IllustrationVIBRATION/HUMMING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (MOST NOTICEABLE BTWN. 65-75 MPH). CONFIRMED BY 2 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS, SUSPECTED TO BE AN ISSUE WITH DRIVE SHAFT OR REAR DIFFERENTIAL.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Telluride years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1480–25K
1525–50K
1150–75K
1275–100K
6100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
758 reportsI WAS DRIVING AT MAYBE 40-45 MPH ON FRIDAY MORNING AND HEARD A *PING* AS A PIECE OF ROAD SALT (I ASSUME...WE HAD A LOT OF SNOW THIS WEEK) HIT MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DIDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE TO THE GLASS AT THE TIME NOR ON MY COMMUTE BACK HOME. WHEN I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED AN 8" CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. SU…
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I WAS DRIVING AT MAYBE 40-45 MPH ON FRIDAY MORNING AND HEARD A *PING* AS A PIECE OF ROAD SALT (I ASSUME...WE HAD A LOT OF SNOW THIS WEEK) HIT MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DIDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE TO THE GLASS AT THE TIME NOR ON MY COMMUTE BACK HOME. WHEN I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED AN 8" CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. SUPER SURPRISING...AND AGGRAVATING. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY TINY CHIP FROM THAT MORNING'S "PING" THAT FURTHER CRACKED...
I LOVE THIS CAR. I REPLACED MY 2016 LEXUS GL 460 WITH THE 2020 TELLURIDE EX V6, A LOW MILAGE PREVIOUSLY OWNED CAR I FOUND AT A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I FELT IT COMPARED FAVORABLY IN EVERY WAY WITH THE LEXUS, WHICH I HAD BOUGHT NEW. UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME LIGHTING ISSUE, I DID NOT DO A NIGHT TIM…
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I LOVE THIS CAR. I REPLACED MY 2016 LEXUS GL 460 WITH THE 2020 TELLURIDE EX V6, A LOW MILAGE PREVIOUSLY OWNED CAR I FOUND AT A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I FELT IT COMPARED FAVORABLY IN EVERY WAY WITH THE LEXUS, WHICH I HAD BOUGHT NEW. UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME LIGHTING ISSUE, I DID NOT DO A NIGHT TIME TEST DRIVE OF THIS CAR, BUT WHEN I DID FINALLY DRIVE IT AT NIGHT - WOW! THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE THE ABSOLUTE WORST I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED AS A DRIVER. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE DRIVING THIS KIA AFTER DARK ON A CITY STREET PROVED TO BE DANGEROUS AND SCARY. LIGHTING WAS SO POOR- ESPECIALLY THE PERIPHERAL LIGHTING AND LOW BEAM HEIGHT RANGE - THAT I COULD NOT FIND MY DESTINATION BECAUSE THE HOUSE NUMBERS ON THE MAILBOXES AS WELL AS THE STREET SIGN WERE NOT LIT WELL ENOUGH TO READ. BUT WHAT WAS WORSE IS THAT I VERY NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BY THE WAY, MY VISION IS 20/20 AND NIGHT DRIVING HAS NOT PREIOUSLY BEEN A PROBLEM. I KNEW THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM SO THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED THE BULBS AND THEIR PLACEMENT; HE FOUND NO PROBLEM. I AM A WIDOW SO I DRIVE MYSELF EVERYWHERE I GO, INCLUDING AT NIGHT. BRIGHT, SAFE ILLUMINATION IS A MUST! I AM NOT DRIVING MUCH AT NIGHT THESE DAYS BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS WAY TOO RISKY CONSIDERING THE POOR VISIBILITY AFTER DARK. I CAN TELL YOU THAT KIA WILL HAVE A LAW SUIT (OR MULTIPLE SUITS) ON THEIR HANDS WHEN THIS POOR HEADLIGHT SITUATION IS THE CAUSE OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT!
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 OR 15 MINUTES BOTH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM STOP OPERATING. EVEN AFTER YOU CLEAN OFF THE SENSOR IT DOES NOT HELP. IT RANDOMLY CLEARS ITSELF, BUT WILL ALSO STOP AGAIN AFTER SOME TIME. THIS HAPPENS BOTH ON LOCAL ROADS AND THE HIGHWAY.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SAID THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN A CRACK APPEARED THAT CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ALMOST ALL THE WAY INTO HE FIELD OF VIEW. AFTER INSPECTION, I DO FIND A VERY SMALL (SMALLER THAN A PIN HEAD) CHIP. SHE NEVER RECALLS HEARING SOMETHING HIT THE VEHICLE.
