Kia Telluride Complaints

1,204 consumer complaints on file.

#11754641August 4, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Opened the sunroof wind deflector broke tracks broke will not close
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754602August 3, 2026
SEATS
SUBJECT: SAFETY RECALL DENIAL APPEAL: Pinched Seat Harness Fire Hazard - 2024 Kia Telluride VIN: [XXX] KIA case #:XXX TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I am filing an urgent safety appeal regarding a refusal by my local dealership to repair a severe fire hazard on my 2024 Kia Telluride. This vehicle is experiencing the exact failure mode detailed in federal safety recalls regarding the front passenger power seat wiring. The dealership has denied coverage by claiming rodent damage. However, the official photograph provided to me by the dealership’s own service department completely disproves the claim and confirms a manufacturing/design defect: 1. CLEAR MECHANICAL FLATTENING: The first wire in the harness is severely flattened and shows distinct mechanical abrasion and rubbing marks across its surface. The insulation is pressed flat, which can only happen under the immense pressure of the moving metal seat frame or track. 2. ELONGATED CUT AND SHEARED: The second wire directly behind it features a clean, continuous one-inch cut where the rubber insulation has been completely stripped away exposing the live circuit. 3. NO BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: There are no jagged chew marks, frayed insulation fibers, nesting materials, or pest droppings anywhere in the area or vehicle itself. This is an undeniable case of the seat mechanism pinching, rubbing, and exposing the wiring harness during normal operation, leading to a direct short circuit and blown fuses. Leaving a live, exposed wire beneath a moving power seat presents an immediate thermal and fire risk to my family. I requested that Kia Corporate immediately override this dealership assessment and to dispatch a Field Technical Specialist if necessary, and authorize the complete replacement of the damaged wiring harness under the active safety recall and factory warranty. They also wanted to repair this wire by using liquid rubber, which is totally unacceptable and I refused. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754591August 3, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When turning the vehicle, say on to another road and not coming to a full stop, when you accelerate it doesn't want to accelerate, you press the pedal down gradually until all of a sudden it jumps to 2 or 3000 rpms and goes. Previously when we had this issue it was the AWD coupler that was fixed 1 to 2 years ago. My vehicle was inspected just before my warranty was up at around 98000 miles, I waited 8 hours for them to tell me they couldn't recreate the issue, I got in the vehicle and went to leave and had the same issue, turned around had their Lead Technician Zach ride with me and recreated the issue for him, he acknowledged that when I was accelerating the RPMs were not increasing, they kept my vehicle another 5 days after stating the first day they had to open a case with the Tech Line and do a flight diagnostic, after very poor communication over those days and the dealership telling me that the Tech line said if they couldn't recreate it there was nothing they could do, I finally called the Kia Customer Care line to ask for the Case number, the Kia Customer Care line stated that no where in the case did it state a Technician went on a ride along with me and experienced the issue and they also stated that Kia Tech line did not tell them there was nothing more they could do they asked them to keep trying to recreate the issue, eventually after having the vehicle for 6 days I finally had to go get my vehicle back. After 6 days of poor communication and no resolution. I have researched online regarding this issue as well and I am not the only one who has experienced this issue in this vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754431August 3, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driving and brakes malfunctioned and would not stop causing an accident into a tree
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11754247August 2, 2026
SEATS
Purchased brand new 2/26. 5/26 driver seat locked randomly and stayed locked in unsafe position. Took to dealership they held for over one week, saw the initial problem but it fixed itself and they held it for a Week to recreate it. It is an intermittent issue, randomly locks. I picked it up and dealership told me to video it if it happens again and bring it back. Happened again 6/26 brought it back in showed video. This time it was still locked. They ordered the part but didn’t know when it would come in so I took my vehicle home. Dealership dropped contact with me, I called and emailed for status on reordered part. They ordered wrong part, wrong color, waiting for replacement. No communication again I called manager he called back told me he was asking for it from assembly line. Never heard from dealership again. Contacted Kia Customer Care to get involved, they told me dealership ordered part three times, always wrong color, waiting on Korea to get resolution. No communication again, contacted and escalated with Kia Cusotmer Care, spoke with JoAnne, she was contacting the dealership, getting a part from the assembly line. Joanne dropped communication. I’ve left voicemail and emails. No one is responding. I have a service dog, disabled veteran and four children two special needs. This vehicle was chosen specifically to transport everyone safely. We travel a lot. The loaner vehicles from dealership were not what we have and the dealership gave me grief for my service dog as “no animals allowed in rentals” but they allowed me to do it reluctantly. I need my vehicle, this one is randomly locking, making it dangerous to drive consistently and reliably. I have precious cargo with me, I do not trust it and I am requiring a replacement of the same vehicle. The lack of communication and care to fix this issue has left a huge lack of confidence in Kia as a whole.