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
290 miles · May 19, 2020
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE KIA TELLURIDE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DEFICIENT IN ILLUMINATING THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE VEHICLE DURING TURNS IN LOW OR NON-LIT AREAS. DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON THE ROADS THAT GET ME THERE FEELS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. VISIBILITY WHEN TURNING CORNERS IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. THIS SCARES ME …
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THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE KIA TELLURIDE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DEFICIENT IN ILLUMINATING THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE VEHICLE DURING TURNS IN LOW OR NON-LIT AREAS. DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON THE ROADS THAT GET ME THERE FEELS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. VISIBILITY WHEN TURNING CORNERS IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. THIS SCARES ME NOT ONLY AS A TELLURIDE OWNER BUT AS A PEDESTRIAN AND A PARENT WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. AS THE TELLURIDE'S POPULARITY CONTINUES TO GROW SO DOES THE SAFETY HAZARD THESE POORLY DESIGNED HEADLIGHTS POSE. CORRECTIVE ACTION TO ADEQUATELY AND SAFELY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD WHILE MAKING TURNS IS ESSENTIAL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND PROTECT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY RECALLING THE TELLURIDE AND MAKE A SIMPLE DESIGN CHANGE THAT WOULD NOT ONLY IMPROVE OWNER SATISFACTION, BUT ALSO PROTECT A POTENTIALLY UNSEEN PEDESTRIAN, JOGGER, BICYCLIST OR PET. A VEHICLE'S SAFETY SHOULD BE PARAMOUNT BOTH DAY AND NIGHT. IF NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE PROVIDE THE OPTION FOR TELLURIDE OWNERS TO WIDEN THE HEADLIGHT BEAM AT OUR OWN EXPENSE SO WE CAN CHOOSE TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS BY PAYING FOR IT OUT-OF-POCKET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11325091
5,000 miles · May 12, 2020
Unknown Or Other
DRIVING DOWN 294 SOUTH (A HIGHWAY), AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, WITH NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND OUR VEHICLE AND NOT GOING UNDER AN OVERPASS, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BANG. MY 2 KIDS WERE IN THE MIDDLE TWO SEATS AND STARTED SCREAMING AND CRYING BECAUSE OF THE LOUD NOISE AND ALSO BECAUSE GLASS WAS FALLING ON THEM. THE LOUD BANG TURNED OUT…
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DRIVING DOWN 294 SOUTH (A HIGHWAY), AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, WITH NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND OUR VEHICLE AND NOT GOING UNDER AN OVERPASS, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BANG. MY 2 KIDS WERE IN THE MIDDLE TWO SEATS AND STARTED SCREAMING AND CRYING BECAUSE OF THE LOUD NOISE AND ALSO BECAUSE GLASS WAS FALLING ON THEM. THE LOUD BANG TURNED OUT TO BE THE PANORAMIC MOONROOF EXPLODING ON ITS OWN. NOTHING HIT THE CAR OR THE ROOF AS THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND US. WE QUICKLY CLOSED THE COVER TO THE MOONROOF SO MORE GLASS WOULDN'T FALL ON THE KIDS. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THE MOONROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD AND NOT INWARD AS IF SOMETHING HIT IT. THE PANORAMIC MOONROOF DOESN'T OPEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11324320
3,700 miles · Apr 27, 2020
Visibility/wiper
ROCK WAS SLUNG UP AND CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD. I'VE HAD THE CAR 6 MONTHS
NHTSA ODI #11322341
7,500 miles · Apr 26, 2020
Visibility/wiper
THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED BEYOND REOAIR WITHIN A FEW HOURS. IT STARTED WITH A SMALL CHIP ON DRIVERS SIDE ANDNWE WERE PLANNINGNTO GET IT FIXED NEXT DAY. A FEW HIURS LATER WE WENT TO THE GARAGE AND ITNWAS A HUGE CRACK SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS SEEMS LIKE A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OTHERS AND WE WANT THIS REPORTED AS WELL. W…
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THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED BEYOND REOAIR WITHIN A FEW HOURS. IT STARTED WITH A SMALL CHIP ON DRIVERS SIDE ANDNWE WERE PLANNINGNTO GET IT FIXED NEXT DAY. A FEW HIURS LATER WE WENT TO THE GARAGE AND ITNWAS A HUGE CRACK SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THIS SEEMS LIKE A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OTHERS AND WE WANT THIS REPORTED AS WELL. WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING SMALL HIT WINDSHIELD THE CRACK WAS ABOUT A NICKEL SIZE AND THEN BOOOM!
NHTSA ODI #11322253
650 miles · Apr 21, 2020
Electrical System
AFTER IT HAD RAINED, THE COLLISION WARNING INDICATOR APPEARED. IT CONTINUES TO APPEAR EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN USE.
NHTSA ODI #11321793
3,000 miles · Mar 23, 2020
Visibility/wiper
THE WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES AND HAS EXTENDED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS APPEARED TO HAPPEN DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE US ABOUT $800 TO REPAIR. THIS SEEMS LIKE A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OTHERS AND WE WANT THIS REPORTED AS WELL.
NHTSA ODI #11319062
3,500 miles · Mar 16, 2020
Visibility/wiper
VEHICLE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY - SMALL PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD WHICH CHIPPED THEN CRACKED VERY QUICKLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME PREVENTING REPAIR OF THE CHIP AND REQUIRING WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA ODI #11318211
7,500 miles · Mar 9, 2020
Visibility/wiper
THE WINDSHIELD HAS APPEARED TO CRACK FOR NO REASON. WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM KIA SAYING THEY WOULD REPLACE IT BUT THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY RECALL THESE WINDSHIELDS IF THEY ARE HAVING SUCH AND ISSUE WITH THEM. I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR 4 MONTHS. NOT SURE HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS BUT WE JUST NOTICED IT THIS WEEKEND.
NHTSA ODI #11317000
765 miles · Mar 3, 2020
Exterior Lighting
NIGHT DRIVING IS HORRIBLE ON THE EX TRIM WHERE VISIBILITY ON EITHER SIDE IS DANGEROUS. I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE THE VISIBILITY IS SO POOR. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE FATALLY INJURED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!
NHTSA ODI #11315912
720 miles · Mar 3, 2020
Visibility/wiper
I'VE HAD MY 2020 KIA TELLURIDE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, GOT INTO THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. NEVER HEARD A ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AT ANY TIME (I'M THE ONLY DRIVER), THE CRACK STARTED IN TOP CORNER ON PASSENGER SIDE AND TRAVELED ACROSS THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IN ABOUT 3 HOURS. …
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I'VE HAD MY 2020 KIA TELLURIDE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, GOT INTO THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED. NEVER HEARD A ROCK HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AT ANY TIME (I'M THE ONLY DRIVER), THE CRACK STARTED IN TOP CORNER ON PASSENGER SIDE AND TRAVELED ACROSS THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IN ABOUT 3 HOURS. HAD A 2014 SORENTO WITH 12 TO 14 ROCK CHIPS THAT NEVER SPREAD LIKE THIS.
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.
2020 Kia Telluride Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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