← New search

2020 Kia Telluride

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Telluride years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Kia Telluride are substantially higher than the model-year median of 215.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

194 reports with mileage · 564 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 183 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 135 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

135 reports
Clear category filter
8,780 miles · Oct 11, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS STRUCK BY A SMALL PEBBLE. THE WINDSHIELD SHOWED A DIME SIZE CRACK WITH SEVERAL SPIDER CRACKS NO LONGER THAN QUARTER OF AN INCH. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ALL NIGHT THE FOLLOWING DAY ONE OF THE SPIDER CRACKS HAD GROWN TO ABOUT 3 INCH…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS STRUCK BY A SMALL PEBBLE. THE WINDSHIELD SHOWED A DIME SIZE CRACK WITH SEVERAL SPIDER CRACKS NO LONGER THAN QUARTER OF AN INCH. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ALL NIGHT THE FOLLOWING DAY ONE OF THE SPIDER CRACKS HAD GROWN TO ABOUT 3 INCHES.

NHTSA ODI #11267926

2,000 miles · Oct 11, 2019
Visibility/wiper

AFTER JUST 6 WEEKS WEEKS OF OWNING THE CAR WE NOTICED AN 18 INCH CRACK IN WINDSCREEN, STARTING FROM THE TOP AND TRACKING DOWN. NO HISTORY OF ROCK STRIKES OR TRAUMA TO WINDSCREEN.

NHTSA ODI #11267853

4,000 miles · Oct 10, 2019
Visibility/wiper

ON JULY 4 I NOTICE A CHIP ON RIGHT OF WINDSHIELD WITHOUT NOTICING ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AS I WAS DRIVING. THREE DAYS LATER IT BECAME A CRACK WITHOUT TOUCHING AND IN A WEEK THE CRACK REACH DRIVER SIDE. WINDSHIELD STILL ON BACKORDER. I REPORTED TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SOMEBODY ON NHTSA CALL ME AND TOLD ME THAT CRACK …

Read full complaint

ON JULY 4 I NOTICE A CHIP ON RIGHT OF WINDSHIELD WITHOUT NOTICING ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AS I WAS DRIVING. THREE DAYS LATER IT BECAME A CRACK WITHOUT TOUCHING AND IN A WEEK THE CRACK REACH DRIVER SIDE. WINDSHIELD STILL ON BACKORDER. I REPORTED TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SOMEBODY ON NHTSA CALL ME AND TOLD ME THAT CRACK CAN HAPPEN THAT IF I PUT A NEW WINDSHIELD AND SAME THING HAPPENS IN LESS THAN 3 MONTH THEN THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT. THIS WINDSHIELDS ARE NOT CHEAP AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD BRAKING SO FAST BEFORE IN LESS THAN 3 MONTH OF PURCHASE.

NHTSA ODI #11267810

556 miles · Oct 2, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THREE DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASED A 2020 TELLURIDE I FOUND A CRACKED IN THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I COULDN'T FIND ANY CHIP THAT MIGHT HAVE STARTED THE CRACK, IT JUST APPEARED THE NEXT MORNING . THE CAR WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT SO NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WERE NO HELP A…

Read full complaint

THREE DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASED A 2020 TELLURIDE I FOUND A CRACKED IN THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I COULDN'T FIND ANY CHIP THAT MIGHT HAVE STARTED THE CRACK, IT JUST APPEARED THE NEXT MORNING . THE CAR WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT SO NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON THE WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL, INSURANCE HAD TO PAY. SAFELITE AUTO GLASS HAD TO WAIT EIGHT WEEKS FOR KIA TO SHIP A NEW WINDSHIELD. I ASKED THE INSTALLER TO LOOK AT THE CRACK AREA AND SEE IF HE COULD FIND A CAUSE THAT WOULD START THIS CRACK. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT ANY ROCK OR FOREIGN OBJECT STRIKE WILL LEAVE AN INDENTATION WITH SOME SPIDER MARKS, HE FOUND NONE? HIS PROGNOSIS WAS, IT WAS STRUCK ON THE BOTTOM EDGE WHEN ASSEMBLED AND CLOSING THE DOOR HARD WOULD FLEX THE WINDSHIELD AND THAT STARTED THE CRACK. IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH AND I ALREADY HAVE ANOTHER SMALL CHIP. I HAVE REPLACED ONE WINDSHIELD IN FORTY SOMETHING YEARS, DOESN'T VERY LOOK GOOD FOR TELLURIDE OWNERS, SOMETHING IS WRONG?

