To adjust the legroom of the 2nd row in your Kia Carnival:
Pull the seat slide adjustment lever upward and maintain your grip.
Slide the seat smoothly to your desired position.
Release the lever and verify the seat is locked by physically attempting to move it forward and backward without using the lever.
Always perform this adjustment while the vehicle is stationary. If the seat shifts after you release the lever, it is not securely locked.
2nd row outboard seat
2nd row center seat (for 8-seat models)
3rd row seat
To recline the rear seats in your Kia Carnival:
Pull up on the seatback recline lever (for 2nd row outboard seats) or the adjustment strap (for 2nd row center or 3rd row seats).
Hold the lever or strap and manually adjust the seatback to your preferred angle.
Release the lever/strap and ensure the seatback is locked. Note: The lever must return to its original, flush position to guarantee the seatback is safely locked.
To provide easy access for passengers entering or exiting the 3rd row of your Kia Carnival:
Raise the armrest and ensure the headrest is in its lowest position for clearance.
Pull up the walk-in strap (1) or actuate the walk-in lever (2) on the 2nd row seat.
After access is gained, push the 2nd row seat firmly back into its original position until an audible click confirms it is locked.
WARNING
Never attempt to adjust the 2nd row seat while the Kia Carnival is in motion or if the seat is occupied. Unintended movement can cause loss of balance and serious injury to passengers.
WARNING
Do not operate the walk-in strap while the 2nd row seat is occupied. This mechanism is intended for vacant seat access only. Use this secondary manual strap only if the primary folding switch on the seatback or outer base is non-functional.
To maximize the versatility of your Kia Carnival, the rear seatbacks can be folded flat. This feature allows you to transport long items or significantly increase the total cargo capacity of the vehicle.
2nd row outboard seat
2nd row center seat (for 8-seat models)
3rd row seat
Secure the rear seat belt webbing into the designated guide slot to prevent the belt from being pinched or damaged during the folding process.
Set the front seatback to a neutral, upright position. If required, slide the front seat forward to create adequate clearance for the rear seatback to fold.
Lower all rear headrests to their lowest possible position to ensure a flat folding surface.
Actuate the seatback folding lever or pull the release strap, then fold the seat forward toward the front of the vehicle. When returning the seatback to the upright position, always ensure it is securely locked by pushing firmly on the top of the seatback until you hear a click.
To resume using the rear seats, lift and pull the seatback backward using the folding lever or strap. Pull firmly until the mechanism clicks into place. Always verify that the seatback is locked before vehicle operation.
Remove the seat belt webbing from the storage guide and return the belt to its proper, accessible position.
WARNING: Folded down seatback
Never sit on folded-down seatbacks while the Kia Carnival is in motion. This configuration is designed strictly for cargo transportation, not passenger seating.
Never allow any passenger to ride on top of a folded-down seatback. This position lacks critical crash protection features, and safety belts are not available, which could lead to severe injury in the event of an accident.
To minimize the risk of injury from sliding cargo, ensure that any objects carried on the folded seatbacks do not extend higher than the top of the front seats.
WARNING: Objects
All items placed on the folded-down seatbacks of your Kia Carnival must be secured. Cargo must never be stacked higher than the front seatbacks; failure to secure items correctly may allow them to slide during transit, causing damage to the vehicle or injury to passengers.
Insert the seat belt buckle into the storage pocket located between the rear seatback and the cushion to keep it clear during removal.
Lower the headrest to its lowest position.
Slide the seat to its furthest forward position.
Fold the seatback down by pulling the reclining lever or release strap.
Pull the removal lever or release strap to lift the rear portion of the seat cushion from the anchor points.
2nd row outboard seat
2nd row center seat
Lift and remove the entire seat unit from the vehicle floor anchors.
To reinstall the 2nd-row seats in your Kia Carnival, follow these procedures carefully to ensure the safety locking mechanisms are fully engaged.
Align the front hook (1) with the front installation guide (A) located inside the floor rail of your Kia Carnival.
Insert both front hooks securely into the front strikers (B).
Lift the rear portion of the seat cushion, then push down firmly and decisively to lock the rear catches into the floor strikers (C). You must hear an audible "click" confirming the seat is properly seated.
Verify that the seat is secure by checking for the green indicator mark on the rear seat cushion frame. Confirm the lock by physically attempting to move the seat forward and backward, or by lifting the front edge. If the green mark is hidden or the seat exhibits any movement, the installation is incomplete and must be repeated.
