Problems › Kia › 2023 Telluride
2023 Kia Telluride Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~49.2 complaints per year on the road — ranking 5 of 5 Kia Telluride years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Electrical System is the most-reported problem area on the 2023 Kia Telluride, cited in 47 of 197 filed complaints (24%).
Visibility/Wiper is next (28 complaints, 14%), followed by Power Train (22), Engine (21), Forward Collision Avoidance (14).
Across all complaints, 5 report a crash, 2 report a fire, 3 report injuries.
The most safety-critical cluster is Air Bags: 2 crash, 1 injury report(s).
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2023 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 197.
Unknown Or Other 56 1 crash 1 injury
“Standard vehicle component- shattered window. I was driving on highway I 275 and heard a loud sound, when I investigated I realized that the window in the second row to the right simply just shattered, glass flying everywhere.”
NHTSA complaint #11735747, 2026 · 1 injury(ies)
“Placed the car in park then it started rolling backwards and crashed”
NHTSA complaint #11591500, 2024 · crash
“My 2023 Kia Telluride has been subject to at least 8 separate NHTSA recalls, including SC181 (seat belt/child restraint), SC194 (trailer brake light/cruise control), SC207 (airbag OCS/ODS), SC262 (side airbag wire harness), SC303 (driveshaft/rollaway risk), SC316 (power seat motor fire risk), SC347 (door trim detachment), and now SC374/NHTSA 26V430 (recurrence of the power seat motor fire risk, explicitly noted as possibly caused by an improper repair under the earlier SC316 recall). I am especially concerned that the current recall (26V430) describes the same underlying defect as an earlier…”
NHTSA complaint #11749718, 2026
Electrical System 47 3 crash 1 fire
“The KIA Telluride Tow Hitch Harness Module has been responsible for getting humidity and dirt inside and starting a fires. So, KIA has recalled this issue BACK IN AUGUST, 2022 and told everyone not to park the vehicle inside or near any buildings and expected a solution this October. However, it's December and I have contacted my Dealer as well as KIA corporation and KIA is telling everyone that they do NOT have any solution for this fire hazard and they cannot even provide any date as to when they will have a solution. So, now, they are just shipping all the new Telluride's (that should be…”
NHTSA complaint #11497721, 2022 · fire
“Contact states large metal vehicle door trim came off while driving, unknown if accident was caused or other damage to surrounding vehicles. Further states, noticed when large rubber-like molding under door trim was flapping and thunking against door. Contact says water now intrudes into vehicle cabin and suspects constant water inside door affecting door electrical systems. Dealer notified by contact and no remedy provided for this "known issue". Contact is concerned about other trim pieces coming off and penetrating other vehicles at speed with "sharp and pointed edges", as well as electrica…”
NHTSA complaint #11691431, 2025 · crash
“Placed the car in park then it started rolling backwards and crashed”
NHTSA complaint #11591500, 2024 · crash
Visibility/Wiper 28
“I’m writing to report an ongoing issue with my vehicle’s windshield washer system. The washer fluid is not dispensing properly, and as a result, the windshield is not being cleared effectively while driving. This creates a safety concern, especially in poor weather conditions or when road debris accumulates on the windshield. The reduced visibility makes it difficult to drive safely and confidently. I have already taken the vehicle in for service regarding this issue. However, I was informed that nothing is wrong with the system and that it is performing the same as a new vehicle. Despite th…”
NHTSA complaint #11717510, 2026
“While parked windshield started cracking from front left corner every few hours I go out to check it and the crack has spread halfway across windshield”
NHTSA complaint #11661223, 2025
“I was driving 20 mph when I heard a loud crack, shortly after I noticed my windshield had a huge crack toward the bottom that has gotten progressively worse and affects my vision while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11732233, 2024
Power Train 22 1 crash
“Placed the car in park then it started rolling backwards and crashed”
NHTSA complaint #11591500, 2024 · crash
