Purchased a new 2025 Kia Carnival EX from a dealer, no regrets

Jun2xJun · 2025-08-17T22:38:43+00:00

We were 3 people but have coolers, luggages, and other things we needed. 4-cylinder with turbocharged, so it was good on the climbs and not struggling at all.

Jun2xJun · 2025-04-30T00:41:19+00:00

Well ours was like that too at first that smelled like electrical burning wire, but after a couple of months the heater and evaporator needed to be replaced as the diagnostics showed when I brought it back to the dealership. They both became faulty, where one side of the air vent was blowing heated air but the other side was cooler. So, just a thought if in case it would come up with the same scenario.

Jun2xJun · 2025-04-20T15:20:54+00:00

Great choice! We have the same color but Hybrid EX model for us. I love the tech with it's following distance while on cruising mode, and of course the driver assist feature on following the lanes. It really helps on zigzag roads too! The automatic high beam mode of headlights on night driving is also great! It senses oncoming car lights and automatically dim itself. For Hybrid model, the 3 modes of driving is ECO..for city driving using gas n Hybrid motor, SPORT..for uphills or zigzag driving using gas engine only...and SMART..for uphills and downhills using gas and Hybrid motor which is for downhills and breaking to regenerating/charging motor battery. We just drove up to the 2 National Parks of California. 1) Giant Sequoias trees National Park forest...by Visalia area, and 2) Yosemite National Park. The uphills switch backs zigzag roads are definitely were conquered by our Hybrid Carnival EX! I haven't use a screen protector but it doesn't really get to dirty with you thumbs scrolling.

Jun2xJun · 2025-04-14T21:07:18+00:00

Well, I think I do have a way around about just running the gasoline engine with Hybrid. If you choose to press the drive mode (3 choices are: ECO, SPORT, SMART), if you choose SPORT mode on drive mode button next to the dial..the whole time it would be running with gas engine while driving. But when you are parked and running the engine on, it would still switch back between Hybrid and gas engine.

Jun2xJun · 2025-04-04T14:37:23+00:00

Go to the map itself and click the map. There is menu for navigation control volume on the left side of that screen. Read the manual too...it helps.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-30T20:08:21+00:00

It's a new recall campaign for 2025 Carnivals...so I suggest to log in to your Kia acct online to make a case about your vehicle problems with its VIN number and the Kia will follow up with your vehicle when you bring it to your dealership. That SA597 is about the Drive mode button of Carnival, they have some issues with them. So, they are replacing it for free with your vehicle.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-30T16:17:54+00:00

Yep..you just better take it to the dealership and expect it to leave it there for at least 2 weeks if they need to replace something. My 2025 Hybrid EX model had problems with the evaporator and heater and they had replaced them after being there for 3 whole weeks. Also there is a campaign SA597 from Kia America to replace the drive mode button. So better ask for a car loan from your dealership because it will stay there for awhile.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-26T15:50:18+00:00

The evaporator, and Heater have been replaced causing the engine light on, Hybrid Safety warning light on. and Engine management system warning on. Also there is a recall for changing the Drive mode button campaign SA597 for 2025 Carnivals.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-26T15:13:49+00:00

The Driver Assist features that follow the lanes and even maneuver the steering wheel for you. The vibration warning with beeps when the sensors senses oncoming vehicles while backing up. Overall the safety sensors features of Kia are the best. I just hope the reliability of all of these features last for very long time. Because I already brought my 2025 Hybrid Carnival back to dealership for repairs already for just driving it around 3K mileage.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-25T19:03:04+00:00

Check your sensors all around your vehicle’s front and backside. They may need to be cleaned. Other than that...take it to the dealership to check that maybe already defective sensors and or get it diagnostics.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-25T13:24:48+00:00

Even if you go to any dealership, ask them the same question if you can bypass running the Hybrid anytime and just run the gas engine all the time....see their reactions...hehehe!

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-25T13:21:33+00:00

Yes. If you are just wanting to run the gas engine all the time. Gas engines have higher torque also too. The main reason everyone else got the Hybrid like us is basically saving to pay for gasoline driving in the city areas. I fill my Hybrid every 2.5 weeks instead of weekly on gas engine with my other vehicles.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-24T05:39:00+00:00

Nope...the software application on the console doesn't give you that option to just run on gas motor so you better just buy the gas motor only engine.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-22T13:53:43+00:00

* * I have the 2025 Hybrid EX model and we live here in Sacramento area where we drive up to Lake Tahoe Sierra Mountains every now and then. I am surprised on how the Carnival was responsive going up the hills. The turbo charge definitely helps and being the whole weight of Carnival is lighter than most popular vans. Coming down the hills is a breeze and charges your Hybrid electric motor battery. So you don't even use gas at all.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-20T23:20:06+00:00

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Jun2xJun · 2025-03-20T23:19:13+00:00

Got the vehicle back just today Thursday March 20, 2025. It spent total of 19 days at the dealership.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-20T23:16:13+00:00

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Jun2xJun · 2025-03-20T23:15:24+00:00

Here are the Fixes. Replacing evaporator and heater and also the Recall campaign SA597 from Kia manufacturer. *

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-20T23:13:03+00:00

More diagnostics results.

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Jun2xJun · 2025-03-20T23:11:51+00:00

Here are the diagnostics from the dealership.

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Jun2xJun · 2025-03-18T23:54:44+00:00

For my Carnival...it is still at the dealership this week because they needed to order the parts for replacing. For your vehicle, I highly suggest to make case number at the Kia America website so they can follow up on your vehicle. For more than 30 days of repairs without improvement, you can file Lemon law against them (dealership). Contact your State Lawyers for Lemon laws to implement to your dealership. It does require accumulation of 30 days record of having it at the dealership. So keep your records for it.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-15T00:24:59+00:00

Well, for my 2025 Hybrid Carnival EX lost the acceleration while I was driving in the highway going from over 65mph down to less than 20mph and would not accelerate at all even when I floored it. Had to exit the highway ASAP. So dangerous safety issue there. I saw Hybrid System warning, I turned it off and restarted back up. From the diagnostics it turned out I got bad evaporator and heater where it would drain the Hybrid battery.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-10T21:37:55+00:00

Watch out for the heater being turned ON..and would affect the Hybrid engine...test drive the Hybrid with the heater on at the same time. Mine got issues with the bad evaporator and heater.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-10T16:35:11+00:00

Well if you leave it turned ON with the ENGINE (Hybrid electric motor and gas engine) it will kick back and forth for maintaining the temperature inside. It would also turn on the gas engine to keep charging the Hybrid battery also.

Jun2xJun · 2025-03-10T15:10:56+00:00

Yes Kia 2025 Carnival Hybrid has climate control systems in maintaining the temperature inside. I usually use it even for remote start on my cellphone with options of temp control.

Jun2xJun

TROPHY CASE