IllustrationWITH 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. .
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
Visibility/wiper complaints
135 reportsCAME 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…
Read full complaint
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…
Read full complaint
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?
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…
Read full complaint
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.
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…
Read full complaint
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.
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…
Read full complaint
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.
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.
WINDSHIELD IS CHIPPING EXTREMELY EASY DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. WITHIN 2 MONTHS, THREE SIGNIFICANT CHIPS WITH ONE OF THEM CRACKING.
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.
WINDSHIELD HAS MANY CHIPS. IT SEEMS THAT MORE THAN OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. TELLURIDE ONLY HAS ABOUT 13,000 MILES AND I GET SPARKLES ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING IN THE SUM FROM ALL OF THE SMALL CHIPS. CAR ONLY DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY ON SELDOM TRIPS FROM LOS ALAMOS TO ALBUQUERQUE. I NOW SEE WHY THEY DO NOT COVER THE WIND…
Read full complaint
WINDSHIELD HAS MANY CHIPS. IT SEEMS THAT MORE THAN OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. TELLURIDE ONLY HAS ABOUT 13,000 MILES AND I GET SPARKLES ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING IN THE SUM FROM ALL OF THE SMALL CHIPS. CAR ONLY DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY ON SELDOM TRIPS FROM LOS ALAMOS TO ALBUQUERQUE. I NOW SEE WHY THEY DO NOT COVER THE WINDSHIELD ON WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I PURCHASED
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.