“On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I exited the highway, and my vehicle completely decelerated and ultimately shut down. I was unable to get my engine running and had to get it towed to the dealer. It has been at the dealer for 3 weeks now. The dealer said my engine will likely need to be replaced. It is a 2023 Kia Telluride with less than 66,000 miles on i…”
NHTSA complaint #11749449, 2026
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, it unexpectedly lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound coming from the muffler. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the ECM software had failed and needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to…”
NHTSA complaint #11734129, 2026
Engine 21 1 fire
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she was flagged down by another driver who informed her that there was a fire near the rear exterior of the vehicle. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and discovered that the fire had extinguished on its own. No warning lights were illuminated. A fire and police report was not filed. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the inspection was being performed. The was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The fa…”
NHTSA complaint #11630349, 2024 · fire
“On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I exited the highway, and my vehicle completely decelerated and ultimately shut down. I was unable to get my engine running and had to get it towed to the dealer. It has been at the dealer for 3 weeks now. The dealer said my engine will likely need to be replaced. It is a 2023 Kia Telluride with less than 66,000 miles on i…”
NHTSA complaint #11749449, 2026
“While driving my car randomly displays a warning that I need to shift to park or neutral immediately and turn off my engine. Sometimes my car will work afterwards, other times it will not and I’m stuck for 5-7 minutes. It happens in the middle of me driving with no warning signs. I’ve tried to ignore it and the whole car shuts off and the brakes lock up. It is very frightening. I brought it in the first time and they claimed it was my battery so they replaced it. It’s now happened 4 times and they have no idea how to fix it. My car has been at the dealership for 6 weeks now with no end in sigh…”
NHTSA complaint #11749226, 2026
Forward Collision Avoidance 14 1 crash
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster displayed a blank screen. Additionally, the parking brake inadvertently engaged while driving. The Auto Start/Stop was intermittently inoperable, and the doors failed to unlock with the remote starter. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the dealer only performed a recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V035000 (Air Bags). The failure recurred. The contact then stated that while pulling into a parking space at 4 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the…”
NHTSA complaint #11521229, 2023 · crash
“after receiving my car on Friday morning 10/31 from the dealership, I drove to work, where all my dashboard lights popped on, I lost power steering, and I lost my speedometer (which is what it was in the shop for that whole week). I tried to drive it back to Kia and it completely stopped working in the middle of the road, even though it was turned on, it wouldn’t drive or change gears. Leaving me stranded in the middle of a 50 mile per an hour road. I had to call the police to help me maneuver off the road.”
NHTSA complaint #11701956, 2025
“While driving and/or starting the car, the power steering will go out, along with all safety lights/messages on dash, including check power steering, check forward collision sensor, check AWD, check blind spot sensor, check parking sensor, etc. Only sometimes will turning the car on and off reset the sensor. Other times the car will start and all lights will illuminate and the power steering will not work. Happens intermittently, including while driving. Dealer and mfr have been unable to fix the issue due to the randomness. Additionally they have been able to see the lights malfunction, but t…”
NHTSA complaint #11685708, 2025
Structure 14 1 crash 1 injury
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact stated that the lane recognition sensor located on the rearview mirror had exploded. The contact sustained injuries to his face. No medical attention was received. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the windshield would be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,001.”
