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

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2021

Unknown Or Other

AC Condenser failed after 13,500 miles

NHTSA ODI #11420580

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2021

Unknown Or Other

Collision warning system failed. Barnett Kia St Paul MN said two weeks to get an appointment for. Safety issue?

NHTSA ODI #11418444

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2021

Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

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While driving my suv on the highway the day I purchased it on 6/5/20 it disabled 5 times where I was only able to use brakes and pull off side of road. I was 36 weeks pregnant and had my 2 year old in the car. I didn’t make it home. There was highway construction locally and no edge to pull off on if needed. We could of been seriously injured or died. It was towed to my local Kia dealer where they didn’t find anything wrong with it. They replaced the battery. It seemed to be running ok then on 5/5/21 my suv disabled again only being able to use the brakes and pull over while driving it on a hilly, narrow backroad with someone driving behind me with my 10 month old in the car. Every time this has happened the suv loses all power and needs to be placed in park to be restarted. The Kia dealer has had my suv for over a week and cannot find anything wrong with it. They reached out to the Kia tech line who says they’ve done all the right testing and there is nothing else to do. The Kia dealer believes it has an electrical problem that they have not been able to reproduce. There are no warnings before the suv completely disables. This problem could cause serious injury or death. The dealer is telling me my suv is ready to be picked up. I refuse to take my suv back from the dealership. I’ve started Iowa lemon law papers 5/6/21 and I’m waiting for the Kia manufacturer to receive them certified mail.

NHTSA ODI #11417474

35,000 miles · May 13, 2021

Visibility/wiper

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AND A ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD. IT LEFT A SPOT NEAR THE REARVIEW MIRROR, BUT NO CRACKS. THEN 2 DAYS LATER I HAVE A CRACK GOING ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN ANOTHER 4 DAYS, THE CRACK IS NOW ALMOST ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS UP TO THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. I'VE HAD OTHER VEHICLES GET DINGED WITH ROCKS BUT NEVER HAD ONE CRACK THIS QUICKLY OR CONTINUE TO SPREAD DAY AFTER DAY EVEN WHEN IT IS JUST SITTING IN MY CARPORT.

NHTSA ODI #11416471

15,500 miles · May 11, 2021

Visibility/wiper

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I HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED THREE TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED 14 MONTHS AGO. KIA ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED A TRUE "FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM AND NOW HAS INDICATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENTS BUT TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE CARRIER. THE CRACKS COME IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING AN IMPACT WITH A ROCK OR DEBRIS AND SPREAD IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT SO THE REPAIRS CANNOT BE MADE. I HAD MY FIRST ONE REPLACED USING INSURANCE AND KIA REPLACED THE SECOND ONE BUT NOW REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS ODD THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE INITIALLY AND SAY THEY WILL PROVIDE A REMEDY ONE TIME BUT DO NOT HAVE ANY RESOLUTION TO CURE THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM THAT THE WINDSHIELDS HAVE EITHER A QUALITY OR AN ENGINEERING DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11416160

8,000 miles · May 2, 2021

Unknown Or Other

IF THE WINDOWS ARE DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (ABOVE 50MPH,) THEY CANNOT ROLL BACK UP COMPLETELY. IT SEEMS THAT THE PRESSURE OF THE SPEED STOPS THEM FROM COMPLETELY CLOSING. IN ORDER TO ROLL THEM BACK UP I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 35 MPH. I'VE READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON KIA OWNERS FORUMS.

NHTSA ODI #11414781

24,000 miles · Apr 23, 2021

Visibility/wiper

MY TELLURIDE ALL OF A SUDDEN HAS CHIPS ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD NEVER NOTICE ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD THAT WILL CAUSE ALL THIS CHIPS.

NHTSA ODI #11413625

75,000 miles · Apr 22, 2021

Exterior Lighting

HIGH BEAMS WILL NOT FUNCTION. REPLACED LIGHT BULBS. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLM. REPLACED RELAY AND FUSE. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER. SERVICE TECH APPEARED TO BE BEFUDDLED. HIS ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT A COST OF OVER $2000.00 OR JUST WAIT UNTIL KIA ANNOUNCED A RECALL AS HE COULD NOT DET…

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NHTSA ODI #11413339

7,500 miles · Apr 19, 2021

Visibility/wiper

WITH LESS THAN 7500 MILES ON MY TELLURIDE, I HAVE 3 SMALL CHIPS ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD. LAST CHIP WAS YESTERDAY HAS DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK

NHTSA ODI #11412804

13,654 miles · Mar 31, 2021

Visibility/wiper

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I PURCHASED MY 2020 KIA TELLURIDE ON 10/16/2019. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LETTER I WAS SENT A LETTER FROM KIA 'GIFTING' A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD DUE TO SOME CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING DEFECTIVE GLASS THAT JUST BREAKS FOR NO REASON. EARLY JANUARY 2020, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. KIA REPLACED IT. NOW 14 MONTHS LATER, THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD DID THE EXACT SAMETHING!!! THE CAR WAS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I LIVE IN CHARLESTON SC AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY EXTREME TEMPERATURES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #11405760

Official recalls

26V430000 · 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

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

Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Electrical System:wiring

Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

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

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

Consequence: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.

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

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.