What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 KIA Telluride

Typical pattern

14.1% of complaints about the 2021 KIA Telluride came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is other (100 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 3,000 miles.

Complaints
462
Median age at failure
3.8 yr
Median mileage
3,100 n=46
Crash / fire / tow
5.8% of reports
Safety recalls
5 3 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Other
100 reports · 3,000 mi
4.3 yr
4%
Visibility / wipers
62 reports · 1,850 mi
1.3 yr
0%
Engine
62 reports · 90,000 mi
4.9 yr
4.8%
Electrical system
40 reports · 3,100 mi
4.0 yr
2.5%
Structure
33 reports · 4,400 mi
4.0 yr
0%
Collision avoidance
26 reports · 9,300 mi
3.4 yr
26.9%
Power train
25 reports · 15 mi
4.3 yr
0%
Visibility
23 reports · 8,137 mi
2.2 yr
4.3%
Suspension
20 reports · 81,000 mi
4.8 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V430000 2026-07-02 Do not drive
Seats:front assembly:power adjust

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.

A fire increases the risk of injury.

24V407000 2024-06-05 Do not drive
Seats:front assembly:power adjust

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.

A fire increases the risk of injury.

22V626000 2022-08-15 Do not drive
Trailer hitches

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.

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

24V214000 2024-03-20
Power train:driveline:driveshaft

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.

A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.

21V164000 2021-03-11
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

In owners’ own words

Visibility / wipers 772 mi 0 mo in service
BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 772 MILES ON VEHICLE AND THE FIRST ROCK TO HIT WINDSHIELD CAUSED QUARTER SIZE CRACK ON WINDSHIELD. AN I LITERALLY MEAN FIRST TIME A PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WAS DRIVING 62MPH ON FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A SMALL TICK AND LOOKED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT REALLY? I HAVE HAD TWO CHIPS ON MY PREVIOUS 8 VEHICLES AND BOTH TIME THE NOISE MADE STARTLED ME AND THIS I ONLY HEARD IT CAUSE MY RADIO WAS OFF.
Visibility / wipers 2,800 mi 1 mo in service
LAST WEEK THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND TODAY THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT, NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 2021 S MODEL 2800 MILES ON THE CLOCK
Visibility / wipers 3,000 mi 1 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A SMALL PEBBLE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A CHIP. AFTER PARKING AND THEN RETURNING TO THE CAR 2 HOURS LATER THE CHIP HAD SPREAD INTO A VERY LARGE CRACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT CRACK AFTER A CHIP LIKE THIS. THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD MUST NOW BE REPLACED AT SIGNIFICANT COST.
Other mileage not reported 10 mo in service
Windshield cracked. No noticeable rock hit, but does have small pit near drivers side. Started small 4 “ or so, but now crack has grown across the whole drivers side. Directly in line of vision. Touching the windshield makes it crack more

Other Telluride model years

202520242023202220212020

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