crashtest

2021 / KIA

2021 KIA Telluride

5/5

Overall rating (best variant)

Safety ratings

2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD

5/5Overall
4/5Frontal crash
5/5Side crash
5/5Side pole
4/5Rollover
Frontal, driver: 4★Frontal, passenger: 4★Side, driver: 5★Side, rear passenger: 5★Rollover risk: 14.3%
  • Lane departure warningStandard
  • Forward collision warningStandard
  • Electronic stability controlStandard

2021 Kia Telluride SUV FWD

5/5Overall
4/5Frontal crash
5/5Side crash
5/5Side pole
4/5Rollover
Frontal, driver: 4★Frontal, passenger: 4★Side, driver: 5★Side, rear passenger: 5★Rollover risk: 15.5%
  • Lane departure warningStandard
  • Forward collision warningStandard
  • Electronic stability controlStandard

Crash test videos & photos

Crash test #1NHTSA test 10838

Full test report (PDF) ↗

Crash-test footage is converted for smooth playback the first time someone requests it — usually under a minute.

Photo No. 001 - As Delivered Right Front Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 002 - As Delivered Left Rear Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 003 - Pre-Test Frontal View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 004 - Post-Test Frontal View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 005 - Pre-Test Left Front Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 006 - Post-Test Left Front Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 007 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 008 - Post-Test Left Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 009 - Pre-Test Left Rear Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 010 - Post-Test Left Rear Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 011 - Pre-Test Rear View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 012 - Post-Test Rear View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 013 - Pre-Test Right Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 014 - Post-Test Right Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 015 - Pre-Test Overhead View of Test Area .jpgPhoto No. 016 - Post-Test Overhead View of Test Area.jpgPhoto No. 017 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Pole Positioned Against Side of Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 018 - Pre-Test Right Side View of Pole Positioned Against Side of Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 019 - Pre-Test Close-Up View of Impact Point Target.JPGPhoto No. 020 - Post-Test Close-Up View of Impact Point Target Showing Impact Location.JPGPhoto No. 021 - Pre-Test Front Close-Up View of Dummy Head and Chest.JPGPhoto No. 022 - Post-Test Front Close-Up View of Dummy.JPGPhoto No. 023 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Dummy Showing Belt and Chalking.JPGPhoto No. 024 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Dummy Shoulder and Door Top View.JPGPhoto No. 067 - FMVSS Photo No. 301 Static Rollover 360 Degrees.JPG

Crash test #2NHTSA test 10839

Full test report (PDF) ↗

Crash-test footage is converted for smooth playback the first time someone requests it — usually under a minute.

Photo No. 001 - As Delivered Right Front Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 002 - As Delivered Left Rear Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 003 - Pre-Test Frontal View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 004 - Post-Test Frontal View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 005 - Pre-Test Left Front Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 006 - Post-Test Left Front Three-Quarter View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 007 - Pre-Test Left Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 008 - Post-Test Left Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 009 - Pre-Test Left Three-Quarter Rear View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 010 - Post-Test Left Three-Quarter Rear View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 011 - Pre-Test Rear View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 012 - Post-Test Rear View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 013 - Pre-Test Right Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 014 - Post-Test Right Side View of Test Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 015 - Pre-Test Overhead View of Test Area.JPGPhoto No. 016 - Post-Test Overhead View of Test Area.JPGPhoto No. 017 - Pre-Test Left Side View of MDB Positioned Against Side of Test  Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 018 - Pre-Test Right Side View of MDB Positioned Against Side of Test  Vehicle.JPGPhoto No. 019 - Pre-Test Close-Up View of Impact Point Target.JPGPhoto No. 020 - Post-Test Close-Up View of Impact Point Target.JPGPhoto No. 021 - Pre-Test Left Front Door Latch Close-Up.JPGPhoto No. 022 - Post-Test Left Front Door Latch Close-Up.JPGPhoto No. 023 - Pre-Test Left Rear Door Latch Close-Up.JPGPhoto No. 024 - Post-Test Left Rear Door Latch Close-Up.JPGPhoto No. 037 - Pre-Test View of Disengaged Parking Brake.jpgPhoto No. 039 - Pre-Test Close-Up Left Side View of Driver Seat Track.JPGPhoto No. 046 - Pre-Test Driver Inner Door Panel View.JPGPhoto No. 049 - Post-Test Driver Dummy Close-up Head Contact with Side Airbag View.JPGPhoto No. 052 - Post-Test Driver Dummy Close-up Pelvis Contact with Vehicle Interior View.JPGPhoto No. 053 - Post-Test Driver Dummy Close-up Pelvis Contact with Side Airbag View.JPGPhoto No. 085 - Post-Test Front View of MDB Impactor Face.JPG

Recalls (5)

⚠ Park outside — urgent recall

NHTSA has flagged 3 recalls on this vehicle as severe (fire risk — park away from structures). Contact a dealer immediately; recall repairs are free.

