Kia Telluride Reliability & Common Problems
The Kia Telluride is a three-row SUV whose first generation ran from the 2020 to the 2025 model year, with a refresh for 2023; a second generation arrives for 2027. Its owner complaints change a lot from year to year: the 2020 to 2022 models are dominated by windshield cracks, high beam failure, oil use and sunroof problems, the 2022 to 2024 models by a blank instrument cluster, and the 2025 by engines that shut off while driving. Our method marks the 2025 as the year to avoid.
Model years researched
6
2020–2025
Owner complaints researched
1,999
filed with NHTSA through Oct 4, 2026
Recall campaigns
19
3 with a park-outside or do-not-drive warning
Years to avoid
2025
judged on each year’s own complaints
Counts are owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: they depend on how many were sold and how long each year has been on the road.
Reliability
Is the Kia Telluride Reliable?
The Telluride's record is easier to read by groups of years than as one picture. The 2020 and 2021 models share the heaviest mix of problems: high beams that stop working (almost all in the 2020), the engine burning oil, engine failure, stalling and sunroofs that jam or come off their track. The 2022 to 2024 models look different. Windshield cracking is still common, but a digital instrument cluster that goes blank takes over as a main complaint, along with sunroof glass that breaks suddenly. The 2025 stands apart because nearly four in ten of its complaints describe the engine shutting off while driving, which is why it is the one year we mark to avoid.
The most serious recurring problems are the ones that involve losing power or engine damage. Owners of the 2020 and 2021 describe engines that use oil with no warning light and, in some cases, engines that fail and need replacing. Stalling is reported in every year, but in small numbers except for the 2020 and the 2025. No recall for any model year addresses oil use, engine failure or stalling as owners describe them, and the complaints do not establish a cause. The only engine recall listed, 24V077000, covers the 2024 and is about engine valve springs that may break.
Several recalls are worth knowing about because they carry the strongest warnings. Two recalls for the front power seat motor (24V407000 and 26V430000) and one for the trailer hitch wiring (22V626000) tell owners to park outside and away from structures until the repair is done, because of a fire risk. The seat recalls cover the 2020 to 2024 models and the hitch recall covers the 2020 to 2022. Other recalls cover high beams on the 2020, blank instrument clusters on the 2022 and 2023, and a driveshaft issue that can let the vehicle roll away in park on the 2020 to 2024 models.
Mileage matters for what you might find on a particular vehicle. Windshield cracks and sunroof glass breakage are reported very early, with typical mileage in the low thousands. Blank instrument clusters are also an early problem. Oil consumption and engine failure show up much later, at typical mileages of roughly 91,000 to 96,500 miles, so a lower-mileage 2020 or 2021 may not have shown them yet. High beam complaints cluster near 68,000 miles. Owners who describe the outcome of high beam and oil repairs mostly say the repair did not fix it, though that reflects only those who chose to describe it.
Keep the limits of complaint data in mind. Counts depend on how many Tellurides were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not failure rates, and a single complaint can describe more than one problem. The 2027 has only a small number of complaints so far and is too new to judge.
Common problems
Most Common Kia Telluride Problems
Across the 2020–2025 Telluride (1,999 complaints researched). A complaint can describe more than one problem, so these counts overlap.
