I went for a test drive of this 2027 Kia Telluride X-line Hybrid at Gateway Kia of Warrington PA ([XXX]). After turning the ignition on and attempting to drive, the car didn't respond. When it did respond, it then drove extremely rough, shuddering hard in and out of gear. It then started to drive normally, only to fail again and…
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I went for a test drive of this 2027 Kia Telluride X-line Hybrid at Gateway Kia of Warrington PA ([XXX]). After turning the ignition on and attempting to drive, the car didn't respond. When it did respond, it then drove extremely rough, shuddering hard in and out of gear. It then started to drive normally, only to fail again and not exceed 5 mph. We had to turn the car completely off and then restart it. This fixed the problem temporarily but then the issue would repeat. I floored the pedal repeatedly and the car didn't respond multiple times. This happened at an intersection of a busy road. I was attempting a left turn and the car wouldn't respond, putting myself and others in danger of an accident. I was able to crawl across the dual lane road to a parking lot. Turned car off and restarted it. The issue repeated at another intersection, again not responding, followed by shuddering, and then driving slowly. The check engine light would come on and then go off upon a fresh restart, only to come on again when the power would surge. My research indicated that this is: - Limp Mode Activation: When the car did not accelerate, the car's main computer (ECU) detected a severe glitch. It intentionally cut off power to protect the engine and hybrid battery. - Hybrid Power Transition Glitch: Hybrid vehicles rely on complex software to seamlessly shift between the electric motor and the gasoline engine. If the software or the physical clutch fails to coordinate these two power sources when you demand sudden acceleration, it can cause the vehicle to shake or lag violently. - Transmission "Gear Hunting" or Slipping: The hard shuddering in and out of gear points toward an issue with the transmission's torque converter or dual-clutch transmission engagement system. When it cannot decide which gear to use or slips, it can feel like driving over severe potholes. This issue is increasingly showing up in online forums, so I know I am not alone. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552
Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride and Telluride Hybrid vehicles. The driver seat belt emergency locking retractor may lock, causing the seat belt strap not to extend. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A seat belt strap that does not extend can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 16, 2026.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige vehicles equipped with the Executive Package. The second-row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat functions, such as one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to exercise caution when operating the second-row power seat functions until the repair is performed. Children are advised to not be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operation. The power second-row seat control unit software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC366. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 25, 2026.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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