  • TRAILER HITCHESCampaign 22V626000 · 15/08/2022Park outside

    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.

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

    Fix: 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.

  • SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUSTCampaign 24V407000 · 05/06/2024Park outside

    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.

    Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.

    Fix: 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.

  • SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUSTCampaign 26V430000 · 02/07/2026Park outside

    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.

    Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.

    Fix: 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.

  • POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTCampaign 24V214000 · 20/03/2024

    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.

    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.

  • AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULECampaign 21V164000 · 11/03/2021

    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."

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Owner complaints

356
Complaints
7
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Most-reported areas

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER100
  • VISIBILITY/WIPER62
  • ENGINE61
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM39
  • STRUCTURE33
  • POWER TRAIN27
  • VISIBILITY23
  • FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE21
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

  • 12/31/2025· ENGINE

    Bought the vehicle in February. The vehicle is burning oil too fast. In 1 week 5 qts. I don't drive much as I work from home. Kia dealer wants thousands of dollars. I paid for extended warranty.

  • 12/30/2025· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

    I purchased the 2021 Telluride (former owner of a Sportage, Rio and Sorento). I have our local mechanic handle maintenance and service. After paying $1,400 for a tune up to address misfiring, we quickly concluded the transmission was shot and my engine was burning theough every drop of oil before it was due for a change. I went to Kia of Des Moines, since it is covered under a 200k/20-year warranty. They replaced the transmission under warranty, I shared my mechanic details for records, and they told me they were going to do an oil consumption test. They sent me on my way, asking for me to return after 1,000 miles. I did (and then my car began shaking, but we thought it was due to snow conditions) and they quickly said, "Yes, it is an issue!" My Telluride burned through almost 2.5 quarts of oil in 1,000 miles. I left on 12/15, being told they would have direction from Kia corporate on next steps and acknowledged I need a vehicle loaner during repairs (single disabled mother, who has to travel safely). I did not hear back, chasing for updates. Yesterday, Steven text me saying I would need to authorize $1,600 engine tear down fee in order to confirm issue. I asked for Denny, the manager to contact me. I also called Kia Care, who said it is up to dealer. I am seeing so many issues with Tellurides burning oil. And, I do not have $1,600 to make my vehicle safe - that amount would make me sacrifice my home or another necessity. Google said to fight it and to submit a form to you also. I have to fight this because I have no other choice than to sell an organ. I will stock up on oil to keep filling it so my engine doesn't blow up, but have incredible fear of being stranded and not being able to get my vehicle towed or us home safely. If there is anything you can assist with, I appreciate it. I just found out my parent's 2023 telluride is burning too much oil too - they haven't got the $1,600 sticker, but I know that amount will wreck them also.

  • 12/30/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

    My engine started jerking when stopped. Then the electrical started acting up, like the windows wouldn't roll back up. Then the engine just shut off while I was driving.

  • 12/30/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION

    Anytime going through the car wash the front and back parking sensors don’t work and gives an error. It is now permanently stuck with this error.

  • 12/30/2023· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,VISIBILITY/WIPER

    The front wiper blades get stuck when in use. This most often occurs when they are at their upper most point, but happens in a lower position as well. I had a previous issue where the left blade components had to be replaced because of stripped nuts/gears. This does not appear to be the same issue. I’ve taken it to the dealer and to another mechanic, neither of who could recreate the problem. This is quite dangerous as it impedes my visibility while driving in precipitation. The other issue is with buttons on the steering column that either do not work or miscommunication. This has been repaired/replaced but with the same issue.

  • 12/27/2025· ENGINEFire

    First there are holes in the block from a rod bearing coming off. It was leaking oil and started on fire. There are many recalls and law suits regarding this matter and we shouldn’t be on the hook for putting a new engine in.

