Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 40 of 360 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Visibility/wiper. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
360 reports
20 miles · Jan 28, 2021
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
THE KIA TELLURIDE HAS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH AIR FLOW BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD ROWS AND ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT FLOWS. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP AIR FLOW EVEN IN THE CAR AND WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR IT REQUIRES FREQUENT STOPS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO ADDRESS THE TEMPERATURE ISSUES OR ME TRYING TO CHANGE IT WHILE DRIVIN…
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THE KIA TELLURIDE HAS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH AIR FLOW BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD ROWS AND ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT FLOWS. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP AIR FLOW EVEN IN THE CAR AND WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR IT REQUIRES FREQUENT STOPS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO ADDRESS THE TEMPERATURE ISSUES OR ME TRYING TO CHANGE IT WHILE DRIVING WITH KIDS WHO ARE TOO HOT OR COLD AND HOPING I DON'T CRASH. IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND VERY INCONVENIENT. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY NOT CLOSE TO ANY OTHER CARS AND I HEARD A FAINT NOISE AND IT LOOKED LIKE BIRD POOP BUT WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER I SAW A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 22 YEARS AND HAD MUCH HARDER THINGS HIT A WINDOW WITHOUT BREAKING IT - WHATEVER DID HIT THE WINDOW WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAUSE DAMAGE. THIS CAR HAS FAULTY WINDSHIELD AND FAULTY VENTILATION SYSTEM IN LAST TWO ROWS.
NHTSA ODI #11390583
190 miles · Jan 18, 2021
Visibility/wiper
WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45-50MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH, ROAD WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD POP OR THUD AND THEN GLASS FELL IN ON THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER PLUS SOME ON THE SECOND ROW, WHERE MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SEATED. THE FRONT SUNROOF PANEL HAD EXPLODED OR SHATTERED SOMEHOW. WE WERE ON A SECTION OF ROAD WITH NOTHING OVERHE…
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WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45-50MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH, ROAD WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD POP OR THUD AND THEN GLASS FELL IN ON THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER PLUS SOME ON THE SECOND ROW, WHERE MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SEATED. THE FRONT SUNROOF PANEL HAD EXPLODED OR SHATTERED SOMEHOW. WE WERE ON A SECTION OF ROAD WITH NOTHING OVERHEAD. OUR TELLURIDE ONLY HAD 190 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA ODI #11388701
3,380 miles · Jan 2, 2021
Visibility/wiper
HAVE NOT EVEN MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT ON MY NE 2021 TELLURIDE AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. BOTH TIMES THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSE BY ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE CRACK QUICKLY SPREADS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE QUESTIONABLE WHETHER OR NOT THE WINDSHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE SOMEHOW. THE TI…
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HAVE NOT EVEN MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT ON MY NE 2021 TELLURIDE AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. BOTH TIMES THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSE BY ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE CRACK QUICKLY SPREADS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE QUESTIONABLE WHETHER OR NOT THE WINDSHIELDS ARE DEFECTIVE SOMEHOW. THE TIME BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND OCCURRENCE IS APPROXIMATELY 5 WEEKS (TWO WEEKS BETWEEN THE FIRST REPLACEMENT AND SECOND CRACK.) I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND FORUMS WHERE OTHER TELLURIDE OWNERS HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. NOT SURE WHAT THE CAUSE IS, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER HAVING A WINDSHIELD REPLACED MUCH LESS TWICE ALMOST IN THE SAME MONTH.
NHTSA ODI #11386171
3,500 miles · Dec 18, 2020
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2021 KIA TELLURIDE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO A SNOW STORM HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY THE CONTACT WENT TO CLEAN OFF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ROUTE 23 KIA (1 WINDBEAM RD, RIVERDALE, NJ 07457) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2021 KIA TELLURIDE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO A SNOW STORM HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY THE CONTACT WENT TO CLEAN OFF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ROUTE 23 KIA (1 WINDBEAM RD, RIVERDALE, NJ 07457) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE ASSESSED FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.