NHTSA complaint #11523185, 2023 · 1 injury(ies)
“Contact states large metal vehicle door trim came off while driving, unknown if accident was caused or other damage to surrounding vehicles. Further states, noticed when large rubber-like molding under door trim was flapping and thunking against door. Contact says water now intrudes into vehicle cabin and suspects constant water inside door affecting door electrical systems. Dealer notified by contact and no remedy provided for this "known issue". Contact is concerned about other trim pieces coming off and penetrating other vehicles at speed with "sharp and pointed edges", as well as electrica…”
NHTSA complaint #11691431, 2025 · crash
“I was at a complete stop, made a right hand turn, and as I was turning, the driver side door opened/became a jar and then my car alerted me that the door was open Yes, my safety was at risk because the door was open It beeped the lights were on in the cabin, and there was a notification on my dashboard”
NHTSA complaint #11733065, 2026
Vehicle Speed Control 14
“Engine shuts off without warning while driving. First reported to the dealer on XXX (approximately 12,000 miles) and has continued for 2.5+ years despite repeated repair attempts. Shutoffs typically occur at low speed while decelerating, such as turning into neighborhoods or approaching stops, but have also occurred while coasting at 33 mph on a busy road with cruise control active (August 8, 2025). Frequency has varied from roughly every 1,000 miles to severe clusters: three shutoffs within one hour on [XXX] and again on [XXX], and five in a single day in mid-August 2025. The dealer reproduce…”
NHTSA complaint #11743371, 2026
“I purchased a new 2023 telluride-SX in April 2023. For the first time since owning the vehicle, I used the Snow Mode during the snowstorm on 14 March 2024. I then used it again on 15 March 2024. I experienced a serious problem on both days. When I stopped at redlights, I tried to accelerate as I made a turn. I lost all power, and the car came to a near stop, nearly causing an accident by being rear-ended. I quickly switch to the Eco Mode and the power returned to the car. I took the car into Arapahoe KIA, CO service department on 8 April 2024 for an oil change/tire rotation AND to address the…”
NHTSA complaint #11582675, 2024
“On about 5 occasions, when I have set the drive mode to "Snow Mode", after a stop, the accelerator pedal has no effect. I can push down the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and nothing happens. There is no indication that the engine is revving and the vehicle does not accelerate. This leave me stranded in the middle of the road at a stop until I change to a different mode other that snow mode. Then I can accelerate again. This has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer. The dealer asked that I video record it happening, which I have not done yet. There were no warning lights or…”
NHTSA complaint #11573853, 2024
Visibility 12
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield started to crack on the upper passenger’s side of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,200.”
NHTSA complaint #11733555, 2026
“My sunroof randomly exploded upward while driving down the highway. No rock or debris hit me. It sounded like a gunshot. I checked my surroundings and no other car pulled over or look like it was affected by any road debris. I have pictures of the sunroof being shattered upward.”
NHTSA complaint #11646103, 2025
“New kia telluride 2023 7357 miles and i have a bought on less than a year. My windshield suddenly chip under normal driving condition and i have a dash cam in my telluride. When i park the car i saw a chip in the windshield. Then after a few hours i checked the car and the windshield started to crack then after a few hours again of checking the crack keep running and keep getting bigger and bigger, still my car is just parking and the weather is at 60s today. Now i check my car again and the crack keep on running and not stoping even its just parked. This is crazy as this is a new car and i ha…”
NHTSA complaint #11568377, 2024
Steering 10
“I was driving on the service road of the freeway, driving approximately 40 mph when my main screen started flashing warnings. I was only able to catch 2 before the screen shut off. One was saying front collision sensors not working and the other said side sensors not working then the screen where the radio was went black. Then my brake pedal locked up, the car lost all power steering. The car started to just roll and I was able to pull into a side parking lot and the car died. I was not able to start the vehicle and called roadside assistance and had my vehicle towed to the car dealership. Thi…”
NHTSA complaint #11733150, 2026
“after receiving my car on Friday morning 10/31 from the dealership, I drove to work, where all my dashboard lights popped on, I lost power steering, and I lost my speedometer (which is what it was in the shop for that whole week). I tried to drive it back to Kia and it completely stopped working in the middle of the road, even though it was turned on, it wouldn’t drive or change gears. Leaving me stranded in the middle of a 50 mile per an hour road. I had to call the police to help me maneuver off the road.”
NHTSA complaint #11701956, 2025
“While driving and/or starting the car, the power steering will go out, along with all safety lights/messages on dash, including check power steering, check forward collision sensor, check AWD, check blind spot sensor, check parking sensor, etc. Only sometimes will turning the car on and off reset the sensor. Other times the car will start and all lights will illuminate and the power steering will not work. Happens intermittently, including while driving. Dealer and mfr have been unable to fix the issue due to the randomness. Additionally they have been able to see the lights malfunction, but t…”
NHTSA complaint #11685708, 2025
Lane Departure 9 1 injury
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact stated that the lane recognition sensor located on the rearview mirror had exploded. The contact sustained injuries to his face. No medical attention was received. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the windshield would be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,001.”
