2022-2023 Kia Carnival Trailer Hitch Recall (23V179)
Kia America, Inc. · 3,555 vehicles · Reported March 17, 2023
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 3,555 2022-2023 Kia Carnival vehicles. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 23V179 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V179000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC265 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 17, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2022-2023 Kia Carnival |
| Units affected | 3,555 |
| Component | Trailer Hitches |
| Safety risk | A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022-2023 Kia Carnival in recall 23V179?
Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 Carnival with recall 23V179?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 23V179, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V179?
Recall 23V179 covers 3,555 vehicles: 2022-2023 Kia Carnival.
NHTSA lists 3,555 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | Kia | Carnival |
What is the fix for the Carnival trailer hitch recall?
Yes. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed.
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and verify whether the vehicle is equipped with a Genuine Kia accessory trailer tow hitch assembly. If equipped, dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC265.
When was recall 23V179 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 23V179 to NHTSA on March 17, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 16, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 17, 2023 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V179000. |
| May 16, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 43 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 23V179?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V179 is open on your Carnival, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Carnival owners do about recall 23V179?
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 23V179000 applies to your Carnival.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any trailer hitches symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- 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 187 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 57 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 23V179 was reported on March 17, 2023, owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 4 of them (10%) 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 other equipment and were received on or after March 17, 2023, 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 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 187 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 57 of them involve the other equipment. 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, 35 about the other equipment
- 2023 Kia Carnival: 51 complaints in total, 22 about the other equipment
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Gas door outside cover would not open which makes it impossible to pump gas. Dealership removed door to enable the ability to pump gas.
2023 Kia Carnival owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11663526, filed May 28, 2025
On August 23, 2025, I purchased a certified pre-owned Kia Carnival. Within hours, the vehicle had a severe fuel leak that produced a strong gasoline odor. Driving it made me sick, and I feared for the safety of my three children in the vehicle.
2023 Kia Carnival owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11685602, filed September 7, 2025
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.
2023 Kia Carnival owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11509010, filed February 24, 2023
Can recall 23V179 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
What matters for a lemon law claim is not the recall label but whether the defect substantially impairs the 2022-2023 Kia Carnival and whether the dealer can fix it in a reasonable number of tries.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
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 23V179
Did the recall 23V179 fix work?
Since recall 23V179 was reported on March 17, 2023, owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 4 of them (10%) 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.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed May 16, 2023.
Is the 23V179000 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 23V179000?
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.
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 23V179000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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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.