2022 Kia Carnival Fuel Rail Recall (21V277)
Kia America, Inc. · 2,744 vehicles · Reported April 21, 2021
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 2,744 2022 Kia Carnival vehicles. The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged. A damaged fuel rail tube may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V277 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V277000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC211 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 21, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2022 Kia Carnival |
| Units affected | 2,744 |
| Component | Fuel System, Gasoline > Fuel Injection System > Fuel Rail |
| Safety risk | A damaged fuel rail tube may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Kia Carnival in recall 21V277?
The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Carnival vehicles. The plastic fuel rail tube may have been damaged.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Carnival with recall 21V277?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A damaged fuel rail tube may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A damaged fuel rail tube may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Carnival shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the fuel rail, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V277?
Recall 21V277 covers 2,744 vehicles: 2022 Kia Carnival.
NHTSA lists 2,744 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kia | Carnival |
What is the fix for the Carnival fuel rail recall?
Yes. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the multi-port injection fuel rail, free of charge.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the multi-port injection fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC211.
When was recall 21V277 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 21V277 to NHTSA on April 21, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 21, 2021 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V277000. |
This recall was filed 66 months ago. If your Carnival was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Carnival is part of recall 21V277?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V277 is open on your Carnival, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V277000 is open on your Carnival, it will be listed there, along with Kia recall number SC211. You can also ask any Kia dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Carnival owners do about recall 21V277?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V277000 applies to your Carnival.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the fuel rail happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Carnival owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 15 of them about the fuel system.
Since recall 21V277 was reported on April 21, 2021, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 2 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the fuel system and were received on or after April 21, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related fuel system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 136 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 15 of them involve the fuel system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Kia Carnival: 136 complaints in total, 15 about the fuel system
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V320000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2022 Kia Carnival owner, NV, NHTSA complaint 11734515, filed April 29, 2026
Dealer says recall sc211 doesn’t apply to this vehicle, however CEL is displaying (once again) with DTC “P0191 Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor Range/Performance”. Kia dealer has does minimal investigation/diagnosis with no resolution.
2022 Kia Carnival owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11682506, filed August 22, 2025
In October 23, 2025 I started to notice a fuel smell while I was driving the vehicle. The smell of fuel seemed more strong while I had the air conditioning running.I would shut off the AC and put the windows down. There was no leaks of fuel on the ground or close to the motor.
2022 Kia Carnival owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11699531, filed November 15, 2025
Can recall 21V277 make my Carnival a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this fuel rail recall means their Carnival qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Fuel system defects can cause stalling, fuel leaks or a fire risk. Repeat stalling after a recall repair is a strong sign the fix did not work.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022 Kia Carnival has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Carnival been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Carnival recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V277
Did the recall 21V277 fix work?
Since recall 21V277 was reported on April 21, 2021, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the fuel system on these vehicles. 2 of them (13%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V277000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Carnival is part of recall 21V277000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V277000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.