Problems › Kia › 2020 Telluride
2020 Kia Telluride Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~106.3 complaints per year on the road — ranking 1 of 5 Kia Telluride years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Exterior Lighting is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 Kia Telluride, cited in 182 of 744 filed complaints (24%).
Engine is next (136 complaints, 18%), followed by Visibility/Wiper (135), Power Train (70), Electrical System (57).
Across all complaints, 8 report a crash, 9 report a fire, 11 report injuries, 1 report a death.
The most safety-critical cluster is Power Train: 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injury, 1 death report(s).
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Telluride, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 744.
Exterior Lighting 182 2 crash
“Continues to have issues with dealership to remedy/correct recalls. Have waited for 60+ days since recall remedy was initiated in August 2024 Headlights continue to be a hazzard and due to this we had unfortunate incident of a deer running out and inability to see in the dusk of 6am due to lack of head lights. This has caused immense hardship regarding finances and maintaining a job as we are down one car and Kia has not offered and:or received all parts for any repairs of the recall. Advised if we attempted to fix one recall (power seat) then our “ticket will be closed and you will need to p…”
NHTSA complaint #11628110, 2024 · crash
“Hooded projector lights provide very limited vision on dark roads. We hit a deer and have significant damage to our vehicle due to this issue. Our brights do not come on either. Nothing happens when we select the bright option.”
NHTSA complaint #11499167, 2022 · crash
“SC299 (high‑beam headlight failure) is actually a safety defect tied to visibility and part of a recall which my telluride falls just outside of”
NHTSA complaint #11744971, 2026
Unknown Or Other 139 1 crash 3 fire 3 injury
“THE EXHAUST PIPE END BY THE REAR BUMPER IS CAUSING BURNS ON MY HUSBAND AND TWO OUT OF THREE OF MY CHILDREN. IT IS NOT PUSHED BACK ENOUGH SO WHEN THE TRUNK IT OPENED AFTER DRIVING AND WE GO TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM CAR IT LEAVES BURNS. THE DESIGN NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND A RECALL WOULD BE EXPECTED AS I HAVE FOUND WHILE DOING RESEARCH MANY TELLURIDE OWNERS HAVE THIS ISSUE AND IT IS NOT SAFE.”
NHTSA complaint #11343740, 2020 · 3 injury(ies)
“My son was driving home from work and the vehicle shut off. He got it to come back on and it stopped while he was at a red light and a by standard yelled for him to get out of the vehicle as it caught fire underneath the car from unknown reasons.”
NHTSA complaint #11700208, 2025 · fire
“OCTOBER 2024 Before the main incident Oct 2024, I started noticing slight changes in the way my KIA was operating: - Delayed response to accelerate when at a light - Tire sensors/ crash collision sensors - Lane assist pulling my off the road or into on coming traffic (random) - Intermittent Power loss while driving. - Lights not working properly. - High beams failed to operate in Sept and was told by Burlington WA KIA there was not a fix for the recall, while there for service/oil change. - Car going into parking brake when not activated. - When stopped in car is in drive, when starting to…”
NHTSA complaint #11630727, 2024 · fire
Engine 136 5 fire
“**1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The engine failed catastrophically and caught fire while I was driving. The vehicle was towed to the Kia dealership, where it remains available for inspection upon request. **2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The engine suddenly caught fire while I was driving, creating an immediate risk of a serious crash, injury, or death to me, my passengers, and other motorists. I had to pull over immediately, and the fire department responded to extinguish the fire and ens…”
NHTSA complaint #11753450, 2026 · fire
“While driving on the [XXX] in [XXX] on XXX a connecting rod punctured the engine block of no fault of my own Kia has stated it was a manufacturing defect. This caused a vehicle fire under the vehicle and I had to get my family out of the vehicle 4 children and wife from the vehicle children ages ranging from age [XXX]. This completely has destroyed my confidence in the safety of this vehicle. I do not want to put my children back in this vehicle due to the traumatic experience of the fire. The car only had 60k miles on it and I just bought it as a second owner from Staten Island Kia back in Oc…”
NHTSA complaint #11742534, 2026 · fire
