Owners of the 2022-2024 Kia Carnival and the 2023-2024 Sportage may want to listen for a rattle next time they’re driving, because it may be the first warning sign that the molding on their roof could come flying off at speed.
Kia is recalling 40,426 Sportages and 60,623 Carnivals in the U.S. over a manufacturing error that could lead to the parts coming loose. While the molding isn’t necessary for the safe operation of the vehicle, if it peels off while it’s on the highway, the lost pieces could become a hazard to other road users.
The automaker initially became aware of this issue in September, but the nature of the concern made it challenging to investigate. Due to the loss of most trim pieces, conducting a thorough inspection for problems proved to be difficult.
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However, Kia received enough complaints from owners to know it had to investigate. To find out what happened, it intentionally installed roof molding incorrectly on a test vehicle, and found that it could come off at speeds of around 90 mph (145 km/h).
Eventually, Kia determined that interference with the roof molding retaining clips due to excessive roof panel sealer, or improper installation of the pieces could lead them to come off the vehicle, and it has decided to launch a recall campaign.
Kia will start reaching out to owners on March 15, 2024, and they will be asked to return their vehicle to a dealer, where they can be inspected. Where necessary, the roof molding will be replaced by parts with retaining clips that do not interfere with excessive sealer. In addition, it has improved its assembly processes and developed additional training to ensure that the moldings stay on the vehicles. Owners who paid for repairs out of pocket will be reimbursed by Kia.