  • 12/27/2025· STRUCTURE

    The plastic arms of the sunroof deflector assembly broke. Part # - (81690-S8000). Now my sunroof won't close.

  • 12/26/2023· SUSPENSION

    Rear suspension harshness, rough ride, and asymmetric rear ride quality body movement. Medium to large bumbs on road causing body to pitch latterally causing all passengers to have accessive headtoss. Driver fatigue sets in quickly.

  • 12/23/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    1) What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The panoramic sunroof assembly — specifically the sunroof panel and its track/mechanism — failed. The sunroof panel came off its track and damaged related components (e.g., guide rails/wind deflector arms). The damaged sunroof and broken parts are available for inspection upon request. 2) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The sunroof panel dislodged unexpectedly during normal use. This could have caused objects or glass to fall into the cabin or onto the roadway, presenting a risk of injury to occupants or other road users. Sudden failure of the sunroof mechanism also poses a distraction while driving. 3) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The dealership/service center inspected the vehicle and confirmed the sunroof panel was off its track and broken. (If the dealer refused to acknowledge it as a defect, state: “The dealership inspected the failure but did not classify it as a warranty defect.”) 4) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle/sunroof was inspected by an authorized Kia dealership service department. (If applicable: “Insurance representatives were not involved.” / “Kia corporate has not inspected the vehicle.”) 5) Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages prior to the sunroof failure. There were no abnormal noises or operational symptoms immediately before the sunroof panel disengaged from its track.

  • 12/20/2025· STRUCTURE

    Wind deflecters on sunroof have broken off which is making it inoperable.

  • 12/18/2021· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    While driving, small amount of snow fell from roof on to windshield and was unable to see the road clearly. Wipers were unable to lift the small about of snow to clear the windshield. Luckily I was not on a busy road an was able to stop. After clearing the small amount of snow the wipers were able to function.

  • 12/18/2020· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    WINDSHIELD WAS FOUND WITH A 4 FOOT CRACK. IN IT .NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD

  • 12/18/2020· VISIBILITY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2021 KIA TELLURIDE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DUE TO A SNOW STORM HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY THE CONTACT WENT TO CLEAN OFF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ROUTE 23 KIA (1 WINDBEAM RD, RIVERDALE, NJ 07457) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE ASSESSED FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

  • 12/17/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    My stationary sunroof exploded with no Impact while driving. You can tell from. Photos the hole is inside to outside. This happened May 1st, I had it repaired with OEM glass on 5/10 and from day 1 after the repair had the shade vented to alleviate hot air getting trapped as they say they could be a factor. Well then it happened again today on Dec. 17th !! Something is wrong with either frame or the glass KIA is using !

  • 12/17/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Opened the sunroof today for the first time in over a year. The sunroof opened with no problem. Tried to close sunroof, and it will not close all the way. Tried multiple times to open and close without success.

  • 12/17/2024· STRUCTURE

    Sunroof has got jammed in open position. You have issued a statement on this now Kia will not manufacture the parts to the roof (backorder really) and wants to charge you $5000 to put a whole new roof on -

  • 12/17/2020· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING WITHIN A MONTH OF THE PURCHASE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-80. SEVERAL TRIPS TO KIA WITH KIA TECH LINE AND THEY DENY THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE. THEY SAID THE VIBRATION MEASURED WITH A PICOSCOPE WAS WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. AFTER FIGHTING WITH KIA CONSUMERS, I TOOK IT TO A DRIVESHAFT SPECIALIST FOR AN INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSIS. THE FINDINGS FROM THE DRIVESHAFT SPECIALIST WERE QUITE ALARMING AND IT'S OBVIOUS KIA IS TRYING TO HIDE THE PROBLEM AND FORCING CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM TO LIVE WITH IT. DRIVESHAFT SPECIALIST TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM WOULD GET WORSE AND AFFECT OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING A KIA FORUM AND THEY ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TELLURIDE AWD'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. YESTERDAY I TRADED MY VEHICLE OFF AT A $6K LOSS SO I DID NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE HEADACHES AND KEEP FIGHTING KIA. THIS IS NOT RIGHT TO CONSUMERS AND HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THEIR 2020 AWD TELLURIDE. IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL #CGS-266219 IN OCTOBER. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CASE #13767404. THEY OFFERED ME $2500 AND WANTED ME TO SIGN OFF ON THE COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT SIGNED ANYTHING OR RECEIVED ANY MONIES. I JUST LOST $6,000 BECAUSE OF THESE PEOPLE SO $2500 IS NOT COVERING MY LOSS. I HAVE RECENTLY RECOVERED FROM SURGERY, CHEMO, AND RADIATION AND DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT THIS GIANT. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THERE IS A KIA FORUM ON VIBRATION WHERE THERE ARE LITERALLY SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