“We contacted Kia US after taking the Kia Telluride to a Kia service station for an oil change.The service tech told us that they were not going to do an oil change because,”the Telluride was a ticking time bomb.” This was said in front of the Kia service Mgr.We were very nervous driving the vehicle because no one explained what that meant.Shortly after the service appointment, the Telluride’s engine caught on fire.We call Kia US that same day to open up a case.We explained all the issues we had with the Telluride (windshield issues, headlight issues, main display screen issues, luggage rack is…”
NHTSA complaint #11618774, 2024 · fire
Visibility/Wiper 135 1 crash
“Continues to have issues with dealership to remedy/correct recalls. Have waited for 60+ days since recall remedy was initiated in August 2024 Headlights continue to be a hazzard and due to this we had unfortunate incident of a deer running out and inability to see in the dusk of 6am due to lack of head lights. This has caused immense hardship regarding finances and maintaining a job as we are down one car and Kia has not offered and:or received all parts for any repairs of the recall. Advised if we attempted to fix one recall (power seat) then our “ticket will be closed and you will need to p…”
NHTSA complaint #11628110, 2024 · crash
“Windshield spontaneously cracked. I know it was spontaneous because the car was parked and I was near it for the full hour, nothing hit the windshield and when I got back in the car the windshield was cracked.”
NHTSA complaint #11730293, 2026
“1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned? The windshield wiper system failed. The design of the cowl area (under the hood) allows snow and sleet to accumulate and become compacted. This creates a physical obstruction that prevents the wiper linkage from moving, leading to total wiper failure. • Availability: The system is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was safety put at risk? Safety was compromised due to a sudden loss of visibility during inclement weather. The inability to clear snow and sleet from the windshield while driving created a blind operating environment,…”
NHTSA complaint #11713324, 2026
Power Train 70 1 crash 1 fire 2 injury 1 death
“The contact's spouse owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact's spouse stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle inadvertently rolled backwards and struck the contact’s aunt as she was exiting the vehicle. The contact’s aunt was taken to the Emergency Room by ambulance/helicopter, where she later succumbed to the injuries and was pronounced dead. The contact stated that the vehicle remained at the scene. In addition, before the incident, there was grinding coming from the gears. The contact was unsure what specific injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The contact state…”
NHTSA complaint #11670820, 2025 · 1 death(s)
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V214000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled down from the driveway of his home while his son was in the backseat. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle and was knocked down by the door and the vehicle ran over the contact's foot. The vehicle…”
NHTSA complaint #11598396, 2024 · crash · 2 injury(ies)
“We contacted Kia US after taking the Kia Telluride to a Kia service station for an oil change.The service tech told us that they were not going to do an oil change because,”the Telluride was a ticking time bomb.” This was said in front of the Kia service Mgr.We were very nervous driving the vehicle because no one explained what that meant.Shortly after the service appointment, the Telluride’s engine caught on fire.We call Kia US that same day to open up a case.We explained all the issues we had with the Telluride (windshield issues, headlight issues, main display screen issues, luggage rack is…”
NHTSA complaint #11618774, 2024 · fire
Electrical System 57 1 crash 3 fire
“Vehicle fire causing a total loss to vehicle and home”
NHTSA complaint #11716068, 2026 · fire
“OCTOBER 2024 Before the main incident Oct 2024, I started noticing slight changes in the way my KIA was operating: - Delayed response to accelerate when at a light - Tire sensors/ crash collision sensors - Lane assist pulling my off the road or into on coming traffic (random) - Intermittent Power loss while driving. - Lights not working properly. - High beams failed to operate in Sept and was told by Burlington WA KIA there was not a fix for the recall, while there for service/oil change. - Car going into parking brake when not activated. - When stopped in car is in drive, when starting to…”
NHTSA complaint #11630727, 2024 · fire
