What are the most common Kia Telluride problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 456+ owner reports, the 2024 Kia Telluride has 15 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Door Belt Molding Delamination / Detachment (Recall SC347), Panoramic Sunroof Glass Spontaneously Shattering, Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk. Of these, 5 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Kia Telluride reliable?
The 2024 Kia Telluride has 15 known issues documented across 456+ owner reports. 5 issues are rated critical: Door Belt Molding Delamination / Detachment (Recall SC347) and Panoramic Sunroof Glass Spontaneously Shattering and Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / 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 $2,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2023-2025 Kia Telluride Door Belt Molding Delamination / Detachment (Recall SC347)?
NHTSA recall 25V494000 (Kia SC347) covers certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle, creating a road hazard for other traffic. Severity: high.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Panoramic Sunroof Glass Spontaneously Shattering?
Telluride owners report the fixed or sliding panoramic sunroof glass exploding without any impact — typically while driving, described consistently as sounding like a gunshot followed by glass raining into the cabin. The failure mode is characteristic of tempered panoramic panels… Repairs typically run $900-$2,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2020-2024 Kia Telluride Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk?
NHTSA recall 26V430000 (Kia SC374) covers certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. A front power-seat motor may overheat because of a stuck slide knob or an improper earlier 24V407 repair, causing a fire while parked or driving. This recall replaces 24V407. Severity: high.
What is the 2020-2024 Kia Telluride Intermediate Shaft / Driveshaft Disengagement (Rollaway)?
NHTSA recall 24V214000 (Kia SC303) covers certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can allow the vehicle to roll away while in Park. Severity: high.
What is the 2024 Kia Telluride Engine Valve Spring Fracture / Loss of Motive Power (3.8L V6, Recall SC296)?
NHTSA recall 24V077000 (Kia SC296) covers certain 2024 Telluride vehicles. An engine valve spring may break while driving, causing loss of drive power and potentially creating a hole in the engine block; the latter also increases fire risk. Severity: high.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Rear Self-Leveling Shock Absorber Insulator Failure and Shock Blow-Out (Knock/Thump Over Bumps)?
Tellurides fitted with the rear self-leveling (load-leveling) shock absorbers — standard on tow-package and higher trims — develop a distinct knock, thump or pop from the rear of the vehicle over bumps and expansion joints, often accompanied by a harsh, stiff ride. Kia first addr… Repairs typically run $0-$1,400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Parasitic 12V Battery Drain from Telematics Modem / Intelligent Battery Unit (Repeat No-Start)?
Tellurides repeatedly go dead overnight or after a few days parked, with owners jump-starting and replacing perfectly good batteries only to have the problem return. The Telluride's always-on cellular telematics modem (Kia Access / UVO remote start and remote climate) never fully… Repairs typically run $200-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride Power Liftgate Motor and Gas Strut Failure (Won't Close, Three-Beep Fault)?
The Smart Power Liftgate on EX and above fails in two related but distinct ways. The gas struts on either side of the gate weaken — often within the first year or two, and much faster in cold climates — so the gate stops closing fully, reverses partway, or drops. Separately, the… Repairs typically run $180-$1,500. 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 2020-2025 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 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 Idle Stop & Go Fails to Engage or Restarts Roughly (Auto Hold Interaction)?
A large share of Telluride owners report that Idle Stop & Go essentially never works, or works for a while and then stops. The system requires a state-of-charge threshold at the 12V battery (dealers commonly quote roughly 68 percent or better), adequate brake vacuum, and settled… Repairs typically run $200-$400. 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 2020-2025 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 2020-2024 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.