Pull up the seatback reclining lever or adjustment strap.
Lift and push the seatback backward firmly until it clicks into its upright, locked position. Always double-check that the seatback cannot be moved manually.
Return the seat belt webbing to its proper, unobstructed position to ensure it is ready for passenger use.
WARNING
Installing or removing the seat:
For the safety of all occupants, do not attempt to install or remove the 2nd-row seat if any passengers are occupying the 3rd-row seats, as the movement of the seat structure could cause injury.
Always ensure the seatback is in the folded position before installing the seat into the Kia Carnival.
If the rear catches have engaged with the rear anchors (2) while the front catches remain detached from the front anchors (1), follow these corrective steps:
Pull the removal strap or lever to lift the rear portion of the seat cushion, which will release the rear catches. Remove the seat from the vehicle, ensure the path is clear, and proceed to reinstall the seat by correctly following the steps above.
The versatile 3rd-row seating in your Kia Carnival can be folded and stowed directly into the floor luggage compartment, significantly expanding the vehicle's cargo capacity for larger items.
To properly stow the 3rd-row seats in your Kia Carnival:
Lower the headrests to their fully retracted position (1). For easier operation, adjust the seatback (2) to a neutral, upright position if it is currently reclined.
Pull up on the dedicated stowing lever (3) to unlock the seat assembly from the floor anchors.
Carefully stow the seat into the floor compartment by pushing down firmly until it is flush with the cargo area.
Before proceeding, verify that there are no passengers or loose objects surrounding the seat. Use caution to avoid pinching your hands or body under the seat assembly or within the moving mechanical parts during the stowing or reinstallation process.
CAUTION: To stow 3rd row seat
Ensure the seatback is in its upright position before attempting to stow the seat. Stowing the 3rd-row seat while the seatback is folded forward can cause severe damage to the internal locking mechanisms of your Kia Carnival.
To return the 3rd-row rear seats to their upright position for use:
Lift the seat assembly out of the floor compartment by pulling upward on the stowing lever.
Release the lever and push the seat forward with consistent pressure until it clicks audibly, indicating that the catches have engaged with the floor anchors.
Verify that the seat is locked by physically pushing and pulling the seat assembly. If the seat exhibits movement, it is not properly latched. Important: Do not push down on the upper portion of the seatback while locking the seat; apply pressure to the base, as pushing the seatback can interfere with the catch engagement.
Locate, pull out, and firmly hold the folding strap to adjust the seatback to your desired comfort angle.
Ensure the folding strap is fully extended to control the seatback movement.
Firmly hold the seatback while adjusting the angle. Continue to support the seatback until you hear a definitive "click," which confirms it is locked securely into place. Only then should you release the folding strap. Always perform a manual check to ensure the seatback is stable and immobilized.
Carefully guide the rear seat belt out from the seat area and return it to its proper, accessible position, ensuring no webbing is twisted or trapped.
WARNING: Cargo Safety
Do not place heavy or loose objects on the rear seats. In the event of a frontal collision or sudden braking, unsecured items can become dangerous projectiles and strike vehicle occupants.
Avoid placing heavy luggage directly on top of folded-down 3rd-row seatbacks. For maximum stability and safety, luggage should be stored behind the 2nd-row seats only after the 3rd-row seats have been fully stowed into the floor compartment of your Kia Carnival.
Whenever you fold the rear (2nd or 3rd row) seatbacks, please tuck the seat belt buckles into the dedicated pockets located between the seatback and the cushion. This simple step prevents the buckles from being crushed or causing permanent indentation damage to the upholstery of your Kia Carnival.
When returning any rear seatbacks to the upright position, always verify that the rear shoulder belts are routed correctly. Using the integrated seat belt guides ensures that the webbing remains accessible and does not become trapped behind or beneath the seat assembly during transit.
For your safety and the safety of others, always ensure the engine is completely turned off, the transmission shift lever is firmly in the P (Park) position, and the electronic parking brake is fully engaged before you begin loading or unloading cargo from the Kia Carnival. Neglecting these precautions could allow the vehicle to roll if the transmission is inadvertently shifted.
WARNING: 3rd row passenger positioning
Passengers occupying the 3rd-row seats should always remain seated in the center of the cushion. This ensures that their head is properly aligned with and protected by the headrest. If an occupant sits too close to the rear liftgate area, the opening or closing liftgate may strike them, resulting in serious injury.