“Check engine light in March of 2021. 38,800 miles. Determined to be a timing issue and parts of the engine was replaced by Bill Barth Kia in Mandan, ND. Car was picked up on 4/21/21. On 4/28/21 all warning lights came on. Car was towed back to dealership. After multiple attempts at fixes over a 4 month period of time it was finally determined a new wiring harness was needed. The new harness seemed to correct the problem and I took possession of the car on 8/20/21. It was driven around 75 miles that day to drive home. On 8/22/21 the car was driven 8 to 10 miles and then parked and turned off in…”
NHTSA complaint #11430140, 2021 · fire
Structure 52 2 injury
“Tonight I tried to open my sunroof for some fresh air while relaxing in my vehicle. My sunroof made some weird cracking noises and is jammed open. I only used my sunroof 2 to 3 times. However, it's in the stuck position and sounds like crushing glass when I try to open it. My rear right passenger folds down on its own. My grandson has been folded into the seat multiple times. I contact kia and got no resolution. This is dangerous. I went to retrieve my backpack from my backseat yesterday and when I set the sear back it made a auto sound, it slid completely forward hitting me in my face. The se…”
NHTSA complaint #11607880, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that four door belt molding trim pieces had become loose and unsecured, but the front driver’s side door belt molding trim piece had become unsecured and detached from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while touching the unsecured molding, the arm became bruised and scratched. No medical treatment was required. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in N…”
NHTSA complaint #11747891, 2022 · 1 injury(ies)
“I attempted to open the moonroof on our 2020 Kia Telluride. When it opened, it was cockeyed and off track. I pushed the button to close it, and I heard a plastic piece break and the moonroof remained stuck open. I took this car to Kia of Olympia, Kia of St. Cloud and Horne Kia, all confirmed that the plastic parts that broke are related to to their issued TCB#BOD319. This is well known and frequent issue on 2020-2022 Kia Tellurides, where the plastic for the wind guard snaps off and gets lodged in the sunroof track. Even though this is a known issue with the Kia Telluride, they have declined t…”
NHTSA complaint #11753133, 2026
Suspension 31
“Rattling noise experienced going over small bumps. Dealer confirmed rear shocks were leaking/rusted and needed replacement. Was charged almost an additional $1450 since I am out of warranty period. Car only has 44,275 miles after 6.5 years of owning.”
NHTSA complaint #11743898, 2026
“Took my 2020 kia telluride for emission software update after being notified by the the dealership. Two days later my check engine light keeps coming on and off. I called the dealership and the said to bring it in only if the light is on. The next day my engine light once again keeps going on and off but now also my battery light keeps flickering on and off as well. My car is also slow to idle and when going slow speed my steering will shake. Also when I first start my car in the morning by RPM needle goes up and down as well as my a/c blow strong and then low matching rpm needle. My car se…”
NHTSA complaint #11737430, 2026
“Car has been brought to KIA for transmission issues multiple times and the associate tells me to just tighten the gas cap to get the light to go off. The car is not shifting properly and will "jump" or "lunge" forward while driving. I have noticed that the RPM's will jump and bounce around, seemingly down shifting, then shift again, and then down shift again, which causes jerking motion. The reason I initially took the vehicle in was for a "shake" or "wobble" when accelerating up a hill (semi steep incline) or at freeway speeds (55-70MPH). In these instances, the vehicle will have a hard time…”
NHTSA complaint #11655195, 2025
Visibility 17 1 injury
“Tonight I tried to open my sunroof for some fresh air while relaxing in my vehicle. My sunroof made some weird cracking noises and is jammed open. I only used my sunroof 2 to 3 times. However, it's in the stuck position and sounds like crushing glass when I try to open it. My rear right passenger folds down on its own. My grandson has been folded into the seat multiple times. I contact kia and got no resolution. This is dangerous. I went to retrieve my backpack from my backseat yesterday and when I set the sear back it made a auto sound, it slid completely forward hitting me in my face. The se…”
