What are the most common Kia Telluride problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 1,297+ owner reports, the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride has 14 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk, Tow Hitch Wiring Harness Module Fire Risk, Intermediate Shaft / Driveshaft Disengagement (Rollaway). Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Kia Telluride reliable?
The 2020-2025 Kia Telluride has 14 known issues documented across 1,297+ owner reports. 4 issues are rated critical: Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk and Tow Hitch Wiring Harness Module Fire Risk and Intermediate Shaft / Driveshaft Disengagement (Rollaway) and Engine Valve Spring Fracture / Loss of Motive Power (3.8L V6, Recall SC296). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Kia Telluride problems?
Repair costs for known Kia Telluride issues range from $0 to $1,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk, typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What year Kia Telluride is the most reliable?
Reliability varies across model years of the Kia Telluride. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride with 14 documented issues documented across 1,297+ owner reports.
What is the 2020-2024 Kia Telluride Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk?
The front power seat motor can overheat if the power seat slide knob becomes stuck, causing the motor to run continuously. This can result in a fire even while the vehicle is parked. NHTSA recall covers approximately 462,869 Tellurides from 2020-2024 model years. Kia dealers inst… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2020-2022 Kia Telluride Tow Hitch Wiring Harness Module Fire Risk?
Tellurides equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness (factory or dealer-installed accessory) can experience an electrical short on the tow hitch harness module PCB due to debris and moisture accumulation. Chloride and tin contamination on the circuit board, combined wit… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2020-2024 Kia Telluride Intermediate Shaft / Driveshaft Disengagement (Rollaway)?
The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in the vehicle rolling away while in PARK. The driveshaft can slip out of the intermediate shaft splines, disconnecting drive power from the transmission to the wheels. NHTSA recall cover… Repairs typically run $0-$800. Severity: high.
What is the 2024 Kia Telluride Engine Valve Spring Fracture / Loss of Motive Power (3.8L V6, Recall SC296)?
On certain 2024 Tellurides (3.8L Lambda II V6 built Oct 1 - Dec 6, 2023), engine valve springs can fracture from fatigue cracking caused by supplier damage during manufacture. Owners report abnormal engine noise, rough running, and check-engine illumination before a spring breaks… Severity: high.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Oil Dilution from Short Trip Driving (3.8L V6)?
The 3.8L Lambda II V6 in the Telluride experiences fuel dilution of the engine oil when driven primarily on short trips (under 10 miles). Fuel washes past the piston rings during cold starts and does not fully evaporate because the oil never reaches full operating temperature. Th… Repairs typically run $50-$500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2023-2025 Kia Telluride Door Belt Molding Delamination / Detachment (Recall SC347)?
On 2023-2025 Tellurides (built Oct 3, 2022 - Sep 18, 2024), the door belt molding face plate delaminates from the molding base because of insufficient adhesive applied at the supplier. The face plate works loose and can eventually fall off entirely while driving, becoming a road… Severity: medium.
What is the 2025 Kia Telluride Incorrect Spare Tire Impairing ABS and Traction Control (Recall SC355)?
Certain 2025 Tellurides (and 2026 Sorento) were shipped with an incorrectly sized spare tire. When that spare is installed, the wheel-speed difference can impair anti-lock braking (ABS) and traction control (TCS) operation, increasing crash risk. The vehicles fail to comply with… Severity: medium.
What is the 2020-2024 Kia Telluride A/C Compressor Failure / No Cold Air?
Telluride owners report the air conditioning blowing warm air due to A/C compressor failure, with some vehicles having the compressor replaced more than once (often with a remanufactured unit). Common root causes are internal compressor mechanical/electrical failure or refrigeran… Severity: medium.
What is the 2020-2022 Kia Telluride 8-Speed Automatic Torque-Converter Shudder and Re-Acceleration Hesitation?
The 8-speed automatic exhibits torque-converter (damper clutch) shudder felt as a vibration around 45 mph and during uphill gear changes, plus hesitation and weak pickup on re-acceleration and merges. Early 2020 units could log P0741 damper-clutch faults; some required full trans… Severity: medium.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Premature Windshield Cracking?
Telluride owners report unusually high rates of windshield cracking from minor road debris that would not crack windshields on other vehicles. Over 46% of NHTSA visibility complaints for the Telluride relate to windshield cracking. Cracks typically originate from the lower passen… Repairs typically run $250-$1,000. Severity: low.
What is the 2020-2024 Kia Telluride Headliner Sagging Near Panoramic Sunroof?
Tellurides equipped with the panoramic sunroof develop headliner sagging and separation around the sunroof opening. The headliner adhesive fails due to heat cycling from the large glass panel above, causing the fabric to detach from the backing board. The sagging starts at the ed… Repairs typically run $50-$1,200. Severity: low.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Third Row Seat Latch Jamming?
The third-row seat fold-down mechanism in the Telluride jams, preventing the seats from folding flat or locking back into the upright position. The latch mechanism uses a cable-actuated release that stretches and binds over time. When the latch jams in the released position, the… Repairs typically run $50-$500. Severity: low.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Paint Bubbling at Hood and Roof Seams?
Tellurides develop paint bubbling and peeling at body panel seams, particularly the hood leading edge, roof rail joints, and rear liftgate seams. The issue is caused by insufficient e-coat coverage at spot-welded seams, allowing moisture to penetrate under the paint. The bubbling… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: low.
What is the 2020-2023 Kia Telluride Infotainment / UVO Touchscreen Freezing and Random Reboot?
Owners across multiple model years report the center infotainment (UVO) screen freezing, going black, showing a blue 'reset' screen, or rebooting on a loop while driving, sometimes accompanied by phantom-touch behavior and loss of the backup camera. The unit often becomes unrespo… Severity: low.