NHTSA complaint #11523185, 2023 · 1 injury(ies)
“Driver Assistance Warning (DAW) warning bells and dash sign "Driver Needs a Break" with Coffee Pot showing goes off constantly. Even with safest driving possible, on purpose safest driving, the warning and sounds goes off every few miles and few minutes. KIA dealer has kept car for 2 weeks and say they can not duplicate and I drive it (Perfectly) and it goes off. this is a 2023 Kia telluride , previous year models and later models you could turn off or turn down sensitivity of this warning. KIA eliminated the owner the opportunity to disable or turn down this warning. It is a safety hazard…”
NHTSA complaint #11750985, 2026
“The Kia Driver Assistance Warning, Showing a Coffee Pot, and Warning "Driver needs to Take Break" goes off constantly. Sometimes starts within 5 minutes of driving and goes off constantly for every 3 minutes . Dealer says it is a KIA problem and can not do anything. This constant warning is a Safety Hazard because it takes the Drivers Attention off his Driving with the constant Bells going off. It is a 2023 Kia Telluride and previous models you could turn off this Warning but NOT in 2023 according to dealer and KIA will not repair or turn off. This is a Safety Hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #11749908, 2026
Fuel/Propulsion System 8
“The fuel gauge intermittently fails and incorrectly displays that the vehicle has little or no fuel, even when the tank is nearly full. On the first occasion, I was at home. The second time, after shopping, I started the vehicle and the gauge indicated there was no fuel, despite knowing the tank was almost full. As I continued driving, the fuel gauge slowly began registering correctly until it eventually returned to showing the proper fuel level. This has now happened twice. This is a serious safety concern because the driver cannot accurately determine the amount of fuel in the vehicle. An in…”
NHTSA complaint #11749688, 2026
“Recall of vehicle catching fire has not been taken care of even after contacting dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11732239, 2025
“The fuel gauge has erratic readings which frequently displays "low fuel" when in fact the fuel IS NOT LOW. The reverse is also true. The fuel gauge will occasionally indicate fuel is present in the vehicle when in fact THERE IS NONE resulting in running out of gas. This results in a dangerous seinero when driving in congested traffic areas since this can easily produce a traffic hazard and endanger occupants of this vehicle (and others). This is a known problem from multiple Kia Telluride owners.”
NHTSA complaint #11694746, 2025
Suspension 8
“At 30,000 miles, the dealership replaced the right rear shock absorber because I noticed it was clunking when an adult sat in the third row. I just had it serviced at 40,000 miles and I mentioned to the tech that there was a slight clunking sound when making a right-hand turn and accelerating from a stop. The dealership did not notice any issues so did not make any repairs. Now, at 41,500 miles, the clunking is much more noticeable when going over bumps and turning at low speeds.”
NHTSA complaint #11740058, 2026
“I am experiencing rear self leveling shock strut failure (thumping noise) again after having both sides previously replaced under warranty and now the dealership is refusing to replace them again. This has been an ongoing problem and I am in fear of these shocks completely failing and encountering control problems with the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11683874, 2025
“Rear shocks failure at less than 20K miles. Dealership replaced both rear shocks, but will happen again in another 20K miles?”
NHTSA complaint #11638994, 2025
Seat Belts 7 1 crash
“VIN: [XXX] Owner: [XXX] Purchase Date: December 2022 I am filing an urgent safety complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Telluride. For nearly two years, I have unknowingly driven this vehicle with multiple active safety recalls, including: •Airbag wiring harness defect (airbags may not deploy) •Seatbelt pretensioner/tensioner defects •Front power seat motor overheating (fire hazard) •Driveshaft engagement defect (vehicle may roll out of Park) Kia never properly notified me of these recalls and never repaired them, despite my family using the vehicle daily. I drove this SUV with my autistic chil…”
NHTSA complaint #11703139, 2022 · crash
“I have a 2023 Telluride awd. I only have 25000 miles on the vehicle since i dont drive much. I went on a trip with family and the first time a person sat in my drivers side, 2nd row seating, the seat belt wont retract.”
