2026 KIA CARNIVAL — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

My car has just under 3,000 miles. While driving home from a friend's house this morning my car would not go above 31 mph. I could put my pedal all the way down and nothing beyond 31 mph. I am reading a lot of people with this same exact issue with their hybrid Kia Carnival. Most note it happens in cold weather. So it is worth noting that it is 21 degrees here today. Regardless this is a serious concern especially as some report is happening on highways

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding unexpected and inappropriate automatic braking behavior at low speeds involving the parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and/or automatic emergency braking system. While performing normal, low-speed maneuvers such as backing out of street parking spaces or parking in tight urban environments, the vehicle abruptly applies the brakes even when no imminent collision exists and when obstacles or traffic are clearly visible to the driver. In one frequent scenario, while exiting a parallel out of a parking spot into traffic, the vehicle suddenly stops itself while partially in the roadway due to a car approaching in the rear. This occurs despite sufficient clearance and approaching vehicles slowing to yield or even happens AFTER the approaching vehicle has passed already! This creates a dangerous situation where my vehicle is immobilized in active traffic, increasing the risk of rear-end or side collisions. The driver behind me sees me stopped in middle thinks that I'm waiting for him, when really my intention was to come out of the spot and then finally it releases the emergency brake and then my vehicle juts out into the roadway. Also, during parking maneuvers, the vehicle applies emergency braking despite having enough space, SLOW speed, & the driver having full visual awareness via the backup camera. This removes the driver’s ability to make precise low-speed adjustments. The override behavior is also unsafe. Regaining control requires a firm brake press, after which releasing the pedal causes the vehicle to move abruptly, eliminating precise control and increasing collision risk. This behavior is unpredictable, inappropriate for dense urban driving, & creates hazardous situations rather than preventing them. I believe this constitutes a safety defect in the vehicle’s braking and driver-assist systems. Concerned this could lead to serious accidents, particularly in urban environments. Friends have same problems!

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding unexpected and inappropriate automatic braking behavior at low speeds involving the parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and/or automatic emergency braking system. While performing normal, low-speed maneuvers such as backing out of street parking spaces or parking in tight urban environments, the vehicle abruptly applies the brakes even when no imminent collision exists and when obstacles or traffic are clearly visible to the driver. In one frequent scenario, while exiting a parallel out of a parking spot into traffic, the vehicle suddenly stops itself while partially in the roadway due to a car approaching in the rear. This occurs despite sufficient clearance and approaching vehicles slowing to yield or even happens AFTER the approaching vehicle has passed already! This creates a dangerous situation where my vehicle is immobilized in active traffic, increasing the risk of rear-end or side collisions. The driver behind me sees me stopped in middle thinks that I'm waiting for him, when really my intention was to come out of the spot and then finally it releases the emergency brake and then my vehicle juts out into the roadway. Also, during parking maneuvers, the vehicle applies emergency braking despite having enough space, SLOW speed, & the driver having full visual awareness via the backup camera. This removes the driver’s ability to make precise low-speed adjustments. The override behavior is also unsafe. Regaining control requires a firm brake press, after which releasing the pedal causes the vehicle to move abruptly, eliminating precise control and increasing collision risk. This behavior is unpredictable, inappropriate for dense urban driving, & creates hazardous situations rather than preventing them. I believe this constitutes a safety defect in the vehicle’s braking and driver-assist systems. Concerned this could lead to serious accidents, particularly in urban environments. Friends have same problems!

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding unexpected and inappropriate automatic braking behavior at low speeds involving the parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and/or automatic emergency braking system. While performing normal, low-speed maneuvers such as backing out of street parking spaces or parking in tight urban environments, the vehicle abruptly applies the brakes even when no imminent collision exists and when obstacles or traffic are clearly visible to the driver. In one frequent scenario, while exiting a parallel out of a parking spot into traffic, the vehicle suddenly stops itself while partially in the roadway due to a car approaching in the rear. This occurs despite sufficient clearance and approaching vehicles slowing to yield or even happens AFTER the approaching vehicle has passed already! This creates a dangerous situation where my vehicle is immobilized in active traffic, increasing the risk of rear-end or side collisions. The driver behind me sees me stopped in middle thinks that I'm waiting for him, when really my intention was to come out of the spot and then finally it releases the emergency brake and then my vehicle juts out into the roadway. Also, during parking maneuvers, the vehicle applies emergency braking despite having enough space, SLOW speed, & the driver having full visual awareness via the backup camera. This removes the driver’s ability to make precise low-speed adjustments. The override behavior is also unsafe. Regaining control requires a firm brake press, after which releasing the pedal causes the vehicle to move abruptly, eliminating precise control and increasing collision risk. This behavior is unpredictable, inappropriate for dense urban driving, & creates hazardous situations rather than preventing them. I believe this constitutes a safety defect in the vehicle’s braking and driver-assist systems. Concerned this could lead to serious accidents, particularly in urban environments. Friends have same problems!

The car will not accelerate past 31 mph no matter the gas petal position, during cold mornings. Downhill or uphill, in any “drive mode” it will not go past 31 with the petal all the way down. Acceleration onto a highway is impossible. Stopping and restarting the entire vehicle seems to reset this and allow for speed over 31mph. This has happened 5-6 separate times when the temperature is below 35F.