NHTSA complaint #11607880, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to close after being opened. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the cables for the sunroof had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer secured the sunroof using duct tape as a temporary fix. The contact found information on Technical Service Bulletin, NHTSA ID: 10239743 (Visibility, Structure), which was related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11694026, 2025
“The sunroof did not closed and made a pop sound and after that it was mis aligned and failed to close, one arm was broken and the sunroof was hanging on the other one. Called the Kia Riverside dealership they said they dont have any tech for sunroof. Ended up taking to cerritos dealership and they said i have to leave it for 7 days without loaner just to inspect and it will cost 257 bucks for inspection only. Then I decided to take it to a local shop and they quoted me a total of 3740 bucks including 2800 for parts. I ended up using them to just force close the glass so that its not a safety i…”
NHTSA complaint #11592966, 2024
Fuel/Propulsion System 16
“Oil burns too fast causing oil changes to be required by every 3000 miles”
NHTSA complaint #11746940, 2026
“Took my 2020 kia telluride for emission software update after being notified by the the dealership. Two days later my check engine light keeps coming on and off. I called the dealership and the said to bring it in only if the light is on. The next day my engine light once again keeps going on and off but now also my battery light keeps flickering on and off as well. My car is also slow to idle and when going slow speed my steering will shake. Also when I first start my car in the morning by RPM needle goes up and down as well as my a/c blow strong and then low matching rpm needle. My car se…”
NHTSA complaint #11737430, 2026
“I had my most recent oil change on 2/20/26, and on 5/2/26 , the check engine light came on and I heard a knocking sound. I checked the dipstick and it was below the “low” mark. I hadn’t driven 3k miles yet!! I had to purchase 2 quarts of SAE 5w 30 oil to put into it. My vehicle is consuming more than 1 quart per 1000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #11736744, 2026
Service Brakes 14 1 crash
“While operating the vehicle and braking, the dashboard warnings lights began flashing. The brake pedal went to the floor and did not brake the vehicle. No amount of pumping of the brakes helped. At about 3-5 MPH I struck the stopped vehicle in front of me at an intersection. Later that day the same thing happened, and this time I pulled the emergency brake lever and held it. The warning alarm sounded but the brakes never slowed or stopped the vehicle. I drove the vehicle safely to a repair shop and it was then towed to a Kia dealership. Where it is available for inspection. The error c…”
NHTSA complaint #11456236, 2022 · crash
“Vehicle experiences intermittent brake failure at normal and low speeds. No indicator lights are present, no warnings are given.”
NHTSA complaint #11753368, 2026
“There is a brake assist issue that comes up intermittently pedal can become stiff at times. This caused me to almost have an accident at an intersection when a car pulled out in front of me. Stopping was delayed and very difficult and frightening. Issue has not been reproduced or confirmed by deal or service center. It has not been inspected. No warning, messages or symptoms of any kind. I purchased it in Oct 2025 and it started in April 2026. After this happening quite a few times I am no longer driving it and can't afford to fix it.”
NHTSA complaint #11735465, 2026
Vehicle Speed Control 13 2 crash 1 injury
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while her grand-daughter was driving with adaptive cruise control (ACC) mode set at 40 MPH, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and the steering wheel seized, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a road sign. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the diver was able to veer to the side of the road as the steering wheel became operable. The vehicle was towed to an autobody repair shop, who informed the contact that the EDR failed to display crash data. The grand-daughter went to the…”
NHTSA complaint #11540046, 2023 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the engine was idling and the brake pedal was being pressed for approximately 3 minutes, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a nearby snow plurer, lamp pole, and house stairs. During the incident, no injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11441251, 2021 · crash
“Not due to recalls. My entire car was malfunctioning over the backup camera. Every system was being displayed on my dashboard as all lights were on. Turning signals and four ways would not work, my steering became tight and hard to turn.”