NHTSA complaint #11735492, 2026
“I am reporting a safety concern with the seatbelt system in my 2023 Kia Telluride related to fit and adjustability, not a mechanical failure. The vehicle is available for inspection. As a [XXX] driver, the shoulder belt consistently rubs my neck rather than resting across the center of my shoulder, even when the height adjuster is set to its lowest position. Because I must raise the seat and sit closer to the steering wheel, the belt angle pulls inward toward my neck every time I drive. As a [XXX] occupant ([XXX]), rear seatbelts must be fully extended into locking mode to buckle, resulting i…”
NHTSA complaint #11721180, 2023
Service Brakes 7
“I was driving on the service road of the freeway, driving approximately 40 mph when my main screen started flashing warnings. I was only able to catch 2 before the screen shut off. One was saying front collision sensors not working and the other said side sensors not working then the screen where the radio was went black. Then my brake pedal locked up, the car lost all power steering. The car started to just roll and I was able to pull into a side parking lot and the car died. I was not able to start the vehicle and called roadside assistance and had my vehicle towed to the car dealership. Thi…”
NHTSA complaint #11733150, 2026
“After a recall on the emergency braking system was resolved, we’ve had frequent occurrences where the rear cross traffic alert system will report traffic that does not exist. The vehicle will then stop abruptly. Once this happens, the emergency brake doesn’t always completely disengage. This almost always happens in parking lots and can increase the likelihood of accidents. I’ve taken it to the dealership, but they’ve been able to replicate the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11668687, 2025
“The vehicle has now been towed three times, completely shut down while driving three times, with the latest incident being especially dangerous-the car shut off while in drive, the brakes failed, and the steering wheel locked. My [XXX] child was in the car with me, and we were nearly hit by a semi-truck. It was a terrifying experience that could have been fatal. Not to mention when I was able to get the vehicle to stop, the hazards wouldn't even turn on and continued to put us in danger. My Telluride has been at the dealership for 7 weeks, and the service department still has no clear answer…”
NHTSA complaint #11658207, 2025
Air Bags 4 2 crash 1 injury
“I was hit on driver side and no side airbags deployed. The collision cause over $16k in damage to my vehicle. There is no reason side airbags should not have delivered and if my child was in the car on the passenger side he would have slammed his head on glass.”
NHTSA complaint #11609410, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)
“VIN: [XXX] Owner: [XXX] Purchase Date: December 2022 I am filing an urgent safety complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Telluride. For nearly two years, I have unknowingly driven this vehicle with multiple active safety recalls, including: •Airbag wiring harness defect (airbags may not deploy) •Seatbelt pretensioner/tensioner defects •Front power seat motor overheating (fire hazard) •Driveshaft engagement defect (vehicle may roll out of Park) Kia never properly notified me of these recalls and never repaired them, despite my family using the vehicle daily. I drove this SUV with my autistic chil…”
NHTSA complaint #11703139, 2022 · crash
“My vehicle has an active Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag dashboard warning light. A professional diagnostic scan has confirmed the active fault code: B143100 - "SIDE AIRBAG REAR DRIVER RESISTANCE CIRCUIT SHORT TO GROUND This exact physical failure matches the known manufacturing defect detailed in NHTSA Campaign 23V-035 (Kia Recall Code SC262). While my specific VIN does not currently show up as part of the official recall population, the vehicle is suffering from the identical manufacturing defect and active short, resulting in a disabled passenger safety system.”
