KIA Telluride Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,044 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls on file for the KIA Telluride, across 7 model years (2020–2027). The 2020 model year has the most complaints (773). The most reported problem area overall is visibility/wiper.
KIA Telluride years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Telluride year: 2020. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2020 Telluride: 773 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2021 Telluride: 370 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2022 Telluride: 327 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2027 Telluride: 26 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2025 Telluride: 120 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2023 Telluride: 207 complaints, 6 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA Telluride problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper problems | 349 | 6 | 1 |
| Engine problems | 334 | 7 | 1 |
| Electrical System problems | 295 | 7 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 209 | 6 | 2 |
| Power Train problems | 178 | 7 | 5 |
| Structure problems | 157 | 7 | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 91 | 7 | 11 |
| Visibility | 83 | 6 | 0 |
| Suspension | 73 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 65 | 7 | 8 |
| Seats | 59 | 7 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 58 | 6 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 42 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 41 | 7 | 3 |
| Steering | 41 | 7 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 33 | 6 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 6 | 11 |
| Back Over Prevention | 21 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 6 | 0 |
| Wheels | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Trailer Hitches | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Insert, Padding | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
KIA Telluride problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2022: visibility/wiper (73) · electrical system (69)
- 2021: engine (67) · visibility/wiper (64)
- 2020: exterior lighting (185) · engine (152) · visibility/wiper (136) · power train (70) · electrical system (60) · structure (56)
All KIA Telluride model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Telluride | 26 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Telluride | 120 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Telluride | 221 | 5 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2023 Telluride | 207 | 6 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Telluride | 327 | 7 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | More complaints than other years |
| 2021 Telluride | 370 | 5 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | More complaints than other years |
| 2020 Telluride | 773 | 7 | 5★ | Exterior Lighting | Far more complaints than other years |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA Telluride years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2020 (773) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Telluride year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Telluride?
Visibility/wiper, with 349 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA Telluride have?
19 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.