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754085July 31, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While driving this vehicle in route to Philadelphia airport JFK, i experienced a total malfunction of the instrument cluster. All of the warning lights continued to go on and off and were illuminating on the cluster non stop along with a audible chiming, all of wich lasted the 3 hour trip. The car is available anytime. Warning lights/alarms were not only distracting but affected the spedometer which would shut down totally. No dealer or service center has been contacted yet.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753874July 30, 2026
ENGINE
On four different occasions the car starts flashing red saying to immediately put in park. We lose all control of the car, have to slowly coast to the side of the highway and turn the car off. When we turn it back on, drive again, it will happen shortly after. It has happened two different days about a month apart, two times each day. Our car has been at the dealership for two months and since they can’t duplicate it Kia consumer affairs says we have to go get the car and deal with it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753812July 30, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I bought my car in April, it is now July. My SUV has been in the shop twice for engine failures. My car will die while I’m driving, and will not restart. The check engine light, oil light and battery light come on. The brake locks up and I am unable to restart until after anywhere from 5-20 minutes. It has happened a total of 7 times, the first time being one week after purchase. I have been trapped in moving traffic unable to move, trapped and stop lights that turn green and stop signs. I have 5 kids who have been stuck in the car with me when this has happened. There are always people driving behind me honking, cussing and yelling because the car has died and they are unable to mov also. The auto stop has been replaced by a local Kia dealership and it continues to happen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753524July 29, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
My 2021 Kia Telluride (60,500 miles) experienced failure of the panoramic sunroof wind deflector arm/mechanism. The broken component is available for inspection. The failure prevents the sunroof system from operating properly and may result in improper sealing, water intrusion, or further mechanical damage. The issue was confirmed by a Kia dealership. Kia has issued Technical Service Bulletin BOD 319 addressing Telluride sunroof wind deflector arm and mechanism failures. Despite this bulletin, I was quoted approximately $4,000+ for replacement of the entire sunroof assembly instead of the component repair procedure described by Kia. There were no warning lights or messages before failure. The issue occurred during normal vehicle use. I believe this known component failure presents a safety and reliability concern for Telluride owners.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753326July 28, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TIMELINE (13 DAYS) XXX: Delivery taken at 105,439 miles.XXX: My boyfriend noticed a cloud of smoke from exhaust as I pressed the accelerator pedal to leave the parking lot. I didn't notice because it was almost dark outside when leaving. He didn't notice again so he didn't stop me and told me when we got home. XXX (Day 12): Check Engine Light (CEL) on. Dipstick found dry. 2 quarts of oil purchased and added. Which brought the level right above the L line. Sent texts to both salesmen (Freedom and Driveway). Went to work in [XXX]. XXX (Day 13): Got home with Odometer: 106,974. Plugged Code reader into the vehicle and got Code P0597 logged at 1:04 AM. Tried both salesmen again through texts, email and or call. Have yet to get a reply from either. XXX posted review updates on both of my previous posted reviews for Freedom and Driveway. Received my first response from the Driveway review team only. XXX rear brake pads had been cutting into rotors a few days prior. I had to purchase a tool and pads to replace. XXX Documented loss of an additional 4 quarts of oil across 4 dates. XXX subscribed to Kia connect and the app also detected issue fault code P0597. And at a later date the app detected a 2nd fault code P0598 which went away a couple days later. May 14th finally got a hold of Justin Grable (GM Freedom) to discuss options. XXX trade-in is only option being given to me. DOCUMENTED DEFECTS & ROOT CAUSE Code P0597 (Thermostat Heater Control/Open): An electrical/mechanical failure that caused internal engine "hot spots." Engine Failure: Pre-existing piston ring tension loss causing catastrophic oil consumption (1 quart/wk). Consequential Damage: Chronic oil burning will poison the Catalytic Converters and foul all Oxygen (O2) Sensors. As of XXX my vehicle is now consuming 1 qt/day. ac is not working and now giving me 6 codes for engine light. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753136July 27, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The Telluride was parked in my driveway on a hill. When the car was started by pushing the ignition all of the lights on the dash panel started flashing. The car was shifted into reverse to back down the driveway however the brakes didn’t work. We captured this on video via CCTV footage. You can see the vehicle reversing and the brake lights are on as the pedal was pushed but not responding. As the vehicle went on to a lesser slope it slowed some but was about to crash into my neighbors home when the parking brake button was pushed and the vehicle came to a stop. The evening prior when starting the car on a flat surface the lights all flashed upon starting but the vehicle had operated normally.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752679July 24, 2026
