2022–2023 Kia Carnival Recall: Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board…
NHTSA campaign 23V179000 · Trailer Hitches · filed Mar 17, 2023 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Carnival vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Water accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
The risk
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what 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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
More Kia Carnival recalls
- 2022–2026 Kia Carnival — Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe…
- 2026 Kia Carnival and 10 other models — Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may…
- 2022–2024 Kia Carnival and 1 other model — Roof molding may loosen and detach
- 2022–2023 Kia Carnival — Auto-reverse feature for the power sliding doors (PSD) may…
- 2022 Kia Carnival — Remote controller assembly for the passenger-side power…
Other campaigns involving Kia vehicles
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 23V179000 (manufacturer number SC265). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.