Kia has issued a recall for about 51,500 Carnival minivans from model years 2022 through 2023 over reports that their sliding doors have pinched limbs and caused injuries. Kia says it is aware of nine injuries, ranging from bruises and swelling to one broken arm “alleged to have been caused” by a power sliding door.
All minivans on the market in 2023 have power sliding doors that can close themselves and safety systems that reverse the door if it encounters resistance on closing. But Kia says its auto-reverse feature “may not activate in all situations.”
The company says internal testing reveals that the Carnival’s doors close with similar force to the doors of other 2023 minivans. “Kia believes the cause of injuries may be associated with customers’ unawareness that the [door] is closing.”
To fix the problem, dealers will install new software that adds warning chimes when the door begins moving and “change the door speed to move more slowly as the door approaches its latching point.”
Cars built after March 1 already have the update, and dealers are installing it on Carnival vehicles currently on sales lots.
Recall repairs are always free. Manufacturers attempt to contact every owner but don’t always reach them all with the news. Find out if your car has ever been recalled at our recall center.