NHTSA complaint #11747805, 2026
Engine And Engine Cooling 3
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, it unexpectedly lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound coming from the muffler. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the ECM software had failed and needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to…”
NHTSA complaint #11734129, 2026
“The contact owns a 2023 KIA Telluride. The contact stated the vehicle was experiencing heating system failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer on three occasions for heating and cooling failures. The dealer replaced an unknown sensor and the thermostat; however, the heat became inoperable. The contact stated that the heat was only operable while driving, and the vehicle would blow cool air while idling. The contact stated that the heat was barely warming up the vehicle while driving. The contact stated that the failure had caused the windows to be foggy, which redu…”
NHTSA complaint #11707540, 2025
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the second-row seat belts failed to operate as designed. The alarms failed to engage when the seat belts were buckled or unbuckled. While there was a child using a car seat on the second row of seats, the seat belt was unbuckled, and there was no alarm to alert the occupants. While driving at unknown speeds, the information screen displayed went blank for approximately an hour. While refueling, the fuel gauge displayed that there was no fuel in the tank. The contact checked the fuel and noticed it was not depleted. While driving in…”
NHTSA complaint #11622285, 2023
Seats 3 1 crash
“VIN: [XXX] Owner: [XXX] Purchase Date: December 2022 I am filing an urgent safety complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Telluride. For nearly two years, I have unknowingly driven this vehicle with multiple active safety recalls, including: •Airbag wiring harness defect (airbags may not deploy) •Seatbelt pretensioner/tensioner defects •Front power seat motor overheating (fire hazard) •Driveshaft engagement defect (vehicle may roll out of Park) Kia never properly notified me of these recalls and never repaired them, despite my family using the vehicle daily. I drove this SUV with my autistic chil…”
NHTSA complaint #11703139, 2022 · crash
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V407000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
NHTSA complaint #11616012, 2024
“The heater in the driver side seat, burnt through the seat through a jacket T-shirt, and burnt the back of my son”
NHTSA complaint #11565580, 2024
Back Over Prevention 2
“After a recall on the emergency braking system was resolved, we’ve had frequent occurrences where the rear cross traffic alert system will report traffic that does not exist. The vehicle will then stop abruptly. Once this happens, the emergency brake doesn’t always completely disengage. This almost always happens in parking lots and can increase the likelihood of accidents. I’ve taken it to the dealership, but they’ve been able to replicate the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11668687, 2025
“The reverse camera remains engaged even after shifting to drive. This can remain after 10-20 seconds. As I started to drive forward, the camera remained engaged and hit on moving cars behind me causing the vehicle to emergency brake even though nothing was in front of me. Almost causing an accident”
NHTSA complaint #11513259, 2023
Equipment 1
“I purchased a 2023 Kia Telluride for a family vacation tow vehicle. Spec's call out 5000 lb towing capacity and "pre-wired" for a trailer. Problem is, pre-wired means a connector in the back of the vehicle, but no actual harness available that plugs into it to run trailer lighting/brakes. Contacted Kia several times, no harnesses, was advised to take it to U-haul and get a splice-in harness. It's a brand new car, I don't want to cut into factory harness. Isn't this false advertisement? Can't tow anything without lights and pre-wiring obviously isn't the case. I thought pre-wired meant you…”
NHTSA complaint #11521851, 2023
Exterior Lighting 1
“Auto Dimming function of interior lights and activation of headlights; This occurs very rapidly on/off in seconds, should be in minutes. When on, it completely darkens the center instrument cluster where it becomes unreadable in daylight conditions. This has occurred since the vehicle was new. On 15 October 2024 University Kia in Durham NC looked at the issue when the vehicle was in for recall SC316R. Tech stated window mounted NC Quickpass was causing the issue with obstructing light hitting the dash sensors. I relocated my NC Quickpass and the vehicle has continued to do the same act…”
NHTSA complaint #11691518, 2023
Fuel System 1
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the second-row seat belts failed to operate as designed. The alarms failed to engage when the seat belts were buckled or unbuckled. While there was a child using a car seat on the second row of seats, the seat belt was unbuckled, and there was no alarm to alert the occupants. While driving at unknown speeds, the information screen displayed went blank for approximately an hour. While refueling, the fuel gauge displayed that there was no fuel in the tank. The contact checked the fuel and noticed it was not depleted. While driving in…”
NHTSA complaint #11622285, 2023
Parking Brake 1
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake light illuminated and was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a repair on the wheel speed sensor and parking brakes. After retrieving the vehicle, the EPB warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on eight occasions for the parking switch, a software reset, and other unknown repairs. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted…”
NHTSA complaint #11747744, 2024
Wheels 1
“While exiting the AZ Mesa 202 E Loop, the front driver rim snapped in the center and caused the tire to fly off.”
NHTSA complaint #11650557, 2025
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 2023 Kia Telluride draws about 49.2 complaints per year on the road, ranking 5 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.