WITH WINTER COMING ON THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IN NIGHT TIME CONDITIONS. THE FACTORY WINDOW TINTING INTERFERES WITH THE ABILITY TO SEE DOWN THE ROAD EFFECTIVELY AS THE TOP PART OF THE WINDOW IS DARK AT NIGHT. .
CAME OUT OF MY HOME THIS MORNING (12/9/2020) TO FIND A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD STEMMING FROM A SMALL CHIP. I'M THE ONLY DRIVER AND ENCOUNTERED NOTHING ON MY DRIVE TO OR FROM MY DESTINATION TO RESULT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THERE IS NOTHING NEAR WHERE MY VEHICLE IS PARKED TO RESULT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS EITHER. I BOUGHT THE…
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CAME OUT OF MY HOME THIS MORNING (12/9/2020) TO FIND A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD STEMMING FROM A SMALL CHIP. I'M THE ONLY DRIVER AND ENCOUNTERED NOTHING ON MY DRIVE TO OR FROM MY DESTINATION TO RESULT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THERE IS NOTHING NEAR WHERE MY VEHICLE IS PARKED TO RESULT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS EITHER. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF JUNE 2020 AND MY DRIVING IS MINIMAL.
SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD OVER 6 MONTHS AGO AND IMMEDIATELY CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. MAKING IT HARD TO SEE. DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO HAVE CHIP REPLACED, AGAIN CRACK SPREAD IMMEDIATELY. DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. GOING ON LINE I NOTICED THAT KIA HAS HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT COVERED BUT N…
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SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD OVER 6 MONTHS AGO AND IMMEDIATELY CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. MAKING IT HARD TO SEE. DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO HAVE CHIP REPLACED, AGAIN CRACK SPREAD IMMEDIATELY. DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. GOING ON LINE I NOTICED THAT KIA HAS HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT COVERED BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE???? WHY NOT?? WINDSHIELD IS STILL INFERIOR TO ANY OTHER WINDSHIELD I HAVE HAD IN OTHER CARS. IS THIS A DESIGN FLAW THAT IS PUTTING TOO MUCH STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD THUS CAUSING A SLIGHT CHIP TO CRACK IMMEDIATELY?
ACTIVE SAFETY RECALLS: ' SC194 TRAILER BRAKE LIGHT (NHTSA #20V436)
ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY WIFE DROVE OUT TO GO SHOPPING BUT RETURNED WITHIN 5 MINS DUE TO A LOW PRESSURE TIRE WARNING. THE TIRE WAS VERY LOW AND SHE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I REMOVED THE JACK (WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN USED PREVIOUSLY) AND STARTED TO JACK UP THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE FLAT WAS. I WAS SHOWING THE NOTCHES FO…
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ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY WIFE DROVE OUT TO GO SHOPPING BUT RETURNED WITHIN 5 MINS DUE TO A LOW PRESSURE TIRE WARNING. THE TIRE WAS VERY LOW AND SHE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I REMOVED THE JACK (WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN USED PREVIOUSLY) AND STARTED TO JACK UP THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE FLAT WAS. I WAS SHOWING THE NOTCHES FOR POSITIONING THE JACK TO MY WIFE AND SHOWING HER HOW TO PROPERLY JACK UP A VEHICLE. BEAR IN MIND, I HAVE ROTATED MY TIRES AND DONE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ON MY CARS/SUVS, VANS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I HAD THE JACK STRAIGHT UP IN THE CORRECT POSITION AND ON A PERFECTLY FLAT GARAGE FLOOR AND STARTED TO JACK THE CAR UP. BY THIS TIME THE TIRE HAD DEFLATED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT HAD ABOUT AN INCH OR TWO FROM THE RIM TOUCHING THE GROUND. I HAD JUST GOTTEN THE VEHICLE UP TO NORMAL RIDE HEIGHT WHEN THE JACK COLLAPSED SUDDENLY AND THE CAR CAME DOWN. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WASN'T IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO TAKE THE WHEEL OFF. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE JACK AND THERE IS A BOW TO THE THREADED ROD BUT OTHERWISE YOU CAN'T SEE VERY MUCH FROM THE PICTURE. WHEN YOU TURN THE JACK, YOU CAN EASILY SEE A SIGNIFICANT WOBBLE IN THE WINDING ACTION. I CAN'T IMAGE HAVING TO TRY AND JACK UP A VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN LESS THAN IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT I HAD IN MY GARAGE. SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST.
Official recalls
726V430000 · 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
1PE23002 · 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.