Kia Carnival: What to do in an emergency / Towing

If your Kia Carnival requires towing due to a breakdown or accident, we strongly recommend utilizing the services of an authorized Kia dealer or a reputable professional commercial tow-truck service. Proper lifting and towing techniques are essential to prevent structural or mechanical damage to your vehicle. For optimal safety and protection, the use of wheel dollies (1) or a flatbed tow truck is highly recommended.

1. Towing dollies

CAUTION

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) variants of the Kia Carnival should never be towed with any of the wheels touching the ground. Doing so can cause catastrophic, irreversible damage to the transmission or the complex AWD system components.

WARNING

• Side and curtain airbags: If your Kia Carnival is equipped with side and curtain airbags, set the ENGINE START/STOP button to the ACC position while the vehicle is being towed. If the button is left in the ON position, the rollover sensor might incorrectly interpret towing movements as a rollover event, potentially causing the side and curtain airbags to deploy unnecessarily.

• Battery-related fire: If a vehicle fire occurs involving the high-voltage or standard battery, there is a distinct risk of a secondary fire. Always notify the fire department immediately if a battery-related fire is suspected during the towing process.

NOTICE

If the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) fails to release normally, do not attempt to force the vehicle to move. Instead, load your Kia Carnival onto a flatbed tow truck and transport it to an authorized Kia dealer for a professional system inspection.

A 2-wheel drive Kia Carnival may be towed with the non-driven, opposite tires on the ground (without the use of dollies) only if the parking brake is fully released before the engine is turned off. If you must tow the vehicle using only two wheels, you must lift the driven wheels completely off the ground.

CAUTION

• If any loaded wheels or suspension components are damaged, or if the Kia Carnival is being towed with the front wheels on the ground, you must use a towing dolly under the front wheels to prevent further damage.

• Do not attempt to tow with sling-type equipment, as this will damage the bodywork. Use only modern wheel lift or flatbed equipment.

  

• Do not tow the Kia Carnival in reverse with the driven wheels on the ground. This can cause severe mechanical damage to the transmission internals.

  

If you find yourself in an emergency situation and must tow your Kia Carnival without the use of wheel dollies, please strictly adhere to the following preparatory steps:

1. Set the ENGINE START/STOP button to the ACC (Accessory) position to ensure the steering column remains unlocked.

2. Shift the transmission lever into the N (Neutral) position.

3. Fully disengage the electronic or manual parking brake.

CAUTION: Towing gear position

Failure to shift the transmission of your Kia Carnival into N (Neutral) prior to towing will cause severe internal friction and mechanical damage to the transmission assembly.

CAUTION: Automatic transmission

• If your Kia Carnival must be towed with all four wheels resting on the road surface, it can only be towed from the front. Always ensure the transmission is verified in Neutral. The steering must be unlocked by maintaining the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ACC position. For safety, a qualified driver must be present inside the towed vehicle to actively manage the steering and braking systems throughout the journey.

• To prevent irreversible damage to the Kia Carnival transmission internals, you must strictly limit the towing speed to a maximum of 10 mph (15 km/h) and ensure the total towing distance remains under 1 mile (1.5 km).

• Before initiating any tow, inspect the underside of your Kia Carnival for signs of transmission fluid leaks. If any fluid leakage is detected, you must immediately halt the process; a flatbed tow truck or specialized towing dollies are mandatory in such cases to prevent further mechanical failure.

When repositioning your Kia Carnival to prepare it for loading onto a professional tow truck, you must drive at an extremely low speed of 3 mph (5 km/h) or less, and cover a total distance of no more than 32 ft (10 m).

During these brief maneuvers, the gear selector must be in N (Neutral) and the parking brake must be completely released. Should you determine that the transmission or parking brake system is not functioning correctly, do not attempt to move the vehicle under its own rolling power; instead, ensure that all wheels of your Kia Carnival are fully elevated using a professional-grade tow dolly or heavy-duty tire skates.

1. Open the liftgate of your Kia Carnival and retrieve the removable towing hook from the integrated tool storage case.

   

2. Locate the tow hook access port on the front bumper. Remove the protective hole cover by pressing firmly on the upper section of the cover until it pops out.

   

3. Insert the towing hook into the exposed mount and turn it firmly in a clockwise direction until it is threaded completely and securely fastened to the Kia Carnival frame.

4. Once the towing operation is completed, remove the towing hook by turning it counterclockwise, clean it, and carefully reinstall the bumper cover to maintain the vehicle's appearance.