Windshield cracks or chips easily
Serious396 complaints · 20% of all researchedmedian 3,600 mi
Owners describe small chips that turn into long cracks quickly, sometimes within an hour of the chip appearing. It is the most reported problem on the Telluride and shows up in every model year from 2020 to 2025, with the largest share in the 2022. Reports come early, with typical mileage around 3,600. There is no recall for it.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 18%
- 2021 18%
- 2022 31%
- 2023 19%
- 2024 17%
- 2025 11%
High beams stop working
Serious150 complaints · 8% of all researchedmedian 67,800 mi
The high beams stop working, often both at once with no warning, while the low beams keep working. It affects almost only the 2020, with a handful of reports in the 2021 and 2022, and typical mileage is around 68,000. Recall 24V148000 covers the 2020, but of the owners who described the outcome, nearly all said repairs did not fix it. It reduces visibility at night, which is why it matters to a buyer.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 19%
- 2021 0.5%
- 2022 0.3%
- 2023 –
- 2024 –
- 2025 –
Excessive oil consumption
Serious143 complaints · 7% of all researchedmedian 96,500 mi
The engine uses up its oil, often with no warning light, and owners report frequent top-ups and low levels between changes. It is concentrated in the 2020 and 2021 and is reported at high mileage, typically around 96,500. Most owners who described an outcome said repairs did not resolve it. No recall addresses it, so check oil level and service records on any higher-mileage 2020 or 2021.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 13%
- 2021 10%
- 2022 3%
- 2023 –
- 2024 0.5%
- 2025 –
Stalling or shutting off while driving
Critical126 complaints · 6% of all researchedmedian 58,900 mi
The engine shuts off while the vehicle is moving, sometimes with an alarm or an engine off message, and some owners say the vehicle would not restart. It is reported in every year, most in the 2025 and 2020, and in the 2025 it makes up 39% of complaints at typical mileage around 14,000. None of the reports link it to a recall and no cause is established. It is the main reason the 2025 is marked to avoid.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 6%
- 2021 4%
- 2022 3%
- 2023 4%
- 2024 0.9%
- 2025 39%
Instrument cluster goes blank
Serious108 complaints · 5% of all researchedmedian 2,200 mi
The digital instrument cluster goes dark and stops showing speed, fuel level and other driving information. It is reported in the 2022, 2023 and 2024, with the largest share in the 2024, and very early in ownership. Recalls 21V577000, 22V344000 and 23V298000 cover this for the 2022 and 2023 models, where the fix is an instrument cluster software update or replacement. The 2024 is not listed in those recalls, so ask a dealer about any 2024.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 –
- 2021 –
- 2022 12%
- 2023 12%
- 2024 19%
- 2025 2%
Sunroof breaks or will not close
Serious104 complaints · 5% of all researchedmedian 51,500 mi
The sunroof gets stuck open, jams or comes off its track, and owners describe long waits for parts and repairs that can be expensive. It is reported mostly in the 2020 and 2021, with a few in the 2022, at typical mileage around 51,500. There is no recall for it, so ask about sunroof history on any 2020 or 2021.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 5%
- 2021 16%
- 2022 2%
- 2023 –
- 2024 –
- 2025 –
Sunroof glass shatters
Serious102 complaints · 5% of all researchedmedian 5,000 mi
The sunroof glass breaks suddenly, often with a loud bang, and owners say nothing hit it. One owner describes glass hitting them in the face at highway speed. It is reported in every year from 2020 to 2025, most in the 2022, and often early, with typical mileage around 5,000. There is no recall for it.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 0.9%
- 2021 7%
- 2022 10%
- 2023 7%
- 2024 6%
- 2025 9%
Engine failure
Critical76 complaints · 4% of all researchedmedian 90,700 mi
The engine fails, sometimes while driving, and owners describe lost power, misfires, white smoke and replacement recommendations. It is reported mostly in the 2020 and 2021 at typical mileage around 91,000, with a few in the 2022 to 2024. It is a critical problem for a buyer because replacement is described, and no recall covers it as owners describe it. Ask for full oil change records on any high-mileage 2020 or 2021, since one owner says a warranty claim was denied without them.
Share of each year's complaints
- 2020 5%
- 2021 6%
- 2022 2%
- 2023 1%
- 2024 0.9%
- 2025 –
By year
Kia Telluride Reliability by Year
Each year is judged on its own complaints. Complaint counts are context, not a ranking: they depend on how many were sold and how long they've been on the road.
First generation: 2020–2025
Engines: 3.8L V6. Refresh for 2023.
