Kia Telluride Complaints

2,086 consumer complaints on file.

#11774568October 29, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
My 2022 Kia Telluride LX AWD center screen began failing intermittently around October 2025 and failed completely around August 2026. Dates are approximate; 10/29/2025 represents my estimate of about one year ago, not an exact day. Dealer intake was 10/1/2026 at about 75,000 miles; mileage at first failure is unknown. The screen failure prevents the backup-camera image from displaying in reverse, increasing the risk of striking an unseen person or obstacle. No crash, fire, injury, fatality or police report occurred. I also reported intermittent loss of speedometer information. On 10/22 the dealer confirmed the failed center screen and rear-camera display, but said the cluster worked and it had not reproduced the cluster symptom. A common cause is unproven. Speed and warning lamps at first failure are unknown. The dealer recommended head-unit 96560-S9420CDD replacement for $7,799.79. Replacement is not authorized; I requested preservation of components and diagnostic records. After repeated assistance requests and escalation, Kia's 10/29 response concluded its review and denied warranty coverage without technical findings. Please investigate whether loss of the rear-camera display reflects a safety defect requiring a recall. Kia recalls 21V577/22V344 concern earlier-built 2022 Telluride clusters; my reported 4/1/2022 build is outside their ranges. Other Kia recalls address electrical-noise/voltage-related blank clusters (23V298) and voltage-damaged rear cameras (25V426). These are different components and populations, not proof of coverage or a shared cause. Related litigation, O'Connell v. Kia, 8:26-cv-01291, concerns alleged 2023-2025 cluster failures, not my 2022 head unit. Please assess the failed assembly, electrical circuits, software and field data to determine whether existing recall scopes leave other safety failures unaddressed. Warranty expiration does not resolve that safety question.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774453October 29, 2026
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I was driving 70 mph on a clear unobstructed highway in the right lane, when suddenly my vehicle steering jerked forcefully to the right, over the white line and onto the rumble strips. A circular symbol popped up, on the display but it was too fast to identify while trying to make an immediate correction and recover control.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774139October 28, 2026
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2027 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving approximately 7 MPH from a stop sign another vehicle driving approximately 35 MPH crashed into the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The air bags in the other vehicle deployed as needed. The contact’s wife who was seated on the passenger’s side of the vehicle had a concussion and injuries to the arm and chest. Medical attention was needed. The contact's son who was seated in the rear of the vehicle was emotionally traumatized by the crash. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to an auto body shop and was being processed to possibly be deemed totaled. A Police report was filed. The manufacturer was informed of the issue, and a claim was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 10,200.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774167October 28, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Formal Safety Complaint – 2025 Kia Telluride I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my 2025 Kia Telluride due to ongoing mechanical issues that have now escalated to a serious and potentially life-threatening situation. Multiple warning lights are illuminating on my dashboard, and the engine is now shutting off while I am actively driving the vehicle. This is completely unacceptable and puts my safety and the safety of others on the road at risk. I have already made multiple attempts to address ongoing mechanical issues with this vehicle, including a persistent shudder while driving. Despite seeking assistance from Kia dealerships and involving the companies responsible for my vehicle’s accessibility conversion, the issues remain unresolved and have now escalated. My Telluride has been converted with a rear-entry wheelchair ramp through Freedom Motors, but I have been advised that the conversion is unrelated to the drivetrain concerns. I need Kia to take these complaints seriously and conduct a thorough investigation into the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems. I purchased this vehicle expecting it to be safe and reliable, especially given that it is an accessible vehicle used to accommodate my family’s needs. Instead, I am now dealing with a vehicle that is shutting off while in motion, which creates an extremely dangerous situation. I am requesting immediate escalation to Kia Consumer Affairs, a comprehensive safety inspection, and a clear resolution to these ongoing problems. I also want this complaint formally documented due to the severity of the safety concerns. I should not have to fear that my engine will shut off while I am driving a vehicle I recently purchased. This is a serious safety issue, and I expect Kia to take responsibility, investigate the cause, and provide a prompt resolution before someone gets hurt.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774202October 28, 2026
SUSPENSION
Spontaneous structural failure of the front driver-side suspension coil spring occurred while operating the vehicle at a low speed on smooth pavement (leaving a parking lot). There was absolutely no impact, road hazard, or pothole involved. The coil spring cleanly fractured into two distinct pieces near the top. The shock absorber and surrounding strut components remain completely undamaged, proving this was a spontaneous metallurgical or manufacturing defect rather than impact damage. The broken section of the spring unseated from the upper strut mount and is resting loosely in the wheel well, causing severe grinding and banging noises. This poses an immediate, critical safety hazard: the jagged, fractured metal edges of the loose spring are at high risk of shifting to puncture the front tire or sever the brake lines, which would cause a sudden, catastrophic loss of vehicle control and braking ability. DEALER & CORPORATE RECORD: The vehicle is currently located at an authorized Kia dealership service center. Dealership technicians have physically inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the coil spring is broken into two pieces while the surrounding shock absorber/strut assembly remains entirely undamaged. This structurally isolates the failure to a metallurgical or manufacturing defect of the spring itself, rather than external impact damage. Despite their technicians confirming the failure, Kia has denied goodwill repair assistance for this severe safety defect under Kia Corporate Case Number 26498926.