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
786 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Visibility/wiper
VEHICLE IS 3 WEEKS OLD AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE HAVING THE 3RD WINDSHIELD INSTALLED. THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REPLACEMENT WERE DAMAGED BY ROCKS BEING THROWN UP BY SEMI TRUCKS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. PREVIOUSLY OWNED A KIA SORENTO AND HAD A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD INSTALLED AND HAD 3 ROCK CHIPS ON THE REPLACEMENT WHEN IT WAS …
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VEHICLE IS 3 WEEKS OLD AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE HAVING THE 3RD WINDSHIELD INSTALLED. THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REPLACEMENT WERE DAMAGED BY ROCKS BEING THROWN UP BY SEMI TRUCKS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. PREVIOUSLY OWNED A KIA SORENTO AND HAD A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD INSTALLED AND HAD 3 ROCK CHIPS ON THE REPLACEMENT WHEN IT WAS TRADED FOR THE TELLURIDE. SEEMS AS IF THE KIA WINDSHIELDS ARE SOMEHOW INFERIOR.
NHTSA ODI #11244496
4,200 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Visibility/wiper
FIRST ROADTRIP IN VEHICLE NOTICED A TINY CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER WHILE REFUELING. I DO NOT RECALL HEARING OR SEEING ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. REACHED DESTINATION AND THE NEXT MORNING I WALKED OUT TO MY VEHICLE TO FIND A CRACK FROM THE TINY CHIP LOCATION ALL THE WAY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE …
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FIRST ROADTRIP IN VEHICLE NOTICED A TINY CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER WHILE REFUELING. I DO NOT RECALL HEARING OR SEEING ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. REACHED DESTINATION AND THE NEXT MORNING I WALKED OUT TO MY VEHICLE TO FIND A CRACK FROM THE TINY CHIP LOCATION ALL THE WAY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I AM TOLD WINDSHIELD FOR THIS VEHICLE IS ON BACKORDER AND HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER A MONTH FOR A REPLACEMENT. CURRENT ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT IS SECOND WEEK IN SEPTEMBER.
NHTSA ODI #11244483
1,700 miles · Aug 9, 2019
Visibility/wiper
CHIP AND CRACK IN WINDSHIELD. UNSURE WHEN IT OCCURRED, BUT I NEVER HEARD SOMETHING HIT WINDSHIELD. MOST LIKELY IT HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT.
NHTSA ODI #11242845
5,200 miles · Aug 8, 2019
Visibility/wiper
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND DID NOT EVEN HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IF IT DID IT WAS MINOR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE OF A CRACK THAT SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE DRIVEN A 2018 FORD EXPLORER , 2016 GMC YUKON, AND 2019 GMC ACADIA WHEN SOMETHING HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT CAN BE SEEN AND HEARD WITH BA…
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND DID NOT EVEN HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD. IF IT DID IT WAS MINOR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE OF A CRACK THAT SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE DRIVEN A 2018 FORD EXPLORER , 2016 GMC YUKON, AND 2019 GMC ACADIA WHEN SOMETHING HAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT CAN BE SEEN AND HEARD WITH BARELY ANY DAMAGE OR DAMAGE THAT IS SIMPLY FILLED/SEALED. PLEASE REVIEW TO SEE IF OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ARE IN THE DATABASE FOR THIS NEW ENTRY 2020 KIA TELLURIDE. I LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BUT THIS. THEY ALSO STATED IT WOULD BE 2-8 WEEKS BEFORE A WINDSHIELD WILL BE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL FROM KIA.
NHTSA ODI #11242644
10 miles · Aug 7, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON DAY 1 BEFORE EVEN TAKING DELIVERY OF CAR. NOT A SAFE WINDSHIELD TO DRIVE WITH.
NHTSA ODI #11242200
1,000 miles · Aug 6, 2019
Visibility/wiper
FRONT WINDSHIELD IS CHIPPED. HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
NHTSA ODI #11242151
7,025 miles · Aug 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper
THE WINDSHIELD BROKE AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING HIT IT
NHTSA ODI #11241855
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2019
StructureUnknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING AND A ROCK FLEW UP BARLEY HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND BROKE IT
NHTSA ODI #11241854
4,000 miles · Jul 30, 2019
Visibility/wiper
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY, A SMALL ROCK CAME UP AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD. IT WAS VERY SMALL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE DAMAGED MY WINDSHIELD. I ENDED UP WITH A LARGE CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA ODI #11240590
1,200 miles · Jul 24, 2019
Visibility/wiper
HAD VEHICLE LESS THEN A MONTH AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. NEVER HEARD ANYTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CRACK JUST SHOWED UP.
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.
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