NHTSA campaign 23V179000 · Kia campaign SC265

Kia Recall 23V-179: Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving

Park outside

Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall repair is done.

NHTSA recall 23V179000 (Kia campaign SC265) was reported by Kia America, Inc. on March 17, 2023, with 3,555 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Kia Carnival for model years 2022–2023. Owners were notified on May 16, 2023, per NHTSA.

Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files

Is my vehicle included?

This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 23V179000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.

To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Kia VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign: 23V179000 (also written 23V-179 or 23V179)
Filed by: Kia America, Inc.
Kia campaign number: SC265
Report received: March 17, 2023
Potentially affected: 3,555 vehicles (per NHTSA)
Component: Trailer Hitches
Owners notified: May 16, 2023

Repair completion: 77.16% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.

Vehicles listed for this recall

NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 23V179000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.

Kia

Kia Carnival
- 2022, 2023

All Kia recalls

NHTSA's recall notice

As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 23V179000.

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

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.

Sources

Official NHTSA notice for recall 23V179000

Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.