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774284October 28, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driver cluster completely black when car is fully on and operational. Radio portion of digital dash works. But the critical safety driver cluster panel is completely black. Spedometer, fuel, etc all missing while car is in operation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773900October 27, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On October 21, 2026, the sunroof of my 2024 Kia Telluride suddenly shattered while I was driving at approximately 65 mph. The glass exploded unexpectedly during normal vehicle operation. The sunroof was in the tilted position with the sun shade pulled back completely. The glass shattered on the top of my head as I was driving. My two small children seated in the second row were also present. The cause of the failure is unknown. I took the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership, where personnel photographed the damage, vacuumed some of the broken glass from the vehicle, and applied temporary crash wrap over the damaged sunroof. The service invoice documents that the sunroof exploded while driving. However, no comprehensive safety inspection was performed or documented to my knowledge. Dealership personnel verbally stated that the vehicle was safe to drive with the temporary covering and instructed me not to open the sunshade. However, they would not provide written confirmation that the vehicle was safe to operate. Despite the temporary repair, I continued hearing glass shifting and breaking while driving. I am concerned about additional glass falling, the integrity of the damaged sunroof, and the safety of vehicle occupants. On October 22, 2026, the dealership informed me that Kia had authorized replacement of the sunroof and that the replacement part was expected the following week. I contacted Kia Customer Care, opened a case, and requested alternative transportation because of my ongoing safety concerns. I was repeatedly instructed to wait for a case manager to contact me. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this unexpected panoramic sunroof glass failure as a potential vehicle safety defect, including whether similar incidents have occurred in other Kia Telluride vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773982October 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My car just started making a knocking sound when I turn. Brought it in for diagnoses and was told it's the AWD Coupler, WHICH is a part of the powertrain component, but it's not covered under my 100,000 powertrain warranty, and is only covered up to 60,000 miles. This is a known issue according to Facebook, blogs, and reddit and many Kia users have had the same problem on their cars. It should be a recall and fixed if it's happening so frequently.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774084October 27, 2026
ENGINE
I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a recurring transmission issue with my 2022 Kia Telluride AWD. When descending hills in manual shift mode, the transmission initially provides engine braking but subsequently loses that braking effect. The vehicle then begins accelerating downhill, requiring application of the service brakes to maintain a controlled speed. I recently completed a test drive with a Kia dealership service technician, who personally witnessed and acknowledged the problem. Following that test drive, the head service manager informed me that this issue occurs in some Tellurides following a Kia software update to the transmission. I was further advised that the dealership cannot correct the issue until Kia releases another software update. This response is extremely concerning. I regularly drive in Colorado's mountainous terrain, where predictable engine braking is an important part of controlling vehicle speed during extended descents.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773624October 26, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
There was a low-speed collision with a deer (approximately 10-15 mph). The vehicle continued to run fine after the collision and we were able to drive it home. After the next start, the engine was shaking all over and started smoking from behind the engine. The battery was disconnected but it continued to smoke. After further inspection, we were able to find a fire and extinguished it using a fire extinguisher. We had issues with this car prior to the collision where the engine would misfire after the car would get wet, but would only produce temporary codes. This was checked out by the dealer and we were told there's nothing that they can do. A few weeks prior to the collision it happened again and the check engine light went to a confirmed/permanent code and it was related to cylinder misfires. If we would not have had a fire extinguisher or had been able to roll it away from the house, the occupants, vehicle, and house would have been in danger of the fire. The source of the ignition has been confirmed to be the ignition coils, but the root cause of this has not been determined and it has just been assumed that it is related to the collision, without an actual root cause identification.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773724October 26, 2026
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
Vehicle: 2025 Kia Telluride, VIN [XXX] Description: While driving, the engine shuts off without warning. An alarm sounds and the dash reads “Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine.” Power steering and power brakes are lost until the engine restarts. This has happened 5 times: [XXX]: about 25 mph in creeping traffic. [XXX]: low speed, slowing down on a slight downhill. [XXX]: three times within minutes on [XXX]. The first was in creeping traffic while slowing, the second while changing into a slower lane, and the third while slowing for merging traffic. Traffic was on all sides, and losing steering and brakes nearly caused a collision. Every event happened at low speed or while slowing, braking or changing lanes. There was no warning beforehand. Kia case number [XXX]. The vehicle is going to for warranty diagnosis at a dealership 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
#11773544October 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Batter drainage issue. Have paid for a new battery and I just bought the car 09/14/2026
