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Kia trunk latch and sliding door recalls: what owners should know
All three Kia latch recalls involve something that will not open or close when it should, and two of the three are the same trunk problem. On 2016-2018 Forte and Forte Koup and 2018-2019 Rio, the trunk latch may become damaged. On 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima and 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, the trunk latch base may crack. Either way the trunk cannot be opened from inside, which makes those cars fail the federal motor vehicle safety standard for interior trunk release. The outlier is the 2022 Carnival, where the remote controller assembly for the passenger-side power sliding door may malfunction and leave that door not securely latched.
Warning signs to watch for
- The interior trunk release does not open the trunk on a Forte, Rio or Optima
- A trunk that can only be opened from outside with the key, fob or button
- A Carnival passenger-side power sliding door that does not latch securely when closed
- Beyond the latch itself, the notices describe no warning light or driving symptom
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of the three recalls tells owners to stop driving or to park outside. The two trunk-latch recalls are described as low to moderate risk in everyday driving, because the danger is someone becoming trapped in the trunk rather than anything happening while you drive. Keep children away from the trunk until the latch is replaced. The Carnival sliding-door recall deserves more care: a door that does not latch securely can open while you are driving and injure a passenger, so be careful about who sits beside that door.
What the free repair involves
There is no software update or over-the-air remedy in this group, only parts. Dealers replace the trunk latch assembly on Forte and Rio, and the trunk latch base subassembly on Optima, Optima Hybrid and Rio. On the 2022 Carnival, dealers replace the drum and holder inside the remote controller assembly that operates the passenger-side power sliding door release actuator. Every repair is free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 1 |
| medium | 1 |
| low | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-24 | Kia Optima and Rio trunk may not open from inside | low |
| 2021-11-19 | Kia Carnival power sliding door may not latch shut | high |
| 2021-08-09 | Kia Forte and Rio trunk cannot open from inside | medium |
Common questions
Why are there two separate Kia trunk recalls on similar cars?
They are different failures with different parts. The Forte and Rio recall covers a trunk latch that becomes damaged and gets a whole new latch assembly. The Optima, Optima Hybrid and Rio recall covers a trunk latch base that cracks, and that subassembly is replaced.
Can I still use my trunk while I wait for the repair?
The notices do not restrict normal trunk use or driving. The defect is that the trunk cannot be opened from inside, so the practical precaution is keeping children away from the trunk and away from the keys until the latch is replaced.
What should I do about my Carnival's sliding door until it is fixed?
Kia has not told owners to stop driving. Because the passenger-side sliding door may not latch securely and could open while driving, avoid seating a passenger next to that door, and schedule the free remote controller repair at your dealer.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.