  • 12/16/2024· ENGINE

    Engine oil pan gasket and oil filter housing have failed shy of couple hundred miles of manufacturer warranty

  • 12/16/2021· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    A tiny rock hit the windshield going 30 miles an hour. The crack has consistently grown every day. My whole windshield has to be replaced. I've never had a vehicle that has such a weak windshield. This car is only 11 months old. The crack is horizontal and affects my view if the road because it's right in the middle.

  • 12/16/2020· POWER TRAIN

    THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TELLURIDES AND HYUNDAI PALISADE VEHICLES RIGHT NOW WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN SPEEDS REACH 55MPH - 70MPH. KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AND DEALERS ARE NOT BEING HELPFUL. THEY ROAD FORCED BALANCED MY WHEELS AND SENT ME HOME...I TOLD THEM IT'S NOT FIXED AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT BACK. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON FORUM/MESSAGING BOARD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. KIA REPLACES DRIVESHAFTS/AWD COUPLERS ON SOME WHICH RESOLVES THE ISSUES BUT IGNORES OTHERS. THEY NEED A TSB TO FIX THIS UNIVERSALLY. THIS PIECEMEAL APPROACH HAS GOTTEN THEM IN TROUBLE WITH NHSTA ALREADY.

  • 12/14/2021· ENGINE

    As I started the car, it began to shake and shudder while idling. And the check engine light turned on. I could smell the unburied gas inside the car.

  • 12/12/2020· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    WE PURCHASED OUR 2021 TELLURIDE NOVEMBER 14TH AND LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER A CHIP APPEARED OR WAS MINOR BEYOND SOMETHING WE RECOGNIZED WHEN WE PURCHASED IT SINCE IT WAS DARK WHEN WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN SECONDS ESCALATED TO A FULL BLOWN CRACK GREATER THAN 6 INCHES WHEN WE WERE TURNING DOWN A ROAD WHERE THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR OUTSIDE INFLUENCES AROUND. THEY SAID BECAUSE IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IMPACT DAMAGE CAUSED IT THAT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD EVEN THOUGH KIA ALREADY HAS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE ON THE 2020 MODELS WHERE A CHIP QUICKLY BECOMES UNREPAIRABLE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE WINDOW. WE DIDN'T EVEN GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE CHIP FILLED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WITHIN SECONDS. I'VE OWNED MANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS ON THE THE ROAD OF FROM SIMPLY BEING OUTSIDE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A CRACK APPEAR SO QUICKLY AND ESCALATE BEYOND MINOR REPAIRS IN SECONDS.

  • 12/10/2025· SUSPENSION

    Rear shocks unstable. When on rough roads or small imperfections in the road it’s hard to control vehicle and items/people get abruptly jostled. The dealership has been notified but says it’s not a recall and will look at it but can only take pictures and send it off to main office. No warning of this failure.

  • 12/09/2024· POWER TRAIN

    Vehicle surges when at a stop. Normally RPM run about 500, when the vehicle surges the RPM's jump without notice to 1000 or more and the car acts like a race horse wanting to get out of the gate. Heavy pressure on the brake is needed at all times when stopped at a light, for a turn, at a stop sign. This started around 82K miles and was reported to the dealership. Dealership could duplicate issue and no codes were thrown. Again reported at 89.5K, 91.6K, 99.6K, 103.5K with same response from dealership. Contacted KIA and received a case number in case the issue is a warranted situation and is uncovered after 100K mile warranty expires.

  • 12/09/2020· VISIBILITY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 KIA TELLURIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED ALL STAR KIA EAST (27700 JUBAN RD BLDG. 2, DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726) OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE BELIEF THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VANDALIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900.