- 2020Check recallHigh beams stop working (19%); Windshield cracks or chips easily (18%); Excessive oil consumption (13%)768 complaints · 7 recalls
- 2021Check recallWindshield cracks or chips easily (18%); Sunroof breaks or will not close (16%); Excessive oil consumption (10%)365 complaints · 5 recalls
- 2022Check recallWindshield cracks or chips easily (31%); Instrument cluster goes blank (12%); Sunroof glass shatters (10%)324 complaints · 7 recalls
- 2023Check recallWindshield cracks or chips easily (19%); Instrument cluster goes blank (12%); No acceleration in snow mode (8%)207 complaints · 6 recalls
- 2024Check recallInstrument cluster goes blank (19%); Windshield cracks or chips easily (17%); Window trim coming off (9%)219 complaints · 5 recalls
- 2025AvoidStalling or shutting off while driving (39%); Windshield cracks or chips easily (11%); Sunroof glass shatters (9%)116 complaints · 3 recalls
Second generation: 2027 on
Engines: 2.5L turbo four-cylinder, 2.5L turbo hybrid.
- 2027Too fewToo few complaints to name a problem24 complaints · 2 recalls
Years to avoid
Kia Telluride Years to Avoid
Our method marks only the 2025 as a year to avoid, because 39% of its complaints describe the engine stalling while driving. The 2020 to 2024 are marked check the recall was done, because each has park-outside recalls for a fire risk that matter more than any single complaint pattern. The 2027 has too few complaints to judge. See the years-to-avoid page for the year-by-year reasons.
- Years to avoid
- 2025
- Check the recall was done
- 20202021202220232024
- Too few complaints to judge
- 2027
Kia Telluride years to avoid: why each year got its verdict →
Recalls
Kia Telluride Recalls
The recalls to check first are the park-outside ones: 24V407000 and 26V430000 for the front power seat motor on the 2020 to 2024 models, and 22V626000 for the trailer hitch wiring on the 2020 to 2022. Next are the recalls tied to the main complaints, including 24V148000 for high beams on the 2020 and 21V577000, 22V344000 and 23V298000 for blank instrument clusters. The 2025 has recalls for seat back frames, the spare tire and door trim. Enter any Telluride's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying; a Kia dealer does recall repairs free.
- Park outside26V430000Seats, 2020–2024 models
- Park outside24V407000Seats, 2020–2024 models
- Park outside22V626000Trailer hitches, 2020–2022 models
All 19 Telluride recalls, by model yearCheck a VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗
Model years
Explore Kia Telluride Model Years
FAQ
Kia Telluride Questions
Is the Kia Telluride reliable?
It depends heavily on the model year. The 2025 has serious known problems, mainly engines shutting off while driving. The 2020 to 2024 are judged mainly on their park-outside recalls for a fire risk, and each also has its own complaint pattern, such as high beams, oil use or a blank instrument cluster. The 2027 is too new to judge.
What are the most common Kia Telluride problems?
Owners most often describe windshields that crack easily, high beams that stop working, the engine burning oil, stalling, a blank instrument cluster and sunroof problems. Which one you are likely to meet depends on the model year.
Which Kia Telluride years have engine problems?
Oil consumption and engine failure are reported mostly in the 2020 and 2021, usually at high mileage. Stalling is reported in every year but is most common in the 2025 and the 2020.
Does the Kia Telluride have a fire recall?
Yes. Recalls 24V407000 and 26V430000 cover the front power seat motor on the 2020 to 2024 models, and 22V626000 covers the trailer hitch wiring on the 2020 to 2022. All three tell owners to park outside and away from structures until the repair is done. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is there a newer generation of the Kia Telluride?
A second generation is listed for the 2027 model year, with a 2.5L turbo four-cylinder and a 2.5L turbo hybrid. It has only a small number of complaints so far, so it is too early to judge.
Built from 1,999 NHTSA owner complaints, every one researched, and NHTSA's recall records. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How we make these pages.