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 reports
1,200 miles · Nov 9, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE A SMALL ROCK HIT THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE NEXT MORNING I A CRACKED THAT SPREAD ACROSS MY PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRACK CONTINUE TO SPREAD OVER THE NEXT DAYS. NOW IT REACHES ALL THE WAY TO THE SIDE. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY KIA FOR ABOUT A 1 1/2 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD IN OTHER VEHIC…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE A SMALL ROCK HIT THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE NEXT MORNING I A CRACKED THAT SPREAD ACROSS MY PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRACK CONTINUE TO SPREAD OVER THE NEXT DAYS. NOW IT REACHES ALL THE WAY TO THE SIDE. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY KIA FOR ABOUT A 1 1/2 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD IN OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD CRACK LIKE THIS. IT SUCKS BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE THE TELLURIDE. HOPE THEY MAKE A BETTER WINDSHIELD SOON OR A RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11373809
6,500 miles · Oct 26, 2020
Unknown Or Other
FRONT COLLISION WARNING MALFUNCTION. WHEN A VEHICLE TO MY LEFT AND IN FRONT OF ME BRAKES, MY VEHICLE THINKS IT'S IN FRONT OF ME AND AUTOMATICALLY BRAKES WITH WARNINGS ON THE WINDSHIELD DISPLAY. VERY DANGEROUS TO THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. TWICE THEY RECALIBR…
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FRONT COLLISION WARNING MALFUNCTION. WHEN A VEHICLE TO MY LEFT AND IN FRONT OF ME BRAKES, MY VEHICLE THINKS IT'S IN FRONT OF ME AND AUTOMATICALLY BRAKES WITH WARNINGS ON THE WINDSHIELD DISPLAY. VERY DANGEROUS TO THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. TWICE THEY RECALIBRATED THE SENSORS AND ON THE LAST VISIT, THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR. IT'S STILL HAPPENING SO I NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN. I'VE SEARCHED THIS ONLINE IN FORUM AND YOUTUBE, AND IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME KIA ISN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11366530
30,000 miles · Sep 26, 2020
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE ES MODEL ARE SO BAD. THERE IS MINIMAL PERIPHERAL ILLUMINATION OUTSIDE OF THE LIGHTS . THE LIGHTS ARE SO POOR THAT THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON UNLIGHTED ROADS OR GOING AROUND A CURVE. VERY DANGEROUS. THE FIRST SET OF LIGHTS STOPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WAS REPLACED BY DEALER WITH NEW FA…
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THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE ES MODEL ARE SO BAD. THERE IS MINIMAL PERIPHERAL ILLUMINATION OUTSIDE OF THE LIGHTS . THE LIGHTS ARE SO POOR THAT THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON UNLIGHTED ROADS OR GOING AROUND A CURVE. VERY DANGEROUS. THE FIRST SET OF LIGHTS STOPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WAS REPLACED BY DEALER WITH NEW FACTORY LIGHTS THAT DO NOT ILLUMINATE ADEQUATELY AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR BOTH DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS.
NHTSA ODI #11361321
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2020
Visibility/wiper
I RECENTLY HAD TAKEN MY FIRST ROAD TRIP IN MY NEW VEHICLE AND WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A CRACK TO GO FROM ONE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE OTHER SIDE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD CRACK SO EASILY ON A VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY $500 TO REPL…
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I RECENTLY HAD TAKEN MY FIRST ROAD TRIP IN MY NEW VEHICLE AND WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A CRACK TO GO FROM ONE SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE OTHER SIDE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD CRACK SO EASILY ON A VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY $500 TO REPLACE A WHOLE WINDSHIELD WHEN I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR FOR LONG AT ALL. I LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THEN I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. KIA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11359921
4,900 miles · Sep 11, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
THE VEHICAL WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES UP TO 6000 RPM WITH NO OR LITTLE ACCELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED.. THIS ALSO OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS, NO OR LITTLE ACCELERATION WHILE THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES TO 5000 RPM VISIBLE ON THE TACHOMETER AND HEARD FROM THE ENGINE NOISE. THE TR…
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THE VEHICAL WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES UP TO 6000 RPM WITH NO OR LITTLE ACCELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED.. THIS ALSO OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS, NO OR LITTLE ACCELERATION WHILE THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES TO 5000 RPM VISIBLE ON THE TACHOMETER AND HEARD FROM THE ENGINE NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE SLIPPING OR DOWN SHIFTING TO MANY GEARS FOR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL DEMAND. THE DEALERSHIP WITNESSED THIS PROBLEM DURING A TEST DRIVE AND I SHOWED THEM A VIDIO OF THE SPEEDOMETER VERSUS THE TACH READING WHILE THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND KIA STILL HAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCEDENT ON ONE OCCATION AND A NEAR MISS HEADON COLISSION WHILE DRIVING THRU OREGON AND TRYING TO PASS IN A PASSING LANE, ON A VACATION DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE DAY ONE OF THE VEHICAL PURCHAS AND HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE OF THE PROBLEM ON 3 OCCASIONS. KIA DEALER SAYS KIA HAS NO KNOWN FIX.