  • 12/08/2021· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    Kia has been on notice of the Telluride's deficient headlights with the ES model since at least 2019 and have done nothing. The highest end model has LED lights so Kia is more than capable of fixing this problem. I know that dozens of consumers like myself have filed complaints with the NHTSA and other organizations and nothing has been done. I have called Kia headquarters at least 3 times to complain. The headlights do not provide enough light to safely drive at night. I'm not an engineer (I'm a lawyer) but I know that the design is faulty. Now that it's wintertime and dark at 5:00, I am unable to drive the car at night for fear of killing myself, my family, a pedestrian, or pet. Why hasn't NHTSA done anything to investigate these numerous complaints? Why have years gone on with resolution or recall? Is Kia (or the NHSTA) waiting for someone to actually die before they do something? (It seems so based on the below questions). I guess it's not enough that consumers like myself can't use our cars at night. I CAN'T BE ANY CLEARER: SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. YOU ARE ON NOTICE. Please let me know the results of your investigation into this matter because this has gone on long enough. Conduct an investigation and get to the bottom on this please.

  • 12/07/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    The pearl white paint on my vehicle started to delaminate (confirmed by Wallace Kia Collision center). It started at approximately 24,000 miles, approximately 9 months past Kia's 3 year paint warranty. This is a known issue with the paint - pearl white, with many manufacturers affected. Kia, thus far, has refused to cover the repair.

  • 12/07/2020· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    PURCHASED VEHICLE AND AFTER 2 WEEKS NOTICED A MAJOR CRACK IN WINDSHIELD STARTING FROM EDGE TO ALMOST MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. NO EVIDENCE OF A CHIP.

  • 12/04/2025· POWER TRAIN

    The oil filter housing is made of plastic and it cracked causing a major oil leak. There were no warning lights on the dash. Our family had just gotten into the car to visit family for Thanksgiving. I ran back into the house to get something and when I came back I first saw a large puddle of oil where the car was parked then I looked at the car and could see oil streaming out. At first I thought the filter or the oil drain plug had come loose. We had our local mechanic look at it and he said it was a common problem they see with plastic housings instead of metal. We called the closet KIA dealership and they said it was a known problem but KIA has not issued a recall. I searched online and found many complaints. If I had not noticed the leak we could have either had a fire or major damage to the engine.

  • 12/01/2023· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    As I was driving down the interstate heading to a doctor’s appointment the unexpected happened with my Kia Telluride. My Telluride is a 2021 and only had roughly 37,000 miles on it, and I believe it is important to notate that I’ve never had any issues with this car since purchasing it. However, on this particular day, as I was driving down the interstate the entire window located on the drivers side at the rear back seat shattered. I thought someone may have hit me but as I pulled over there was no evidence of any damage besides the window shattering. There was no sign of rocks, material, or anything that would have caused the shatter. I called the police prior to examining the vehicle who stated that the window appeared to have shattered at its own discretion and therefore they could not file a police report. I did however pay to have the window replaced, and pay to have glass removed from every inch of my car as the glass shattered everywhere. The biggest concern was that the chunks of glass/shatters were mostly in my one year old daughters car seat. The police stated that if she was in her car seat at the time of the window “explosion” she would have been severely injured or even possibly death due to the large amount of glass. As a driver of the vehicle, I myself had pieces of glass fly into my arms while I was driving, but I thank God my Duaghter was not in the car with me that day. Not only is this harmful to the driver or passengers but also harmful to other drivers as it could have caused an accident. I am still nervous to this day about having my kids in my telluride as I never know if the window may shatter. This is a worry I never had before and believe this is worth investigating. I never had any signs, warning lights, or any warning of this event, as I was simply driving, heard a loud boom and realized the window had shattered and glass was everywhere.

  • 12/01/2020· ENGINE

    MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ON THE FIRST COLD MORNING. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT STARTED SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND IDLED FUNNY. I SHUT IT OFF.

  • 11/29/2021· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    What happened: The analog speedometer and digital speedometer were not working. I was driving the car and I would be moving but my speedometer and digital readout remained at 0 mph even with my RPM showing as moving. All other gages and read outs were working except for speed. Safety risk for myself and others: I was unaware of how fast I was driving Problem also happened once prior a few weeks ago I put the car into Park and put back into Drive and it fixed it. This time however when I tried that it did not fix the issue. I even tried turning the car off and back on and it did not fix the issue. The issue was fixed after waiting until the next day to drive and when I got in to drive it worked again. Unable to repeat the issue as it is happening sporadically and does not seem to have a specific cause. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure.