SEATS
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V430000 (Seats). The contact was concerned about a vehicle fire. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to parts being on back order. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752658July 24, 2026
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2027 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat unintendedly collapsed. The failure occurred spontaneously. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure and the failure ws not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 3,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752585July 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
vehicles transmission gets stuck in 5th gear. when it happens the problem is fixed after restarting the vehicle. no warning that its stuck in 5th gear. When pulling out into traffic the car is very slow to move and my concern is that someone might get hit when pulling out into traffic not knowing the vehicle is stuck in 5th gear since there are no warning light on. after inspection with KIA, after the first incident they said nothing can be diagnosed since it wasn't throwing a code or check engine light. when the car once again got stuck in 5th gear on our last vacation i drove it for around 2 hours or 120 miles in 5th gear to try and get a check engine light to come, one never came on but i recorded videos of it stuck in 5th gear at highway speeds and at a stop in a drive through. it's happened on 3 different occasions all on longer road trip and has never had a warning light come on. you can shift into park or reverse and back to drive and it goes straight into 5th gear again. i have videos available but are too large or wrong format to upload currently the car is sitting at our local KIA dealership and im not picking it up until something is done to remedy the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752165July 22, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752077July 22, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield wipers pause during use in intermittent and slow/low setting. Was initially told that the wipers were old and needed replacing and this would fix the issue. Wipers were replaced and still having same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752071July 22, 2026
SEATS
The second row of seats folds down and forward while driving, whether or not someone is sitting in them. This feels very unsafe, and I am concerned about how well someone would be restrained by the seat belt in the event of an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751721July 21, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
On XXX, while driving my 2024 Kia Telluride (VIN: [XXX]) with approximately 34,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly experienced a complete electrical failure without warning. The instrument cluster went completely black, I lost electric power steering assist, the transmission would not shift, and the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle lost motive power while I was driving, creating a significant safety hazard for me and surrounding traffic. After bringing the vehicle to a stop, it would not restart. The vehicle had to be towed to Dutch Miller Kia for diagnosis and repair. The vehicle is still covered under the manufacturer's warranty. It has been at the dealership since XXX, awaiting diagnosis and repair. As of the date of this complaint, I have not been provided with a loaner vehicle or alternate transportation. I am filing this complaint because a complete loss of electrical power, steering assist, acceleration, and shifting while the vehicle is in operation presents a serious safety risk. I believe this incident should be investigated to determine whether it represents a broader safety issue affecting other vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751703July 21, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The moon roof has came off track
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751674July 20, 2026
SEATS
My family came across this recall and notified me. It says that we can search for more information as of XXX, but today is JXXX, and I’m not getting anything via a search. I need to know what to do, other than parking it outdoors. The NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER is 26V430000. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. The info on this website says “Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed XXX.”, but that makes no sense to me. Why wouldn’t owners be notified when this was first posted, XXX ??? The VIN is [XXX] and the MODEL/OPT. CODE is J4232/010. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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