achieve normal acceleration after turning the car back on. We felt unsafe having no control over our speed and cars honking and racing around us. I am afraid to drive my family in this car for fear of having to slam on my brakes at a highway intersection or off/on ramp, which could cause a fatal crash. A Kia dealership is performing a diagnostic now and will advise. The vehicle has not been inspected by another agency. No warning lights went on that I can recall.

Filed Sep 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · UT

On random occasions, car will display "check hybrid system" and go into limp mode (limiting speed significantly) check engine, oil, and battery lights also illuminate. Had car serviced twice by dealership who cannot replicate the error, nor can they find any engine codes stored. However, this incident keeps occurring. Planning on having the car serviced again and not picking it up until it's figured out, but also wanted to report this incidence as I have seen several posts with other people complaining of the same issue. Concern is for if this happens randomly at freeway speeds and becomes a serious road hazard.

Filed Sep 19, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · IL · crash · 3 injuries

the vehicle was rear-ended on the highway. The front driver airbag and seatbelt for the driver and passengers in the middle row, likely malfunctioned, as the driver hit her head on the front visor/headliner and rearview mirror. The rear passenger was thrown into the center console.