  • 11/27/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Three windshields in a row have cracked seemingly without cause. My windshields never chip, they have only cracked or shattered.

  • 11/22/2020· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    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.

  • 11/22/2020· POWER TRAIN

    THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEATS VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-80MPH. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON TELLURIDES AND PALISADES THAT IS FIXED BY REPLACING WITH A PROPERLY BALANCED DRIVESHAFT. HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSES TO PROCEED AND KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH.

  • 11/21/2022· VISIBILITY

    Driving on the highway on 11/20/22, at approximately 65-70 mph, when there was a loud bang above the driver’s head causing the driver to become startled and swerve. The wind noise became louder and there was also a noise like something was moving on top of the sunshade. Exited the highway and pulled into a parking lot. Got out and the front sunroof had exploded and shards of glass were on top of the closed sunshade. The glass that remained was blown outward as if something inside the vehicle caused it to explode. Luckily the sunshade was closed and contained the glass or it would have come into the vehicle cabin and potential caused an accident or injuries to the occupants, and one could have been my one year old daughter. There were no cars around, no debris in the road, and not near an overpass.

  • 11/20/2025· STRUCTURE

    The door belt molding trim detached. It is available for inspection. If not caught before it completely detached it would have caused a road hazard. Models from 2023-2025 have already been recalled but not my 2021 model which has the same issue. The vehicle was inspected by the dealership I bought it from but they were unwilling to take responsibility since the recall didn't encompass my 2021 model. Kia Corp also was unwilling to take responsibility after I brought the issue to their attention. I noticed the trim pealing off the car. It took little effort to remove it completely and I'm glad I did because it would have fallen off while we were driving.

  • 11/19/2025· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

    On 11/01/2025, while traveling on the highway traveling at a speed of 80mph, my vehicle suddenly would not accelerate beyond 60 mph. I managed to exit safely, but this created a dangerous situation for both me, my daughter and other motorists . The next day, Firestone inspected the vehicle and informed me the engine contained zero oil—yet no oil light, check-engine light, temperature warning, or sensor alerts were triggered at any point. There were no visible oil leaks, suggesting internal oil consumption, which I had reported to Kia in October of 2024. On 10/21/2024, I paid $3,300 for a flywheel/ignition repair at a Kia dealership. When I dropped off the vehicle for that repair, I specifically reported abnormal oil consumption and requested it be checked. Kia did not diagnose or remedy the concern. The combination of: -Complete oil loss -No warning indicators -Sudden loss of power and inability to accelerate -Occurring at highway speed constitutes a critical safety defect. Drivers cannot take preventative action if the vehicle provides no indication of catastrophic engine failure until it is already occurring. This defect exposes drivers, passengers, and surrounding motorists to severe risk of collision or injury. Additionally, the dealership later provided a Carfax entry simple stating "car maintenance" on 10/22/2024. No record of what was repaired, indicating inaccurate or incomplete documentation. I am requesting that NHTSA: -Review this incident as a potential engine safety defect. -investigate whether other 2021 Kia Telluride owners are experiencing similar catastrophic oil -loss or lack of warning indicators. -Assess whether current recalls adequately address this failure pattern. -Determine whether an additional recall or investigation is warranted.

  • 11/19/2024· STRUCTURE

    Vehicle sunroof has become stuck in it’s tilted open position. The spoiler at the front has detached. Since the sunroof cannot close, if there is a wind, hitting the car, the sunroof can’t detach from the car at this point, and fly into another car. This issue has been reported with the numerous Kia telluride’s as seen on the Internet. It is not nearly anesthetic problem. It is a safety issue.

  • 11/19/2020· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    I RECENTLY DROVE MY NEW 2021 TELLURIDE SX TO MY CABIN IN GA. AND FOUND A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE BACKWOODS. THE VISIBILITY USING THE LED HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS ARE TERRIBLE AND POSE A DANGER. IF YOU ARE DRIVING DOWNHILL AND THE ROAD GOES UP OR TURNS YOU HAVE ZERO VISIBILITY, IT ACTUALLY CREATES A LINE AS IN MY PICTURE. I BROUGHT IT INTO MY KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID CORPORATE IS AWARE OF IT BUT THERE IS NO FIX AS OF YET SO THEY ADJUSTED THEM AS BEST THEY COULD. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE WILL DIE IF THEY DO NOT GET A A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE.