NHTSA complaint #11743142, 2026
Seats 11 1 fire 3 injury
“Tonight I tried to open my sunroof for some fresh air while relaxing in my vehicle. My sunroof made some weird cracking noises and is jammed open. I only used my sunroof 2 to 3 times. However, it's in the stuck position and sounds like crushing glass when I try to open it. My rear right passenger folds down on its own. My grandson has been folded into the seat multiple times. I contact kia and got no resolution. This is dangerous. I went to retrieve my backpack from my backseat yesterday and when I set the sear back it made a auto sound, it slid completely forward hitting me in my face. The se…”
NHTSA complaint #11607880, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)
“I have 2 problems. The first is that my rear seats lift and move. This has been a problem since I purchased the vehicle. However I'm just reporting the issue because my grandson was injured while in his booster seat. The seat had automatically deployed and moved forward by itself 2x causing my grandson to be smashed into the passenger seat and restrained tightly by the seat belt. The back of the sear folds forward and the entire seat moves forward. Both rear seats does this. I have had incidents where my grocery would fly forward while driving because the seat had deployed. My 2nd issue is t…”
NHTSA complaint #11592255, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)
“I dropped my phone between the seat and the console. I reached between it and got my arm caught. I tried for 15 minutes to get it out with no success. I drove myself and children to the fire station where they had to use a crowbar to push on a bar that was holding my arm. When I got my arm out, it was bloody, cut, and swollen.”
NHTSA complaint #11428457, 2021 · 1 injury(ies)
Steering 10 1 injury
“I have 2 problems. The first is that my rear seats lift and move. This has been a problem since I purchased the vehicle. However I'm just reporting the issue because my grandson was injured while in his booster seat. The seat had automatically deployed and moved forward by itself 2x causing my grandson to be smashed into the passenger seat and restrained tightly by the seat belt. The back of the sear folds forward and the entire seat moves forward. Both rear seats does this. I have had incidents where my grocery would fly forward while driving because the seat had deployed. My 2nd issue is t…”
NHTSA complaint #11592255, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)
“Vehicle has 75,000 miles. The knuckle on the steering column and the rack and pinion became worn out causing the steering wheel to be loose and jump at high speeds. Mirrors would stop opening randomly. Rear camera stopped working making it very difficult to view when backing up. Replacing the camera did not work, the harness was tested to be ok. The only other option is the software in the head unit. This is the 2nd head unit as the first one was replaced for a failed bluetooth. Cost exceeds $5000 to replace it.”
NHTSA complaint #11749447, 2026
“Not due to recalls. My entire car was malfunctioning over the backup camera. Every system was being displayed on my dashboard as all lights were on. Turning signals and four ways would not work, my steering became tight and hard to turn.”
NHTSA complaint #11743142, 2026
Forward Collision Avoidance 9 1 crash 1 injury
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while her grand-daughter was driving with adaptive cruise control (ACC) mode set at 40 MPH, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and the steering wheel seized, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a road sign. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the diver was able to veer to the side of the road as the steering wheel became operable. The vehicle was towed to an autobody repair shop, who informed the contact that the EDR failed to display crash data. The grand-daughter went to the…”
NHTSA complaint #11540046, 2023 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“Component/System Failed: Engine — excessive oil consumption and oil leaks leading to complete engine failure requiring full engine replacement. Vehicle is currently at my home and available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: My vehicle became completely inoperable while in use as my primary family transportation. As a parent of three children this has left my family without safe reliable transportation. An inoperable vehicle also creates safety risks related to emergency situations where transportation is critical. Confirmed by Dealer: Yes. An authorized Kia dealership confirmed the eng…”
NHTSA complaint #11739922, 2026
“Vehicle's paint located on the front of the hood and top of roof close to the front windshield has started to delaminate and peel away. The dealer said the vehicle is out of warranty for paint concerns. I know this is a large problem from Kia/Hyundia white vehicles. My son's 2015 Sonata, daughter's 2012 Sorento and now my wife's 2020 Telluride! All thease vehicles are white and all are peel or have been peeling for some time. I just want to get my wife's Telluride repaint to be paid for by Kia since they know this is a know problems and have fixed others.”
