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Kia promises “a refined driving experience” with the 2023 Carnival. But, as a carryover model that Kia says has only minor enhancements, it’s not surprising that owners are experiencing some of the same issues owners of the 2022 model have been complaining about. Malfunctioning sliding doors and cracking windshields top the list of official complaints.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2022
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2023 Kia Carnival
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Structure:body | |
| Structure:body:door | |
| Electrical System | |
| Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch:emergency Mechanical Release |
Most Common Problems with the 2023 Kia Carnival
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Kia Carnival date back to July 1, 2022. By December 2022, there were only a handful of complaints, but the worry is that they clearly follow complaint trends set in 2022. They also mirror two class action investigations Lemberg Law has already launched about the 2022 Kia Carnival.
Two complaints describe how the sliding door of the van closed on the hands or fingers of children. Another describes a typical windshield crack that so many owners of the 2022 model have experienced.
Problems with the Sliding Door
We have highlighted issues about Kia Carnival sliding doors in our post about the ongoing class action investigation we launched earlier in 2022. The problem is that owners are finding the power sliding doors have a tendency to close too forcefully. This tends to result in injuries, with children being the most vulnerable.
The very first complaint made to the NHTSA about the 2023 Carnival was about this very issue. An owner from Indiana states that a daughter pressed the button on the inside of the van to close the door. But, “She didn’t move her hand soon enough out of the way for the door to close. The door closed on her hand. She had to press the button open from the door closing on her thumb.”
The complaint continues to say that the child was bawling her eyes out. Her thumb has swelled to at least three times its size. “The sensor should be way more sensitive, like a garage door opener,” the parent states.
An owner from Utah has a similar complaint. The “Sliding door shut on (a) toddler’s fingers, (because) the safety mechanism for the door to open failed.”
Cracking Windshields Problem
Cracking windshields appear to be a scourge of many vehicles. The mystery is why so many manufacturers are not taking action to install windshields that don’t crack spontaneously, with minimum or no impact.
Lemberg Law has several class action investigations about vehicles that have windshield cracking issues. One of these involves the 2022 Kia Carnival. Now there are also complaints emerging about the 2023 model.
The owner of a 2023 model from South Dakota states that a very small rock hit the windshield and cracked the entire windshield. The “crack spread quickly and has continued to progress.”
That is a typical description of what happens even when a tiny stone or rock doesn’t appear to be part of the scenario.
Your Lemon Law Legal Rights
When problems recur and affect the value or use of your vehicle it might mean that you’ve picked up a lemon. Certainly, problems with cracking windshields and malfunctioning sliding doors appear to be widespread for Kia Carnivals. Lemberg Law is aware of plenty of complaints relating to the 2022 model and would like to know if 2023 model owners have the same or similar complaints.
Of course, you may have completely different problems with your 2023 Kia Carnival. We are happy to discuss these with you as well.
Every year, auto manufacturers pay cash settlements, buyback, and replace vehicles for thousands of lemon owners who have legitimate complaints about problems. If you think that you have a lemon, call our Helpline or fill in a contact form. We will assess your case for free. Remember, the law says that Kia must foot the bill for legal fees when it comes to lemon law cases.
Complaint Data
| Category | Structure:body:door |
| Date | Mar 07, 2023 |
| State | FL |
| Description | We are concerned about the safety of the sliding doors on your 2023 kia carnival. The sensor does not detect objects in its path while closing, and we have already experienced two incidents and we noticed that require a great deal of effort and force to stop the door before someone gets hurt. The sensors are not working properly they need to be repair as soon as possible in order to ensure the safety of your kids. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Feb 24, 2023 |
| State | AL |
| Description | Auto-stop/reverse on power side doors is not sensitive enough to prevent crushing hazard if someone gets caught in the dirt closing. I have to push with considerable force to get door to reverse and it still slams my arm or body hard against the frame before reversing. We are concerned or 6 small children will be seriously injured. There are a bunch of folks reporting broken/bruised hands on carnival forums online and some reporting that the dealership service center has made an adjustment from the manufacturer that results in the door auto stop/ reverse being much more sensitive, after checking nhtsa and making a report. I'd like to know if this is an option? |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Feb 24, 2023 |
| State | NC |
| Description | Rear sliding door safety sensors not working properly. Doors do not stop closing unless excessive force is applied by an adult before the sensors start working. Young children would not be able to stop the door from closing on them and likely would get hurt because of it. |
| Category | Electrical System, Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch:emergency Mechanical Release |
| Date | Jan 15, 2023 |
| State | WA |
| Description | Rear automatic door shut on adult even after bumping into the individual. The sensor did not stop the door from closing. This could have caused serious injury, especially if this were to happen to a kid. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Jan 12, 2023 |
| State | CO |
| Description | The door closing automation applies excessive force before the safety function engages to re-open. This poses a high risk to children and small adults with narrow limbs and/or the fingers of any aged person. On january 11, 2023, my 4 year old's hand was closed in the door without the door stopping or re-opening. This resulted in deep lacerations to his fingers and swelling necessitating emergency room medicine and imaging to eliminate potential of fracture. I tested this morning with the doors by opening and closing and inserting objects as well as my body to determine an approximation of closing force. Even with a full sized adult, the closing force is sufficient to move the trunk of an adult body to the side before safety mechanisms engage. Door travel continues for 2 to 3 inches before safety retraction engages. Children arms, feet, or other appendages are narrow enough that they will be impacted with the force of the mechanism in a pinching mechanic before the safety engages and allows removal of the limb. In this case, the fingers of a child closing their own door was not sufficient to activate the safety mechanism and the door closed fully, causing (thankfully) minimal injury. I have contacted kia service this morning and will follow their directions. Internet research indicates no recall or technical service bulletin for this problem at this time. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Oct 12, 2022 |
| State | SD |
| Description | Very small rock hit windshield and cracked entire windshield; crack spread quickly and has continued to progress |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Aug 05, 2022 |
| State | UT |
| Description | Sliding door shut on toddlers fingers, the safety mechanism for the door to open failed. |
| Category | Structure:body |
| Date | Jul 01, 2022 |
| State | IN |
| Description | Daughter presses the button on the inside of the van. She didn't move her hand soon enough out of the way for the door to close. The door closed on her hand, she had to press the button open from the door closing on her thumb. She came balling her eyes out to me. Her thumb swelled 3 x's as big. The sensor should be way more sensitive like a garage door opener. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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