NHTSA ODI #11384060
3,200 miles · Dec 18, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WINDSHIELD WAS FOUND WITH A 4 FOOT CRACK. IN IT .NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD
NHTSA ODI #11384014
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING WITHIN A MONTH OF THE PURCHASE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-80. SEVERAL TRIPS TO KIA WITH KIA TECH LINE AND THEY DENY THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE. THEY SAID THE VIBRATION MEASURED WITH A PICOSCOPE WAS WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. AFTER FIGHTING WITH KIA CONSUMERS, I TOOK IT TO A DRIVESHAFT SPECIALIST FOR AN INDEP…
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THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING WITHIN A MONTH OF THE PURCHASE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-80. SEVERAL TRIPS TO KIA WITH KIA TECH LINE AND THEY DENY THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE. THEY SAID THE VIBRATION MEASURED WITH A PICOSCOPE WAS WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. AFTER FIGHTING WITH KIA CONSUMERS, I TOOK IT TO A DRIVESHAFT SPECIALIST FOR AN INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSIS. THE FINDINGS FROM THE DRIVESHAFT SPECIALIST WERE QUITE ALARMING AND IT'S OBVIOUS KIA IS TRYING TO HIDE THE PROBLEM AND FORCING CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM TO LIVE WITH IT. DRIVESHAFT SPECIALIST TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM WOULD GET WORSE AND AFFECT OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING A KIA FORUM AND THEY ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TELLURIDE AWD'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. YESTERDAY I TRADED MY VEHICLE OFF AT A $6K LOSS SO I DID NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE HEADACHES AND KEEP FIGHTING KIA. THIS IS NOT RIGHT TO CONSUMERS AND HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THEIR 2020 AWD TELLURIDE. IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL #CGS-266219 IN OCTOBER. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CASE #13767404. THEY OFFERED ME $2500 AND WANTED ME TO SIGN OFF ON THE COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT SIGNED ANYTHING OR RECEIVED ANY MONIES. I JUST LOST $6,000 BECAUSE OF THESE PEOPLE SO $2500 IS NOT COVERING MY LOSS. I HAVE RECENTLY RECOVERED FROM SURGERY, CHEMO, AND RADIATION AND DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT THIS GIANT. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THERE IS A KIA FORUM ON VIBRATION WHERE THERE ARE LITERALLY SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11383869
50 miles · Dec 16, 2020
Power Train
THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TELLURIDES AND HYUNDAI PALISADE VEHICLES RIGHT NOW WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN SPEEDS REACH 55MPH - 70MPH. KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AND DEALERS ARE NOT BEING HELPFUL. THEY ROAD FORCED BALANCED MY WHEELS AND SENT ME HOME...I TOLD THEM IT'S NOT FIXED AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT BACK. THERE ARE MULT…
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THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TELLURIDES AND HYUNDAI PALISADE VEHICLES RIGHT NOW WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN SPEEDS REACH 55MPH - 70MPH. KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AND DEALERS ARE NOT BEING HELPFUL. THEY ROAD FORCED BALANCED MY WHEELS AND SENT ME HOME...I TOLD THEM IT'S NOT FIXED AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT BACK. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON FORUM/MESSAGING BOARD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. KIA REPLACES DRIVESHAFTS/AWD COUPLERS ON SOME WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUES BUT IGNORES OTHERS. THEY NEED A TSB TO FIX THIS UNIVERSALLY. THIS PIECEMEAL APPROACH HAS GOTTEN THEM IN TROUBLE WITH NHSTA ALREADY.
NHTSA ODI #11383704
100 miles · Dec 12, 2020
Visibility/wiper
WE PURCHASED OUR 2021 TELLURIDE NOVEMBER 14TH AND LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER A CHIP APPEARED OR WAS MINOR BEYOND SOMETHING WE RECOGNIZED WHEN WE PURCHASED IT SINCE IT WAS DARK WHEN WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN SECONDS ESCALATED TO A FULL BLOWN CRACK GREATER THAN 6 INCHES WHEN WE WERE TURNING DOWN A ROA…
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WE PURCHASED OUR 2021 TELLURIDE NOVEMBER 14TH AND LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER A CHIP APPEARED OR WAS MINOR BEYOND SOMETHING WE RECOGNIZED WHEN WE PURCHASED IT SINCE IT WAS DARK WHEN WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN SECONDS ESCALATED TO A FULL BLOWN CRACK GREATER THAN 6 INCHES WHEN WE WERE TURNING DOWN A ROAD WHERE THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR OUTSIDE INFLUENCES AROUND. THEY SAID BECAUSE IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IMPACT DAMAGE CAUSED IT THAT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD EVEN THOUGH KIA ALREADY HAS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE ON THE 2020 MODELS WHERE A CHIP QUICKLY BECOMES UNREPAIRABLE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE WINDOW. WE DIDN'T EVEN GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE CHIP FILLED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WITHIN SECONDS. I'VE OWNED MANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS ON THE THE ROAD OF FROM SIMPLY BEING OUTSIDE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A CRACK APPEAR SO QUICKLY AND ESCALATE BEYOND MINOR REPAIRS IN SECONDS.
NHTSA ODI #11383133
900 miles · Dec 9, 2020
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA TELLURIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED ALL STAR KIA EAST (27700 JUBAN RD BLDG. 2, DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726) OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. THE NEXT DAY T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA TELLURIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED ALL STAR KIA EAST (27700 JUBAN RD BLDG. 2, DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726) OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE BELIEF THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VANDALIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900.
NHTSA ODI #11378651
521 miles · Dec 7, 2020
Visibility/wiper
PURCHASED VEHICLE AND AFTER 2 WEEKS NOTICED A MAJOR CRACK IN WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM EDGE TO ALMOST MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. NO EVIDENCE OF A CHIP.
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 2020-2022 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 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. 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: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2021 Kia Telluride Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year