Kia Carnival Questions & Answers

Hi mate Kia owner for 8 years, i can’t answer that question directly but what advice i can give u is stay away from the petrol version 1) they use a lot of fuel 2) they have engine issues my timing chain needs replacing ( shouldn’t ever need to be) and my mechanic said he’s come across this issue before here’s the real kicker $18k to replace timing chain or $14k for second hand engine. so i’ve basically got a worthless car now that could blow up anytime, it’s got a full kia service history and Kia wouldn’t fix the issue even though the car was 6 months out of warranty so buyer beware! look at the Mercedes van or wait 12 months for the new kia Pv5 it’s pure electric with multiple seating configurations and best of all is going to start at $50k that’s half the price of the VW electric van. i’m hoping mine lasts another 12 months as the PV5 looks pretty cool.

Please note I can only comment on the Carnival GT Line MY25. Only one middle seat of the second row can be removed without tool. And it can be installed facing backward. Also, the back rests of the two outer of the second row cannot be folded flat.

Kia carnival? But limp mode?

Just to clarify, its the Diesel SLi

Hi, mine does that if I don't have it in park. If I stop the car and the kids are eager to get out it will make the noise and not open. As soon as I put it in park it works. Kia has a recall on some model carnivals, I know my car is one that has been recalled due to the sliding doors for some reason

Thanks Hoff, I'm aware about the park brake needing to be on for it to open. The door issue happens when it is in park and also when the engine is off. It would either not operate or stop mid way. I've even recently had the door open whilst I was driving a quarter of the way and then close all by itself. Going to get it looked at for the 4th time tomorrow.

2016 Platinum did this on both rear doors, one each year for 2 years in 2018/19. up to 6 trips later to KIA, they replaced the motor and the wiring loom in each door and wall, all fixed after finally listening to me on the Sedona forums in the US on the same issue. Kia in Caloundra is terrible, stay clear as the muppet apprentices dropped our door twice and off to the paint shop twice. Morrayfield fixed our first left-hand door over 4 trips to the service dept replacing the wire first then the motor (with Kia Aus supervising by video link), and free car wash each time. For this reason, we have gone to an S Kia and stayed clear of the electric door sli or Platinum. Just wait till the electric struts on the boot make winning noises on you and Kia hit you up for $1000. Korean shit. All of these things happened on other posts in the 2016 model as described until the motor and wire were swapped. https://www.kia-forums.com/threads/a-good-news-for-2015-sedona-power-sliding-door-issue.352539/

Once they start having problems it’s the end I actually sold mine back to Kia not intentionally though big dealerships were all connected no wonder they gave me such a good price for their prized Lemon I ended up better off over fixing it!

Hi Dan

Maybe try a different mechanic for a different opinion with better access to parts. Waiting for parts seems to be an issue here.

Kia Service mechanic can run OEM diagnostics on the engine.

Roger, Yes the seat can be removed. They simply release by pulling a cord. If you're still interested please email me: bernburg@bigpond.net.au. I can send you photos and more details. Deb

"They simply release by pulling a cord." No they do not, the side impact air bags and seat belt sensor cabling needs to be disconnected first. Then they can be removed. What I need to find out is if the disconnecting of these safety items will effect. the operation of the car.

I also want to get an answer to this, manual seems to ignore the existence of the cables.

Same question here. The Youtube video does not say which country model. Has anyone removed the 2nd row seats in Australia and New Zealand models of Kia Carnival?

Which Carnival model in which country can you remove the 2nd row seats easily and put back easily?

After purchasing our new Kia Carnival, we found out the seats can be removed easily. In fact the same method as the videos online (different countries) except the release wire is under the seat. There is a C clip that holds this wire onto a rod. Just pull off this C shaped clip and PULL the wire. The seat will release and you can lift it from the floor. There are 3 wires to unplug also. These wires are only for telling the driver if the passenger has not put on their seat belt. The wire tuck into the floor. I can provide photos and a small video about where the C clip is located. The seats easily remove just like the videos and our old Carnival. It is called temporary removal of the seats because they can be put back in. Follow the instructions on video to do it properly.

Hi Debro,which country are you in please? I've shown the video to some Kia sellers in New Zealand. But they said that does not work in New Zealand models i.e. EX Model or something.

Hi John, We are in Australia. And we found the same problem, the seller won't tell us/you or perhaps they don't know how the seats come out. WE were originally told there was 4 bolts to remove the seat. This was incorrect. We found out the hard way by paying a wheelchair company who then showed us the mechanism -the C shape clip and wire to pull which is under the seat and the seats come out and go back in the same way as the middle seat (and the same as those videos and older model Kia Carnivals) The middle seat has a cord to pull to release it from the floor. The two outer seats don't have the cord to pull but the mechanism is under the seat. Locate the C shape clamp, unclip it and pull it - the seat then releases from the floor. There are three wires to unplug under the seat, in the new vehicles, the wires are to tell the driver if someone does not have their seat belt on. This is not a safety risk, only a feature. I think the reason they are not installing the cord or giving instructions, is perhaps people don't reinstate the seats properly making a safety risk. There is a green dot to indicate you have reinstated the seat properly. The same instructions as you see on all those videos from other countries. In Australia I am told, taking the seats out and putting them back in is called 'temporary removal' and as long as you can put them back in is it not permanent removal. I have photos to show the C- shape clip located under the seat but i don't know how to attach the photo to this thread. In Australia our models are called S, Si, Sli, and a special edition called SE, and Platinum. I can send you the photo if you give me a contact. Perhaps there is a way to attach it to these threads but I can't see a way. Hope this helps. We love camping in the vehicle so much space.

Thank you so much Debro for such a detailed explanation. Here is my email. southbear123@gmail.com Could you send me the photos please. Your help is greatly appreciated. "Temporary removal", that's exactly what I want. "Need to remove the four bolts", that's what the sellers told me as well.

I have done this to my KA premium and was as described but now the airbag light is lit on the dash mine also has 4 wires to disconnect 3 small and i large does anyone have any ideas please

Take the vehicle to an auto electrician and he will do something called "resistance" to rectify the light coming on. We have 3 plug wires under the seat. But we understand the air bag's are on the sides of the vehicle nothing to do with the seats. So you may have a different matter with the air bag light on the dash. The guy who did our wiring was called the Car Doctor on Gold Coast in Qld, Aust.

Burn it they are nothing but trouble, we had a 2010 and had to replace the engine twice.

That's not really helpful. It has been a good car until now

Not sure if the Hold light is a symptom of your issue or not. If you're having problems starting, and the normal checks have not worked, then I'd suggest having a look at your MAF sensor. (Mass Air Flow). The 2004 model was prone to some problems with the head gasket. Check to see if the engine oil is like a chocolate milkshake, or if there's oil in the radiator .... custard on the inside of the radiator cap....this would be signs of a leaking head gasket.

Thank you for your reply

Depends on the engine type. In general, water may be stopping the proper spark from occurring. Water & electronics don't mix. If it's a petrol engine, remove each spark plug cap, at each end on the lead, one at a time, and use CRC or RP7 to spray inside the plug cap before putting it back. Don't allow excess fluid to sit in the cap. Then, using the CRC/RP7, spray any other exposed electrical connection that may have collected water. By now, the engine may have already dried off & started working.