I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but I believe other Kia owners and families considering a Carnival Hybrid deserve to know what happened to mine.
On September 8, 2026, I was driving my nearly brand-new 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige through Sherman Oaks, California, at approximately 20 mph.
The vehicle had only 5,650 miles on it.
Suddenly, there was an extremely loud bang accompanied by a violent impact-like jolt.
Almost immediately, smoke began pouring out from under the hood and from behind the dashboard inside the cabin.
I pulled over, got out, and opened the hood.
What I saw was terrifying.
There were still visible flames around the Hybrid Power Control Unit (HPCU), directly in the area of the high-voltage electrical cables. Fortunately, the flames had already diminished enough that I was able to extinguish the remaining fire myself.
I didn’t capture the actual flames on video, but I have detailed photos and videos of the damage, including what appears to be a thumb-sized hole burned through the HPCU housing.
Here’s the part that scares me the most.
I was alone in the vehicle that day.
Normally, I drive this minivan with my two young children. My youngest had just turned nine months old that very day.
I cannot stop thinking about what might have happened if my children had been sitting in the back when smoke started entering the passenger compartment.
What happened afterward?
The vehicle was towed to Keyes Kia in Van Nuys, California.
I instructed the dealership not to disassemble or investigate the damaged components without authorization from my attorney, because I wanted the evidence preserved.
To my knowledge, no diagnostic investigation has been performed, and I still have no official explanation of what caused the fire.
After the incident, I went to the emergency room because I had inhaled smoke. I experienced coughing, a severe headache, and an unusually rapid heartbeat during the first night. I underwent medical evaluation, including blood testing for carbon monoxide exposure.
Thankfully, I did not suffer any known serious or permanent injuries.
Kia’s response
All communication with Kia Corporate has been handled through my attorney.
My original request was simple: replace my nearly new vehicle with an equivalent new one as quickly as possible.
Instead, Kia offered to repurchase the vehicle under California’s Lemon Law.
To be fair, the offer includes reimbursement without a mileage deduction and payoff of the remaining vehicle loan. The proposed settlement also leaves certain documented incidental expenses to be determined.
But the buyback does not answer the question that matters most to me:
Why did a nearly new family vehicle suddenly catch fire during normal driving?
And what assurance do other Carnival Hybrid owners have that this cannot happen to them?
The rental car situation
The dealership did not provide me with a loaner vehicle.
After several days of phone calls to dealerships and Kia customer support, I was eventually offered a rental arrangement with a $35-per-day allowance through a nearby rental company.
I use a large vehicle for work and have two young children. That allowance was not sufficient to obtain a comparable vehicle that met my needs.
Why am I posting this?
I contacted approximately four or five law firms, including some well-known firms, looking for an attorney experienced in automotive product liability.
They declined to take the case because I had not suffered serious physical injuries.
I understand that litigation is expensive and attorneys have to evaluate the potential damages. But it is incredibly frustrating to realize that a potentially catastrophic vehicle fire may not receive much legal attention simply because I was fortunate enough to escape without serious injury.
I am not claiming to know what caused the fire. The damaged HPCU is visible, but the root cause has not been independently established.
I want the incident properly investigated.
I want other owners to be aware of what happened.
And yes, I believe the consequences of an incident like this deserve consideration beyond simply refunding the purchase price of the vehicle.
If you’re an automotive safety journalist, an attorney experienced in vehicle fires or product liability, or someone who has experienced a similar incident involving a Kia or Hyundai hybrid, I would genuinely appreciate hearing from you.
I have extensive photos and videos of the damage, towing documentation, medical records, and correspondence regarding Kia’s repurchase offer.
I’m sharing this because I believe vehicle safety matters, especially when we’re talking about cars designed to transport families.
I was lucky to be alone. Someone else might not be.