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773076October 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2027 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that upon coming to a stop or while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle shifted into neutral(N) and required to manually shift to drive(D). On another occasion, after entering a parking spot the transmission unintendedly shifted to neutral(N) and needed to be manually shifted into drive(D) to park the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the shift lever had failed and needed to be replaced. The shift lever was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772801October 21, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Vehicle: 2024 Kia Telluride Current Mileage: Approximately 72,000 miles Dealership: Colonial Kia, Chester, Virginia Recall: Kia SC347 / SC347A — Exterior Door Belt Molding NHTSA Recall Number: 25V494000 Description of Safety Problem I purchased my used 2024 Kia Telluride from Colonial Kia in Chester, Virginia, in June 2025. Since purchasing the vehicle, I have experienced repeated failures of the exterior door window molding. On two separate occasions, pieces of molding completely detached from my vehicle while I was driving at highway speeds. The first incident occurred before Kia performed the door molding safety recall. The second incident occurred after recall work had already been completed. My dealership, Colonial Kia, has performed repairs related to this problem. My repair invoice dated January 6, 2026, specifically documents that the driver's front door molding failed shortly after Recall SC347A had been performed. A second repair invoice dated April 16, 2026, documents replacement of the passenger-side rear door molding. Now, in October 2026, the front passenger door molding is beginning to loosen, creating concern that another piece may detach while the vehicle is being driven. I am concerned that the recall remedy has not adequately corrected this safety defect on my vehicle. Detaching molding at highway speeds creates a potential hazard for other motorists and could cause an accident. The dealership previously performed the repairs without charging me but advised that I could be responsible for future repairs after the manufacturer's warranty expires. I believe this is an ongoing safety defect rather than a normal wear-and-tear issue. I am requesting that NHTSA review these repeated failures, particularly the molding detachment that occurred after recall repairs, and investigate whether the recall remedy adequately addresses the defect. I have documentation of previous repairs and can provide copies of my dealership invoices. My primary con
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772566October 20, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Some film on the windshield, tried removing it with car soap, degreaser, and even a clay bar, some film is remaining and could be chemical related from factory
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772067October 19, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle electrical system could be a fire hazard since the vehicle electrical system is incurring parasitic draw down of the battery. Believe there is a class action lawsuit filed relating to the problem. It is well known issue wit KIA Corp while the dealerships play dumb. Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772087October 19, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On Friday, October 16, 2026, while traveling approximately 70 mph on I-94 in Wisconsin, the smaller, operable sunroof above the front seats of our 2021 Kia Telluride suddenly exploded without warning. The sunroof was completely closed and flush with the roof, not tilted or vented. The sunshade was open, and the outside temperature was approximately 50–55 degrees. We heard an extremely loud bang resembling a gunshot. There was no apparent impact, no vehicles close enough ahead of us to have thrown debris onto the roof, and no bridge or overpass overhead that could have dropped an object onto the vehicle. The glass appeared to blow primarily upward and outward. When we stopped to inspect the vehicle, the remaining glass around the opening was turned upward. Glass fragments were scattered throughout the passenger compartment, including across all the seats and the floor. I have filed a complaint with Kia Corporate but the vehicle is in our driveway at the moment. I am waiting for further instructions from Kia. We were traveling with three passengers and a dog. We had to remove glass to protect everyone from injury and did not retain the fragments that fell inside the vehicle. As we slowed down and searched for a safe exit, several other motorists pulled alongside us and gestured to make sure we were all right so clearly it was visible from the outside. Fortunately, I maintained control of the vehicle. However, the sudden failure was extremely frightening and created a serious potential hazard at highway speed. A driver could easily be startled or distracted enough to lose control. I am concerned about a potential defect involving the front sunroof glass or its assembly, particularly given reports of similar incidents involving Kia Tellurides. I request that NHTSA document this incident and evaluate whether it may be part of a broader safety defect affecting these vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772136October 19, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Alternator died and had to get replaced at 80,000 miles. Car died while driving on the highway. Had to pull over and get the car towed. Had to get the alternator replaced and paid out of pocket.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772143October 19, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2020 Kia Telluride SX with approximately 129,000 miles. The vehicle began experiencing delayed starting followed by a very strong gasoline odor. I also heard a hissing sound that continued after the engine was turned off. Due to safety concerns, I had the vehicle towed to a repair facility rather than continuing to drive it. The repair shop subsequently confirmed a significant fuel leak with gasoline spraying and pooling underneath the vehicle, reportedly extending from the front toward the rear. I am extremely concerned about the potential fire hazard this condition presents especially because I had been operating the vehicle before discovering the severity of the leak. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this fuel-system failure represents a broader safety issue affecting 2020 Kia Telluride vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772263October 19, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The passenger side second row seat belt has been malfunctioning since I purchased the vehicle new. It doesn’t retract properly. I told this to my dealership at my first oil change but they said there was no recall. It had not been much of an issue with the seat only being used by my son who is of small frame and doesn’t need a lot of slack extended. However, a larger adult recently used it and got out of the car at night in the dark. Due to the defect, the seatbelt did not retract and the vehicle door was closed with most of the belt and buckle outside the vehicle. Upon driving, it became lodged in the wheel well resulting in rips in the belt, grinding of the buckle and forcefully extending the entire seatbelt.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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