NHTSA complaint #11589639, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling 8
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V430000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact needed to add a quart of oil per week. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the piston in the engine was damaged from oil consumption, ultimately causing the engine failure. The engine wa…”
NHTSA complaint #11753074, 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power with the check engine and other unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle stalled several times and with several unknown warnings illuminated. The contact stated that a friend had checked the vehicle and stated that there was no oil inside the engine. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving a…”
NHTSA complaint #11729005, 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with oil consumption and a misfire in cylinder #3. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. Upon further inspection, the contact stated that as per the Kia App, the vehicle was diagnosed with error codes: P030300 and P030500. The local…”
NHTSA complaint #11744675, 2025
Back Over Prevention 4
“In February 2026 my vehicle had a front parking sensor error. When i broght it in for repair my shop found a corroded cable in the front parking sensor harness. The mechanic was able to repair the harness...$280 In May 2026 my vehicle this time had a rear parking sensor error. The shop discovered a rear parking sensor harness completely corroded & had to be replaced along with one parking sensor...$715. (The invoice does not include the cost of the sensor as it was purchased separately when diagnosing the front sensor failure) I purchased this vehicle in January 2020 & it has spent its entire…”
NHTSA complaint #11737908, 2026
“The infotainment system which includes the backup video system has turned to a green screen intermittently on these models. We just started experiencing this issue in the past week. After searching the Kia user forums, it appears that many people are having a similar issue. When we took it to Kia they stated that car is out of warranty and the part cost alone was over $5000 to repair the head unit. It seems they know they have an issue but don't want to acknowledge it and quickly revert to the warranty. I'd like someone to investigate this as it's a safety risk when you a backing up the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11684028, 2025
“WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY FORWARD COLLISION WARNING INDICATOR STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASHBOARD WHILE A DINGING SOUND WENT OFF. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND ME, THEN MY TIRE PRESSURE WARNING STARTED GOING OFF WHILE MY PRESSURE WAS FINE. THE INDICATORS WOULD SWITCH BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN BOTH WARNINGS, THEN MY MIRROR SENSORS WERE INDICATING THAT SOMETHING WAS NEXT TO BOTH OF MY MIRRORS WHILE NOTHING WAS THERE. THEN ALL OF MY WARNING INDICATORS BEGAN FLASHING AND CONTINUED TO FLASH. ONCE THESE ISSUES STARTED MY BACK UP CAMER NO LONGER WORKED WHILE I WAS IN REVERSE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE DAYS LATER WHEN T…”
NHTSA complaint #11527401, 2023
Seat Belts 4
“Passenger side seat belt retracts slowly but sometimes not at all. Driver side retracts slowly.”
NHTSA complaint #11628298, 2024
“HEADLIGHTS: have DEPLORABLE visibility, particularly around corners making it nearly impossible to see at night. It is GROSSLY DANGEROUS, and unacceptable to equip a vehicle with such low quality headlights. However, On January 13th 2024 the hi beams ceased to function at all, which has left me unable to drive at night. As a single mother this is a huge hinderance for my young sons and their activities especially this time of year getting dark at 4:30pm. DRIVER SEATBELT MALFUNCTION: The seatbelt has all but completely failed to retract upon removal, leaving the entire thing loose causing to…”
NHTSA complaint #11565981, 2024
“Driver side middle seat, seat belt will not retract back in. The rear 3rd row seat roof belt does not retract very well at all either.”
NHTSA complaint #11552614, 2023
Air Bags 3 1 crash 1 injury
“A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND HIT THE SIDE OF MY TELLURIDE. IT SPUN ME AROUND AND I HIT THE SIDE OF A BRIDGE HEAD ON. NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED I. THIS CRASH WHICH IS VERY TROUBLING TO ME. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES. THE TOW DRIVER SAID THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT CONNECTED. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #11331228, 2020 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that previously the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags were removed from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted and the contact was referred to the body shop for the repair. The contact was informed that the replacement air bags were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure. No further information was available.”
