KIA Telluride Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the KIA Telluride across 7 model years. The 2020 model year has the most (70). The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (8% of reports).
- 178power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 14 of 178 complaints (8%)
- Snow mode: mentioned in 12 of 178 complaints (7%)
- AWD coupler: mentioned in 9 of 178 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 31 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 178 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
KIA Telluride power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Telluride | 7 | 27% | — |
| 2025 Telluride | 8 | 7% | 6,500 |
| 2024 Telluride | 15 | 7% | 1,748 |
| 2023 Telluride | 24 | 12% | 46,000 |
| 2022 Telluride | 26 | 8% | 36,800 |
| 2021 Telluride | 28 | 8% | 15 |
| 2020 Telluride | 70 | 9% | 6,438 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Problem: 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.
Risk: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I am reporting recurring braking, transmission/powertrain, and steering concerns with a new 2027 Kia Telluride purchased in July 2026. BRAKES: When traveling over bumps, especially at higher speeds, braking intermittently flutters, pulses, or feels as if it skips. Braking also feels inconsistent at…
While driving the vehicle on the highway attempting to pass a vehicle at 75 mph the car unexpectedly shut completely off. We had to swerve between 2 vehicles narrowly avoiding an accident and the car would not turn back on. Towed to Kia dealership and was told it was simply a sensor that "talks" to…
Upon Acceleration there was a screeching noise every time. Yesterday the car would not speed up and Rpms were so high. Engine began over heating and got a message to park car and leave running, car started smoking and almost got hit trying to pull out because the car wouldn't speed up with the…
The AWD coupler is shuttering and making the vehicle shake on turns . It is a common issue with KiA awd systems which is why I donât understand why itâs not a recall! It puts peopleâs lifeâs at risk because upon accelerating at an intersection the binding does not let the full acceleration…
I noticed while driving my gas model that when I pulled off from a complete stop it takes time to accelerate although the RPMS are raising. It feels like its struggling to accelerate. It is intermittent but its very noticeable. I have to press the gas pedal very slowly for it to eventually pick up…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Tellurides have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 178 owner complaints about power train for the KIA Telluride. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Telluride power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about power train problems on the KIA Telluride?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 14 of 178 complaints, followed by “snow mode” (12).
Other KIA Telluride problems
- Visibility/wiper problems (349)
- Engine problems (334)
- Electrical System problems (295)
- Exterior Lighting problems (209)
- Structure problems (157)
See all KIA Telluride problems.