Diagsheet

Midsize and three-row SUVs · 5 model years, 2020 to 2025

Ford Explorer vs Kia Telluride: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Telluride looks better on 4 and the Explorer on 2, with 1 too close to call.

Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer

2,120 complaints · 60 recalls

Kia Telluride

Kia Telluride

1,770 complaints · 16 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2020 to 2025ExplorerTelluride
Complaints that report a crash3.8%1.9%
Complaints that report a fire0.8%1.2%
Complaints that report an injury3.1%1.6%
Median miles when problems are reported35,00015,000
Recall campaigns per model year12.03.2
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations41

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system Explorer owners complain about most is transmission and drivetrain; for the Telluride it is windshield and wipers. Complaints citing transmission and drivetrain make up 33% of all Explorer complaints, against 8.8% on the Telluride. The Telluride leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 18% of its complaints, against 5.4% for the Explorer.

Ford ExplorerKia Telluride

Transmission and drivetrain33%8.8%
Electrical14%13%
Engine9.9%17%
Windshield and wipers5.4%18%
Exterior Lighting3.3%11%
Structure4.4%7.2%
Collision avoidance5.6%3.5%
Brakes6.0%2.8%
Backup camera8.1%0.8%
Suspension3.7%3.8%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the Explorer is infotainment problems (14% of its complaints). On the Telluride it is windshield problems (21% of its complaints), against 2.6% on the Explorer.

ProblemExplorerTelluride
Windshield cracks or distorts2.6% 5640k mi21% 374most in 2020 · 4k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails14% 300most in 2020 · 20k mi7.2% 128most in 2022 · 9k mi
Engine stalls or loses power while driving8.2% 174most in 2020 · 35k mi8.2% 146most in 2020 · 58k mi
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard11% 226most in 2020 · 46k mi1.9% 3453k mi
Headlights too dim or fail2.5% 54most in 2020 · 51k mi9.8% 174most in 2020 · 60k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early6.5% 137most in 2020 · 11k mi2.8% 5035k mi
Seat belt or seat problems4.2% 88most in 2020 · 38k mi3.7% 6630k mi
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing2.0% 4348k mi5.6% 100most in 2020 · 65k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

Telluride owners report problems earlier. Half the Telluride complaints that give a mileage come before 15,000 miles; for the Explorer the halfway point is 35,000. 63% of Explorer reports and 68% of Telluride reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Ford ExplorerKia Telluride

Under 25k43%55%
25k to 50k20%14%
50k to 75k19%14%
75k to 100k10%11%
100k to 150k6.9%6.3%
Over 150k1.0%0.8%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 766 for the Explorer and 479 for the Telluride.

Worst and best years

The 2016 Explorer draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Explorer year for its age. The 2020 Telluride draws 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Telluride year for its age.

Ford Explorer

Every Explorer model year

Kia Telluride

Every Telluride model year

Ford ExplorerKia Telluride

Each model year against its own model's median. Explorer: 2020 2.1, 2021 0.9, 2022 0.7, 2023 0.3, 2024 0.1. Telluride: 2020 1.7, 2021 0.9, 2022 1.0, 2023 0.8, 2024 1.1.2020 Explorer: 2.1 times its median2020 Telluride: 1.7 times its median'202021 Explorer: 0.9 times its median2021 Telluride: 0.9 times its median'212022 Explorer: 0.7 times its median2022 Telluride: 1.0 times its median'222023 Explorer: 0.3 times its median2023 Telluride: 0.8 times its median'232024 Explorer: 0.1 times its median2024 Telluride: 1.1 times its median'241x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The Explorer draws more recalls: 12.0 campaigns per model year against 3.2 for the Telluride. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Ford Explorer

60 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (12), transmission and drivetrain (11) and fuel system (6).

  • 24V-852 (equipment) covers 5 model years
  • 25V-393 (seats) covers 5 model years

Investigations

  • DP25001: Underbody shields detachment (closed)
  • EA23002: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
  • RQ23002: Rear axle bolt failure (closed, led to a recall)

Kia Telluride

16 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (4), seats (3) and airbags (2).

  • 24V-214 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 4 model years
  • 24V-407 (seats) covers 4 model years

Investigations

  • PE23002: Complete loss of high beams (closed, led to a recall)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of Explorer complaints report a crash: 3.8%, against 1.9% for the Telluride. Fire reports: 18 for the Explorer and 21 for the Telluride. Complaints on file report 0 deaths in the Explorer and 1 in the Telluride for these model years.

Ford ExplorerKia Telluride

Report a crash3.8%1.9%
Report a fire0.8%1.2%
Report someone hurt3.1%1.6%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Ford Explorer or the Kia Telluride more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Telluride looks better on 4 and the Explorer on 2, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Explorer has 2,120 complaints and the Telluride 1,770 for the 5 model years from 2020 to 2025 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Telluride?

The Explorer has 60 recall campaigns and the Telluride 16 across the 5 model years from 2020 to 2025 that both have on file. The Explorer draws more recalls: 12.0 campaigns per model year against 3.2 for the Telluride.

What are the most common problems on the Explorer and the Telluride?

The most reported problem on the Explorer is infotainment problems (14% of its complaints). On the Telluride it is windshield problems (21% of its complaints), against 2.6% on the Explorer.

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