KIA CARNIVAL (2022) recall — Trailer Hitches
Kia recalls 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles with faulty trailer hitches that may cause fire due to water accumulation on electrical components. Owners must park away from structures until repairs are completed.
Use caution until it’s fixed
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Kia is recalling certain 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles that have a trailer hitch harness which may cause fire due to water accumulation on electrical components. This could lead to injury if the vehicle is parked or driven near flammable materials. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/80993-kia-2022-carnival-trailer-hitches-recall-fire-risk-when-parked.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/80993-kia-2022-carnival-trailer-hitches-recall-fire-risk-when-parked · Updated October 4, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #23V179000
Cite this page
“Kia 2022 Carnival Trailer Hitches Recall: Fire Risk When Parked or Driving.” GovInfoNow, updated October 4, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/80993-kia-2022-carnival-trailer-hitches-recall-fire-risk-when-parked. Based on NHTSA recall #23V179000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=23V179000).
Why it’s dangerous
Water can accumulate on the electrical circuit board inside the trailer hitch harness, causing an electrical short. This short may lead to a fire while the vehicle is parked or in motion, potentially causing injury.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2022-2023 Kia Carnival vehicles with original equipment or dealership-purchased trailer hitch harnesses are affected. Those who park or drive these vehicles near flammable materials are at higher risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2022-2023 Kia Carnival has a trailer hitch harness installed as original equipment or purchased through a Kia dealership. The recall covers vehicles where this harness was part of the vehicle's original setup or added later.
- Brand
Kia- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Park Vehicle Away from Structures
Move your vehicle to a location away from buildings, trees, or other structures until the repair is completed.
Contact Kia Customer Service
Reach out to Kia at 1-800-333-4542 to confirm if your vehicle needs a repair.
What NHTSA says to do
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.
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
Water accumulation on the electrical circuit board inside the trailer hitch harness can cause an electrical short, which may lead to fire.
Do I need to do anything immediately?
Yes, you should park your vehicle away from structures until the repair is completed. Contact Kia customer service to determine if your vehicle needs a repair.
How can I check if my vehicle is affected?
Check if your 2022-2023 Kia Carnival has a trailer hitch harness installed as original equipment or purchased through a Kia dealership.
Contact Kia
We’ve drafted a message you can send Kia to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 23V179000 — Kia Kia Hello, I own a Kia that is covered by recall 23V179000 from Kia. The official recall notice states: 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. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #23V179000 (March 17, 2023)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 4, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.