The Kia Carnival Years To Avoid
Kia Carnival by Benespit - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Although the minivan segment wasn’t as popular a decade or so ago, many manufacturers still cater to the segment. After all, there’s no shortage of people that appreciate the minivan as a practical solution for families needing to transport many passengers along with their cargo. They were generally seen as more comfortable and fuel-efficient alternatives to large SUVs and station wagons.
One such company is Kia. To replace the Kia Sedona, the South Korean automaker recently launched the Kia Carnival, known for its spacious interior, comfortable ride, and stylish exterior. As such, the Carnival is designed to cater to large families and those needing ample cargo space without compromising style or comfort.
The Carnival distinguishes itself from the Sedona in several ways. First, it sports a bold, modern design that moves away from the traditional minivan aesthetic. Plus, it features a more SUV-like appearance, which aligns with current automotive trends.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE KIA CARNIVAL
As of this writing, the Kia Carnival only has two models available commercially since its 2022 debut. So for today’s post, we find out which is the most reliable Kia Carnival year so far by checking out the only Carnival you can buy as used.
If you want to buy a used Kia Carnival, your options are limited. Regardless, we will help you identify the Kia Carnival years to avoid and offer insights into why they’re not worth the investment.
Introducing the Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival is a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) that has been in production since 1998 by the South Korean automaker Kia. But in 2021, Kia decided to replace the Sedona, a well-regarded minivan in its own right, with the Carnival in several markets, including the United States. This move was part of Kia’s broader strategy to refresh its lineup and appeal to a more comprehensive range of consumers.
Interior-wise, the Carnival offers a more luxurious and feature-rich cabin than the Sedona. It boasts high-quality materials, a state-of-the-art infotainment system, and a host of driver-assistance features. The Carnival also offers more seating configurations and cargo capacity than the Sedona, making it a more versatile choice for families and businesses.
OTHER CAR SHOPPING APPS ARE OUTDATED
You won’t realize how outdated other car searching apps are until you try the CoPilot car shopping app. CoPilot does the hard work for you by searching all of the listings in your area and intelligently creating a personalized list of the best buys in the area that match what you’re looking for.
Under the hood, the Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 290 hp, more than the Sedona’s 276 horsepower. The Carnival also offers better fuel economy than the Sedona, further enhancing its appeal.
Overall, the Kia Carnival represents a significant step forward for Kia in the MPV segment. It builds on the strengths of the Sedona while offering a more modern, versatile, and efficient vehicle for today’s consumers.
Which Kia Carnival Years To Avoid?
As of this writing, the only option for buying a used Kia Carnival is the 2022 model year. Since the 2022 Carnival is a relatively new model, information about its reliability is limited. Thankfully, Kia is known to be a highly reliable brand, especially in the last decade or so. Auto repair and maintenance website, RepairPal, rates Kia’s reliability as 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it 3rd among 32 car brands. Based on repair cost, frequency, and severity, this score indicates Kia’s above-average reliability.
As for the Kia Carnival years to avoid, there might be better choices than the debut model year due to several areas of concern.
2022 Kia Carnival
Here at CoPilot, we always tell our readers to skip debut models of any new vehicle. When introducing a new model, it often comes with new technologies, designs, and manufacturing processes that haven’t been tested in the real world. This can lead to more issues and recalls as these new elements are put to the test by everyday use.
Although we’re picking the 2022 Carnival as a year to avoid, it’s hardly the most unreliable vehicle on the market. In fact, it has received positive reliability ratings from critics and customers alike.
2022 Kia Carnival Reliability Ratings
The consumer advocate website, Consumer Reports, rates the 2022 Kia Carnival with an above-average rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 for both Reliability Verdict and Owner Satisfaction. Based on CR’s testing, the Carnival did well in many major trouble spots, including engine, engine cooling, transmission, drive system, fuel emissions, electric system, brakes, and many more. The only areas where the 2022 Carnival underperformed are body hardware (more on this later) and in-car electronics.
Meanwhile, J.D. Power gave the 2022 Carnival a less favorable rating of 75 out of 100, which is considered Average by the website. On a related note, the website also scored the 2022 Carnival an 84 out of 100 in Driving Experience and 78 out of 100 in Resale.
IS GAP INSURANCE WORTH IT?
Gap insurance can prevent you from making payments on an already-totalled car, but is gap insurance worth it? We break down what gap insurance is, if it’s worth it, and more - simply and with plenty of examples.
2022 Kia Carnival Common Owner Complaints
According to CarComplaints.com, the 2022 Carnival has received 90 complaints and three recalls. Below are some of the most common problems of the 2022 Carnival based on owner complaints as documented by LembergLaw:
- Power Sliding Door Issues: There have been numerous complaints about the failure of the auto-reverse feature of the power sliding doors (PSDs). The doors are supposed to reverse direction if they encounter resistance, but consumers report that excessive force is needed to trigger this feature. This has led to injuries, particularly to arms, hands, and shoulders.
- Windshield Cracking: There are numerous complaints about windshields cracking, sometimes without any apparent cause. This can cause visibility issues and potential safety concerns. Some consumers have reported difficulty getting their windshields replaced due to insufficient stock at dealerships.
- Fuel/Propulsion System Problems: Several complaints highlight various acceleration issues, some blaming cold weather for the problem. There are also problems with the fuel pump that have resulted in a recall. Some consumers had reported that their vehicle wouldn’t accelerate over 10-20 mph, and the car started shaking when they tried to accelerate.
- Problems Caused by Cold Weather: There are reports of the vehicle stopping working due to ice in the throttle body when the temperature was below 20° C (4° F). This has raised safety concerns as the vehicle stops working while driving in traffic.
- Fuel Gauge and Pump Issues: Some consumers have reported that the fuel gauge doesn’t provide an accurate reading of available fuel – which can be a huge issue in day-to-day use. There is also feedback about a faulty fuel pump which compromises the safety of the Carnival.
With these issues, we highly recommend approaching the 2022 Kia Carnival with caution. While it’s far from the most unreliable model out there, it’s worth considering the issues mentioned above.
THE BEST USED MINIVANS ON THE MARKET
When it comes to hauling a lot of people and cargo, the minivan is hard to beat. We’ve factored in reliability, affordability, and functionality to create this curated list of the 8 best used minivans on the market today.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
