IllustrationMY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ON THE FIRST COLD MORNING. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT STARTED SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND IDLED FUNNY. I SHUT IT OFF.
2021 Kia Telluride
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2021 Kia Telluride do not stand out strongly from 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
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 reportsTHE STEERING WHEEL AND SEATS VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-80MPH. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON TELLURIDES AND PALISADES THAT IS FIXED BY REPLACING WITH A PROPERLY BALANCED DRIVESHAFT. HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSES TO PROCEED AND KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A CHIP. AFTER PARKING AND THEN RETURNING TO THE CAR 2 HOURS LATER THE CHIP HAD SPREAD INTO A VERY LARGE CRACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT CRACK AFTER A CHIP LIKE THIS. THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD MUST NOW BE REPLACED AT SIGNIFIC…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A CHIP. AFTER PARKING AND THEN RETURNING TO THE CAR 2 HOURS LATER THE CHIP HAD SPREAD INTO A VERY LARGE CRACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT CRACK AFTER A CHIP LIKE THIS. THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD MUST NOW BE REPLACED AT SIGNIFICANT COST.
I RECENTLY DROVE MY NEW 2021 TELLURIDE SX TO MY CABIN IN GA. AND FOUND A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE BACKWOODS. THE VISIBILITY USING THE LED HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS ARE TERRIBLE AND POSE A DANGER. IF YOU ARE DRIVING DOWNHILL AND THE ROAD GOES UP OR TURNS YOU HAVE ZERO VISIBILITY, IT ACTUALLY CREAT…
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I RECENTLY DROVE MY NEW 2021 TELLURIDE SX TO MY CABIN IN GA. AND FOUND A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE BACKWOODS. THE VISIBILITY USING THE LED HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS ARE TERRIBLE AND POSE A DANGER. IF YOU ARE DRIVING DOWNHILL AND THE ROAD GOES UP OR TURNS YOU HAVE ZERO VISIBILITY, IT ACTUALLY CREATES A LINE AS IN MY PICTURE. I BROUGHT IT INTO MY KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID CORPORATE IS AWARE OF IT BUT THERE IS NO FIX AS OF YET SO THEY ADJUSTED THEM AS BEST THEY COULD. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE WILL DIE IF THEY DO NOT GET A A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY, TAKING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SLIGHTLY AND OFTEN VIBRATES AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS OF…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY, TAKING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SLIGHTLY AND OFTEN VIBRATES AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS OF HOW FAR DOWN THE WINDOW IS OPENED. UPON RETURNING HOME FROM SCHOOL DROP OFF, I CHECKED THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR AND GOT A CHAIR TO STAND ON TO SEE THE TOP OF THE CAR. THAT IS WHEN I SAW THE LARGE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND ROW SUNROOF. THE HOLE LOOKED SIMILAR TO A VOLCANO WITH THE JAGGED EDGES POINTING UPWARDS. THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE HOLE WERE ALSO AT AN UPWARD INCLINE. THIS TELLS ME THE SUNROOF EXPLODED UPWARDS FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, NOT FROM AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. ALSO, THE FACT THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS VIBRATE WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN TELLS ME THERE IS AN AIR PRESSURE ISSUE WITHIN THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE.
LAST WEEK THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND TODAY THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT, NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 2021 S MODEL 2800 MILES ON THE CLOCK
CHIPPED GLASS FROM ROCK/DEBRIS, WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY CRACKED.
09/26/2020, 2:30PM CST, WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN STATIONARY 'AUTO HOLD' POSITION, STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD VIOLENTLY, RESULTING IN A REAR-END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF TELLURIDE. FILED UNDER PROGRESSIVE CLAIM #201457380, 09/26/2020.
BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 772 MILES ON VEHICLE AND THE FIRST ROCK TO HIT WINDSHIELD CAUSED QUARTER SIZE CRACK ON WINDSHIELD. AN I LITERALLY MEAN FIRST TIME A PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WAS DRIVING 62MPH ON FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A SMALL TICK AND LOOKED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT REALLY? I HAVE HAD TWO CHIPS ON MY P…
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BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 772 MILES ON VEHICLE AND THE FIRST ROCK TO HIT WINDSHIELD CAUSED QUARTER SIZE CRACK ON WINDSHIELD. AN I LITERALLY MEAN FIRST TIME A PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WAS DRIVING 62MPH ON FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A SMALL TICK AND LOOKED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT REALLY? I HAVE HAD TWO CHIPS ON MY PREVIOUS 8 VEHICLES AND BOTH TIME THE NOISE MADE STARTLED ME AND THIS I ONLY HEARD IT CAUSE MY RADIO WAS OFF.
I DROVE TO WORK, ON A REGULAR ROAD, AT 40-45 MPH. NO ISSUE. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I CAME OUT 12 HOURS LATER I HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE LENGTH OF MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS NOT PARKED UNDER A TREE AND THERE WAS NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAPPEN. …
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I DROVE TO WORK, ON A REGULAR ROAD, AT 40-45 MPH. NO ISSUE. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I CAME OUT 12 HOURS LATER I HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE LENGTH OF MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS NOT PARKED UNDER A TREE AND THERE WAS NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAPPEN. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A WEEK.
Official recalls
526V430000 · 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.
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.
21V164000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module; Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger
Mar 11, 2021
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.