NHTSA ODI #11265758

4,000 miles · Oct 2, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING MY 2020 TELLURIDE I HEARD AN ODD SOUND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A SMALL CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. IT STARTED FROM ABOUT MIDWAY HEADING HORIZONTALLY AND THEN MADE A CURVE UPWARD AS I DROVE. THE CRACK IS AT LEAST 18 INCHES LONG. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE OR MARK…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING MY 2020 TELLURIDE I HEARD AN ODD SOUND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A SMALL CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. IT STARTED FROM ABOUT MIDWAY HEADING HORIZONTALLY AND THEN MADE A CURVE UPWARD AS I DROVE. THE CRACK IS AT LEAST 18 INCHES LONG. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE OR MARKINGS OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD NOR DID I NOTICE ANYTHING STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK ORIGINATES UNDERNEATH THE MOLDING AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT. WHEN THE CRACK STARTED I WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY STREET AT AROUND 30 MILES AN HOUR WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND.

NHTSA ODI #11265648

492 miles · Sep 17, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD STRUCK (MINOR WITH MINIMAL DEPTH PENETRATION) BY MATERIAL RUNNING ON INTERSTATE. WITHIN 15 MINUTES, CRACK BEGAN AND WAS OVER 16". VEHICLE PARKED FOR 8 DAYS. WINDSHIELD HAS CRACK OVER 3' LONG NOW. WINDSHIELD STAR SHOULD'VE BEEN QUICK EASY FIX INSTEAD THE WINDSHIELD IS EITHER FAULTY OR INSTALLED IN BIND.

NHTSA ODI #11256193

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING MAYBE 45 MPH, SOMETHING FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A LARGE CHIP AND SPIDERWEB TO FORM IMMEDIATELY. WHATEVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SO SMALL I NEVER SAW IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED PLENTY OF OTHER TIMES IN OTHER VEHICLES WITHOUT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11255266

700 miles · Sep 10, 2019
Visibility/wiper

DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I NOTICED A TINY CRACK COMING DOWN FROM THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME (10 MINUTES), IT WAS SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF MY WINDSHIELD. I'BE BEEN WAITING SINCE JUNE FOR A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #11254357

12,000 miles · Sep 7, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT. MY WINDSHIELD ON MY 2020 KIA TELLURIDE IS CRACKED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT'S ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT'S A LONG CRACK THAT STARTS AT THE A PILLAR AND TRAVELS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE I SAW THE CRACK. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I NEVER SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING HIT …

Read full complaint

THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT. MY WINDSHIELD ON MY 2020 KIA TELLURIDE IS CRACKED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT'S ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT'S A LONG CRACK THAT STARTS AT THE A PILLAR AND TRAVELS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE I SAW THE CRACK. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I NEVER SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD THIS TIME. IT COST 1500 DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT LAST TIME, WHICH WAS FOUR MONTHS AGO.ITS GOING TO GET EXPENSIVE IF THIS KEEPS UP. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #11253922

1,000 miles · Sep 7, 2019
Visibility/wiper

I PURCHASED THE 2020 KIA TELLURIDE ON 04102019. ON 050319 A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVERS VIEW. I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE WINDSHIELD HAD A DEEP CHIP AND IT SPIDERWEBBED OUT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. ON 09072019 I GOT INTO MY KIA AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE A LARGE CRACK IS VISIBLE…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED THE 2020 KIA TELLURIDE ON 04102019. ON 050319 A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVERS VIEW. I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE WINDSHIELD HAD A DEEP CHIP AND IT SPIDERWEBBED OUT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. ON 09072019 I GOT INTO MY KIA AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE A LARGE CRACK IS VISIBLE FROM THE A PILLAR ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG. I NEVER HEARD OR SAW ANYTHING HOT THE WINDSHIELD. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11253920

Official recalls

7

26V430000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 2, 2026

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.

24V407000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jun 5, 2024

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.

24V214000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Mar 20, 2024

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.

24V148000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 26, 2024

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.

22V626000 · Trailer Hitches

Aug 15, 2022

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.

20V436000 · Electrical System:wiring; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control

Jul 28, 2020

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.

Electrical System:wiring

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.

19V594000 · Seat Belts:front; Seat Belts:rear/other

Aug 13, 2019

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:rear/other

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.

Seat Belts:front

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE23002 · Complete Loss Of High Beams

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Apr 17, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23002 to investigate allegations of loss of high beams with no warning and no re-engagement resulting in reduced visibility at night in the 2020 Kia Telluride. The investigation revealed that the halogen bi-function projector beam, used in vehicles built between January 2019 and November of 2019, is composed of one halogen bulb light source that provides light for both low beam and high beam. The heat generated by the halogen bulb will inflict damage to the gear mechanism and as a result the shutter’s electric motor will no longer be able to move the shutter to the open position to reveal the high beams. A loss of high beams, prevents the driver from having proper distance illumination, therefore increasing the risk of a crash. On February 24, 2024, Kia filed recall 24V-148 for certain MY 2020 Kia Tellurides. The recall remedy provides an inspection of the high beam shield gear mechanism and will either apply a clip to secure the shield gear to the shaft or replace the headlamp assembly with one that is resistant to heat damagefrom the halogen bulb. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.