A new class action lawsuit claims 2022–2023 Kia Carnival minivans still have dangerous power sliding doors, even after a recall that was supposed to fix them. Filed in federal court in Maryland, the case argues the recall didn’t address an allegedly defective pinch sensor and that every affected Carnival is now worth less because of it.
Kia, for its part, has fired back with a motion to dismiss, saying the suit is built on worries, not real-world damage. It’s a sharp contrast to the value-forward image the brand has tried to build with other models, from midsize sedans like the K5, to budget-friendly newcomers like the K4.
Recall, Investigation, And A Pinch-Sensor Problem
Plaintiffs Rachel and Andrew Langerhans bought a new 2022 Kia Carnival SX in November 2021. Within a few months, they say they noticed the power sliding doors weren’t reacting properly when they hit obstacles or people while closing, and they weren’t alone. By early 2023, complaints to federal regulators had triggered a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into the 2022 Carnival’s sliding doors, focused on the auto-reverse function that’s supposed to stop and back the door up if it hits something.
Kia responded with an April 2023 recall covering roughly 51,000 2022–2023 Carnivals. The fix, documented under campaign SC266, involved a software update that slowed the doors as they approached the latch and added extra warning chimes, giving people more time to move clear. NHTSA closed its investigation based on that remedy. The Langerhans had the recall work done and told the dealer they were worried about the door’s pinch sensors, but technicians said the system was working as designed.
Owners Say The Fix Didn’t Change The Force
The class action, Langerhans v. Kia Corporation, argues the recall didn’t change the underlying problem. According to the complaint, the pinch sensors along the door edge still require too much force to trigger, meaning the door can keep closing on a child, pet or adult before it finally reverses. The lawsuit calls the software update a “band-aid” that does nothing to reduce the force needed to activate the sensors.
Because of that, the plaintiffs say they have to closely supervise their kids whenever the doors operate and that their Carnival, and every other recalled Carnival in the country, is now worth less on the used market. It’s a familiar theme for a brand that also leans heavily on aggressive pricing pitches elsewhere in the lineup. Here, though, the focus is on alleged lost value rather than value for money.
Kia Calls The Case Hypothetical
Kia’s motion to dismiss takes a very different view. The company points out that the plaintiffs don’t claim they or their children have suffered any injuries from the sliding doors. Instead, they say they “have concerns” about what could happen. Kia also notes that the Langerhans don’t allege any post-recall malfunctions and haven’t gone back to the dealer after the recall work if they truly believe it failed. Without a current defect showing up on their own van, the automaker argues, the lawsuit asks the court to rule on hypotheticals.
The company also raises a procedural defense, arguing the case doesn’t belong in court at all because the buyers signed a binding arbitration agreement when they purchased the Carnival. For us, none of this stops the minivan from remaining on sale.
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