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

30 miles · Mar 2, 2020

Exterior Lighting

LIGHTING FAILS TO ILLUMINATE TO THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE ON THE EX TRIM SO THAT THERE ARE SPOTS OF NO LIGHTING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. THIS SHOULD BE REMEDIED AND A RECALL ISSUED TO CORRECT THE CONCERN AS IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11315718

5,400 miles · Mar 1, 2020

Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD RANDOMLY CRACKED WHILE PARKED.

NHTSA ODI #11315361

12,000 miles · Feb 29, 2020

Unknown Or Other

A ROCK HIT AND CHIPPED MY WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS THE CHIP EXPANDED, THIS IS RIDICULOUS. NOT SAFE!

NHTSA ODI #11312281

2,400 miles · Feb 26, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

BLIND SPOT COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONS WHENEVER IT RAINS. VEHICLE HAS 3000 MILES ON IT AND FOR THE 5TH TIME IN 2 MONTHS THE BLIND SPOT SYSTEM ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. DEALERSHIPS REFUSING TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, WHICH IT TURNS OFF ONCE THE SENSORS DRY OFF LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT... POLICE HAVE STOPPED ME TWICE THINKING THEY ARE HIGH BEAMS.. ALSO ONCOMING TRAFFIC CONTINUES TO BLAST THERE HIGH BEAMS AT OUR VEHICLE THINKING OUR HIGH BEAMS ARE ON CAUSING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION.. LOCAL DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO FIX WARRANTY PROBLEMS BECAUSE CAR WAS NOT PURCHSAED FROM THEM

NHTSA ODI #11311596

850 miles · Feb 24, 2020

Visibility/wiper

Read full complaint

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED MY NEW KIA TELLURIDE, THE WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED A HIT FROM A SMALL ROCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK. THE ROCK HIT SOUND WAS LOUDER THAN WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN OTHER CARS I HAVE DRIVEN. IT WAS VERY LOUD. I COULD SEE THE HIT RIGHT AFTER ON MY WINDSHIELD AND COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. THE DIAMETER AND DEPTH OF THE HIT WERE SERIOUS. I TOOK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO A GLASS REPAIR VENDOR PER GEICO. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE WINDSHIELD DAMAGE WAS A COMPOUND FRACTURE AND THAT I WOULD NEED AN ENTIRE NEW WINDSHIELD. THEN THE TECHNICIAN ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH ME TOLD ME TO GO WITH A PATCH FOR NOW BECAUSE HE COULD REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN THIS MIGHT HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN IN A FEW MORE DAYS. SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH A PATCH SINCE IT WAS FIXED SWEATING EVERY DAY THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT GOING TO HOLD UP. NOT ONLY THIS, I HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT I CAN EVEN RUN THIS CAR THROUGH A CARWASH. I AM AFRAID OF ANY PRESSURE BEING PUT ON THE DAMAGED SPOT WILL MAKE THE HAIRLINE CRACKS GET LARGER BECAUSE THE PATCHED AREA ITSELF IS SHOWING SMALL HAIRLINE CRACKS COMING OUT FROM THE SIDES AND APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY PERSONAL SAFETY AND THOSE OF MY PASSENGERS IF THE WINDSHIELD DOES NOT GET FIXED. ALL OF THIS SAID, I AM ENCOURAGED THAT KIA IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE THEY SENT ME A LETTER AND TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WOULD BE REPLACED. I HAVE ONLY STARTED THIS PROCESS AND HOPE IT GOES WELL. I AM SAD TO BUY THE FIRST NEW CAR I HAVE OWNED IN A LONG TIME AND HAVE THIS HAPPEN EVEN BEFORE I HAVE MADE THE FIRST CAR PAYMENT. AGAIN, I AM ENCOURAGED THAT KIA IS STANDING BEHIND ITS BRAND AND PROACTIVELY OFFERING TO HELP TELLURIDE CUSTOMERS WITH THIS ISSUE. IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11311188

13,000 miles · Feb 21, 2020

Visibility/wiper

MY WINDSHIELD HAS TWO CRACKS IN THAT IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. IT WAS NOT HIT BY DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD. THE BOTH START FROM THE EDGE OF THE GLASS AND SPREAD ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND CAN HAVE IT REPLACED FOR 800.00!!!!!! I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO IT BEING A WIDESPREAD ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11310546

22,325 miles · Feb 20, 2020

Unknown Or Other

Read full complaint

ON THE 19TH OF FEBRUARY, 2020 AT APPROX. 11:00AM, I WAS HEADING EAST BOUND ON I-44 NEAR FT LEONARD WOOD, MO WHEN MY SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 72MPH. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN MY GENERAL AREA. ALL WINDOWS WERE ROLLED AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF BEING CLOSED, WITH THE INSIDE SUN SHADE BEING IN THE CLOSED POSITION. INSIDE TEMP WAS SET AT 72 DEGREES WITH THE FAN SETTING ON THE THIRD SETTING. I AM UNSURE OF THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE BUT IT WAS ABOVE FREEZING. MY LOCAL KIA DEALER, ROPER KIA OF JOPLIN, MO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THURSDAY MORNING AT 8AM, AFTER THEIR INSPECTION THEY CONTACTED THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER WHO AUTHORIZED THE SUNROOF TO BE REPLACED UNDER GOODWILL WARRANTY AT NO COST TO MYSELF.

NHTSA ODI #11310353

120 miles · Feb 17, 2020

Exterior Lighting

Read full complaint

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BLIND SPOTS ON THE SIDES. WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES YOU LOOSE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO VISIBILITY AT ALL AT NIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TALKED TO COMPANYS THAT INSTALLS HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER MECHANICAL PARTS TO VEHICLES AND WAS TOLD THAT ADDING FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ONLY PROJECTING FORWARD LIGHTS. WAS TOLD THAT ADDING FOG LIGHTS WOULD ONLY PROJECT FORWARD ALSO BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY WOULD HAVE TO SET. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED!!!

NHTSA ODI #11309673

9,500 miles · Feb 16, 2020

Power Train

VIBRATION BEING FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL AND IN SEAT FROM THE POWER TRAIN FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS RAGING FROM 60MPH TO 80MPH WITH A WITH A HUMMING NOISE BEING HEARD FROM THE INTERIOR AT THE SAME SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2019 AND IT NOW HAS ABOUT 13000 MILES ON.

NHTSA ODI #11309545

1,500 miles · Feb 13, 2020

Visibility/wiper

WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, LIKE GLASS BREAKING AS WE WERE DRIVING. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO OUR TELLURIDE AND FOUND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALMOST HALFWAY ACROSS. THE CRACK STARTED IN THE UPPER CORNER, PASSENGER SIDE, AND TRAVELED DOWNWARD TOWARD THE CENTER. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN DECEMBER. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE CRACK TRAV…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11309004

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.