  • 11/14/2024· ENGINE

    I am the original owner of our 2021 Kia Telluride and we follow the manufacturers recommendations and ensure our oil is changed every ~10K miles. Our Kia was recently serviced at Nationwide Kia in Timonium Maryland in April 2024 and had the oil changed. As I was driving today, [XXX] the Oil Pressure Warning Light came on. When I pulled over, I checked the dipstick and it was below the low level. I immediately put in 5 quarts of oil and the light remains on. I contacted Kia and will be taking the car in for them to assess; however, I am urging that a recall for this issue is addressed. This is a common problem that others are having as well. This could have caused significant issues as I work in the inner city of Baltimore and breaking down would not be a good thing for a [XXX] Please ensure Kia does the right thing and issues a recall for this issue. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  • 11/12/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    While driving, opened sunroof and it got off track and exploded the sunroof.

  • 11/11/2021· VISIBILITY/WIPER

    The front windshield cracked. There was no known hit by an object and the windshield has cracked on the passenger side and continues to grow. Visibility is reduced due to this crack and it is a known issue in the 2020 model year and it appears to be continuing in the 2021 model year. The windshield will need replacement.

  • 11/09/2023· STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY

    The sunroof got stuck in the open position. It is available for inspection. Wind/rain/foreign objects are able to enter stuck sunroof and cause injury and or vehicle damage. Kia dealership confirmed that this has happened to others with the same male and model. Others have reported issue causing whole sunroof glass to crack/break/explode. No warning lights or signs.

  • 11/05/2023· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Went to open sunroof and the plastic rail that Kia uses broke causing the sunroof glass to derail. Not able to retract the glass back in. In addition to the guide rail failing the wind deflector also broke.

  • 11/03/2020· STRUCTURE

    WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY, TAKING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SLIGHTLY AND OFTEN VIBRATES AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS OF HOW FAR DOWN THE WINDOW IS OPENED. UPON RETURNING HOME FROM SCHOOL DROP OFF, I CHECKED THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR AND GOT A CHAIR TO STAND ON TO SEE THE TOP OF THE CAR. THAT IS WHEN I SAW THE LARGE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND ROW SUNROOF. THE HOLE LOOKED SIMILAR TO A VOLCANO WITH THE JAGGED EDGES POINTING UPWARDS. THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE HOLE WERE ALSO AT AN UPWARD INCLINE. THIS TELLS ME THE SUNROOF EXPLODED UPWARDS FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, NOT FROM AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. ALSO, THE FACT THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS VIBRATE WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN TELLS ME THERE IS AN AIR PRESSURE ISSUE WITHIN THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE.

  • 10/30/2020· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER

    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

  • 10/29/2025· SERVICE BRAKES

    After having a rear brake replacement on 10/14/25 - was driving to work on 10/28/25, hear a clunk noise that repeated at random. When pulling thru a parking lot I lost my brakes completely. When I parked the car I looked at the brake and the newly installed caliper had fallen apart. Towed to shop to have the vehicle looked and then replaced the caliper with the same brand caliper from the dealership.

  • 10/29/2025· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    I tried to open the sunroof and it made a loud "popping" sound then would not close. I took it to the Kia Service center in SC (Fred Anderson Kia Greenville, SC)and the tech informed me this would be a $7000 fix. They also informed me to report this incident since they have also had numerous sunroof issues with this make and model. KIA also released a technical service bulletin " This bulletin provides information to perform a partial replacement of the sunroof wind deflector and mechanism arms on some 2019-2022MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from February 15, 2019 through January 19, 2022. The affected vehicles may experience the sunroof open/close operation inoperative and/or the sunroof wind deflector function inoperative. " A this is a known defect, this should be issued recall as it could result in sunroof glass break, causing injury to drivers, passengers.

  • 10/29/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Sunroof Deflecter broke. The small side arms plastic snapped on both sides. Sunroof won’t close flush.