NHTSA Complaint #11710531 — 2025 KIA CARNIVAL

My 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid produces externally audible audio while the vehicle is locked, with all doors and windows fully closed. Private phone calls, navigation instructions, and other in-vehicle audio can be clearly heard from outside the vehicle indefinitely, even after locking the car. This behavior occurs without warning to the driver and cannot be disabled or controlled through any user setting. The dealership and manufacturer have confirmed this behavior is “by design” and have declined to correct it. This presents a safety and security concern, as it exposes private communications, signals whether a vehicle is occupied, and may attract unwanted attention or increase the risk of harassment, stalking, or theft—especially in parking garages, residential areas, or public locations. The vehicle appears secure to the driver (locked, windows closed), yet continues to broadcast audio externally, which is unexpected and undocumented behavior. I believe this constitutes an unintended external output of vehicle systems while secured, creating a potential safety vulnerability.