NHTSA ODI #11354498
12,000 miles · Sep 7, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING, I HEARD A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IT LEFT A PIT THAT STARRED OUT TO ABOUT THE SIZE OF A DIME, I FIGURED I WOULD CALL A GLASS REPAIR SHOP TO REPAIR IT IN THE MORNING. I PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT TOW HOURS THE SMALL ROCK CHIP TURNED INTO A 2 FOOT CRACK ACROSS…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THIS MORNING, I HEARD A SMALL ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IT LEFT A PIT THAT STARRED OUT TO ABOUT THE SIZE OF A DIME, I FIGURED I WOULD CALL A GLASS REPAIR SHOP TO REPAIR IT IN THE MORNING. I PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT TOW HOURS THE SMALL ROCK CHIP TURNED INTO A 2 FOOT CRACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE A LETTER FROM KIA WHICH STATES THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FOR FREE AS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FRONT WINDSHEILD. I AM HOPING THAT THEY HAVE BETTER REPLACEMENTS AS THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE CRACKED SO EASILY OR AS BADLY AS IT DID.
NHTSA ODI #11353547
5,000 miles · Sep 6, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WINDSHIELD CHIPS VERY EASILY, ONE CHIP FROM A SMALL ROCK CAUSED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE PASSENGER END OF THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN AN HOUR. I'VE HAD PLENTY OF ROCKS HIT CARS IN THE PAST, THIS ROCK WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HAVE CAUSED THIS KIND OF DAMAGE.
NHTSA ODI #11353435
4,000 miles · Aug 31, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WINDSHIELD IS CHIPPING EXTREMELY EASY DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. WITHIN 2 MONTHS, THREE SIGNIFICANT CHIPS WITH ONE OF THEM CRACKING.
NHTSA ODI #11352252
21,600 miles · Aug 26, 2020
Visibility/wiper
PURCHASED KIA TELLURIDE AWD NEW IN OCT. 2020. CRACKED FORMED IN WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT WITHOUT DRIVING. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED OVER 40 PIT SPOTS IN THE WINDSHIELD GLASS.
NHTSA ODI #11351415
12,000 miles · Aug 24, 2020
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION IS RANDOMLY AND FREQUENTLY SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL, MOSTLY AT LOWER SPEEDS WHILE SHIFTING AFTER A TURN AND INCREASING SPEED. THE RESULT IS THAT I HAVE NO POWER WHILE NAVIGATING IN TRAFFIC AND MUST SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART TO REGAIN POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. ALMOST LIKE A REBOOT OF THE SYSTEM. IT IS EXTR…
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MY TRANSMISSION IS RANDOMLY AND FREQUENTLY SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL, MOSTLY AT LOWER SPEEDS WHILE SHIFTING AFTER A TURN AND INCREASING SPEED. THE RESULT IS THAT I HAVE NO POWER WHILE NAVIGATING IN TRAFFIC AND MUST SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART TO REGAIN POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. ALMOST LIKE A REBOOT OF THE SYSTEM. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC AND MY FAMILY NO LONGER WANTS TO RIDE IN CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO KIA BACK IN JANUARY AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. KIA HAD ME PUT A DATA READER IN THE VEHICLE TO CAPTURE THE DATA DURING THE OCCURANCES AND HAVE NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS NOW HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, EVEN WHEN JUST GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE SEEN ON A TELLURIDE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. KIA IS NOT HANDLING THIS SATISFACTORALLY.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2020 Kia Telluride Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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