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2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Hev
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
119 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2023–2027 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict — worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Hev.
Why caution?
Electrical system problems dominate (68% of complaints, typically reported near 4k miles).
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#275 of 290Among the 2025 models with a matured record, the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Hev ranks #275, scoring higher than 4% of them. See the 2025 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (15) · Fuel system (8) · Lights (5) · Transmission & drivetrain (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
68%81 complaints · typically near 4k mi · 81 in the last 2 years
“We have been having persistent safety issues with this vehicle. The issues have ranged from unsecured gas cap to loss of power. We’ve also had severe transmission issu…”
Engine
13%15 complaints · 15 in the last 2 years
“We have been having persistent safety issues with this vehicle. The issues have ranged from unsecured gas cap to loss of power. We’ve also had severe transmission issu…”
Fuel system
7%8 complaints · 8 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact received the recall letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V320000 ( NA) The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle …”
Lights
4%5 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“One night while driving all lights went out even panel radio too and in a couple of seconds came back to normal..a few weeks after that while driving a loud warning so…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 119 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 5 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Fuel System, Gasoline · 26V232000
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC368. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 24, 2026.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Kia before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Hev. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 4k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2025 Kia CARNIVAL HYBRID HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2025? See how every Carnival Hybrid Hev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid Hev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.