The door does not “see” the obstacle
Kia is recalling 2022 Carnival minivans and some 2023 Carnival models. The recalled vehicles include 51,568 vehicles produced from January 4, 2021 to February 22, 2023.
The van’s power sliding door is programmed with an auto-reverse system designed to prevent attempts to close the door when the system detects an obstacle. This auto reverse does not work properly, which can cause the door to pinch hands, things and more. Kia confirms several cases that have resulted in scratches, bruises and even a broken arm. A short YouTube video shows the force with which the door closes in the Carnival model. The caption reads: “The door doesn’t always stop when it detects an obstruction.”
The sliding door of the Kia Carnival leaves people bruised and even broke someone’s arm.
Kia says the automaker launched an investigation in the summer of 2021, after Kia’s Safety Authority in North America “began to identify customer complaints of childhood injuries caused by the operation of the power sliding door.”
In their own tests, Kia and third parties were unable to detect a manufacturing defect, and said the results showed that the Carnival sliding door works as intended.
However, Kia has released new software for the door control module. Kia says it will start sending emails to owners on April 28th.