NHTSA complaint #11452399, 2021
Lane Departure 3 1 fire
“OCTOBER 2024 Before the main incident Oct 2024, I started noticing slight changes in the way my KIA was operating: - Delayed response to accelerate when at a light - Tire sensors/ crash collision sensors - Lane assist pulling my off the road or into on coming traffic (random) - Intermittent Power loss while driving. - Lights not working properly. - High beams failed to operate in Sept and was told by Burlington WA KIA there was not a fix for the recall, while there for service/oil change. - Car going into parking brake when not activated. - When stopped in car is in drive, when starting to…”
NHTSA complaint #11630727, 2024 · fire
“The instrument cluster periodically stops working. The speedometer and Tachometer stop working, and all warning lights flash on and off randomly. It shows the doors and hoods opening and closing on the display as well along with other warning lights. The cruse control fails to operate as does the front/side crash warning systems....these warning lights also come on. This is an intermittent problem, it will persist for days and then will stop for part of a day, or multiple days and then return again.”
NHTSA complaint #11520925, 2023
“OUR WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT WITHOUT CHARGING US OVER $1300”
NHTSA complaint #11404025, 2021
Trailer Hitches 3 1 fire
“The contact owned a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that after getting off the freeway, the vehicle behind him informed him that there was smoke coming from beneath the vehicle. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle, and it caught fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The location of the fire was the front of the vehicle and the contact stated that the fire extinguished itself. A fire department report was not available. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V626000 (Trailer Hitches). The manufacturer was…”
NHTSA complaint #11506584, 2023 · fire
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V626 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
NHTSA complaint #11519511, 2023
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V436000 (Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance, Exterior Lighting) and 22V626000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was firm while attempting to stop the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.…”
NHTSA complaint #11496141, 2020
Parking Brake 2
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the "Electronic Parking Brake" warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the "Parking Brake Connector" had fractured. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the rear shock absorbers, rear sway bars, rear control arms, and the motor mounts. The local dealer…”
NHTSA complaint #11616122, 2022
“The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled away into the neighbor's yard. The contact was made aware of the failure by the neighbor. The contact had placed bricks in front of the front driver’s and passenger’s side tires and behind the rear driver’s and passenger’s side tires to prevent the vehicle from moving. The dealer and another dealer Serra Gardendale Kia (630 Fieldstown Rd, Gardendale, AL 35071) were made aware of the failure and both dealers scheduled an upcoming appointment. The manufacturer was made aware of the fai…”
NHTSA complaint #11432469, 2021
Child Seat 1
“one of the tether anchor bars in the 3rd row pulled off and broke away from the seat. the vehicle was not involved in a crash. someone pulled the anchor location thinking it was the strap to sit the seat up and the tether bar broke away. not only is there one less spot for a tether anchor the tether anchor would not have performed well in a crash, thus putting a child in danger.”
NHTSA complaint #11551865, 2023
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1
“The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Telluride. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door handle mechanism had failed and his wife was unable to open the door from inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the door hinge had failed due to wear and fatigue and needed to be replaced. The door handle was replaced but several months later the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11487931, 2022
Wheels 1
“On October 1st, 2022 we rented the listed vehicle from Budget rent a car in Port Canaveral, Fl. We had just returned from a cruise vacation and due to the hurricane, we had to drive to Fort Myers to pick up my 83 year old mother from the hospital, as my sisters home had just been flooded my Hurricane Ian. When we rented the vehicle, the location was extremely busy, and they simply handed us the keys to the car. No inspection was completed, however my husband and I noticed several dents and deep scrapes to the vehicle that had began rusting. We joked how bad in shape the vehicle was considering…”
NHTSA complaint #11515839, 2022
How we read this (methodology)
How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2020 Kia Telluride draws about 106.3 complaints per year on the road, ranking 1 of 5 among the Kia Telluride model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).
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Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.