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Kia Door and Trunk Latch Recalls: What Can Fail
Trunk release failures recur in these Kia latch notices, while the Carnival recall concerns a passenger-side power sliding door that may not latch securely. SC216 covers certain 2016-2018 Forte four-door and Forte Koup two-door vehicles, plus 2018-2019 Rio four-door vehicles, whose damaged trunk latch may prevent opening from inside. SC278 addresses a cracking trunk latch base on certain 2016-2017 Rios, 2016-2018 Optimas, and 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Rio appears in both trunk notices across different years. The sliding-door notice concerns certain 2022 Carnivals and a malfunctioning remote controller assembly. The trunk defects create entrapment risks; the Carnival defect risks door opening while moving.
Warning signs to watch for
- Carnival Power Sliding Door May Open While Moving (November 19, 2021): the passenger-side sliding door may fail to latch securely and may open while moving.
- Forte and Rio trunk may not open from inside (SC216): the trunk may not open from inside.
- Optima trunk latch may crack, trapping someone inside (SC278): the trunk may not open from inside.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of these latch notices tells owners to stop driving, and none gives a park-outside instruction. The November 19, 2021 Carnival passenger-side power sliding door notice does not tell owners to stop driving. The Forte and Rio trunk latch notice, SC216, also does not tell owners to stop driving. The Rio, Optima, Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid trunk latch base notice, SC278, likewise does not tell owners to stop driving. The absence of that instruction is not an assurance about continued driving.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are free of charge. For the Carnival recall, dealers replace the passenger-side power sliding door release actuator's drum and holder inside the remote controller assembly. SC216 specifies replacement of the trunk latch assembly. SC278 specifies replacement of the trunk latch base subassembly.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 1 |
| medium | 2 |
Models affected most
Where owners report latches/locks/linkages problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under latches/locks/linkages for the Kia models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Latches/locks/linkages complaints |
|---|---|
| 2022 Kia Carnival | 7 |
| 2018 Kia RIO | 2 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2023 | Kia Optima trunk latch may crack, trapping someone inside | medium |
| Nov 19, 2021 | Kia Carnival Power Sliding Door May Open While Moving | high |
| Aug 9, 2021 | Kia Forte and Rio trunk may not open from inside | medium |
Common questions
Which Carnival sliding door does the recall concern?
The November 19, 2021 notice concerns the passenger-side power sliding door on certain 2022 Carnivals. A remote controller assembly malfunction may prevent secure latching. Dealers replace the release actuator's drum and holder inside that assembly, free of charge.
Which Rio model years appear in the trunk latch notices?
SC216 identifies certain 2018-2019 Rio four-door vehicles with a trunk latch that may become damaged. SC278 identifies certain 2016-2017 Rios with a trunk latch base that may crack. Both notices describe possible inability to open the trunk from inside.
Does the Optima trunk recall include hybrid models?
SC278 identifies certain 2016-2018 Optimas and 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack and prevent opening from inside. Dealers replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.