Midsize and three-row SUVs · model years 2020 to 2025
Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Telluride and the Palisade split evenly (2 each, the rest too close to call).
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2020 to 2025 | Telluride | Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.0% | 2.4% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.7% | 1.5% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 14,000 | 13,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 1 | 2 |
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 Telluride owners complain about most is windshield and wipers; for the Palisade it is brakes. Complaints citing exterior lighting make up 10% of all Telluride complaints, against 0.8% on the Palisade. The Palisade leans the other way on seat belts: 18% of its complaints, against 1.7% for the Telluride.
Kia TellurideHyundai Palisade
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 Telluride is windshield problems (21% of its complaints). On the Palisade it is seat belt problems (20% of its complaints), against 4.1% on the Telluride.
| Problem | Telluride | Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 21% 409most in 2020 · 5k mi | 12% 274most in 2020 · 6k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 4.1% 8234k mi | 20% 469most in 2021 · 30k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 3.1% 6135k mi | 19% 434most in 2024 · 10k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 7.3% 146most in 2020 · 58k mi | 6.2% 142most in 2020 · 33k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 8.0% 159most in 2022 · 9k mi | 3.6% 82most in 2021 · 15k mi |
| Burns oil or oil level rises | 5.6% 112most in 2020 · 75k mi | 5.1% 117most in 2020 · 24k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 3.4% 67most in 2020 · 46k mi | 7.3% 169most in 2020 · 30k mi |
| Headlights too dim or fail | 8.8% 174most in 2020 · 60k mi | 0.3% 7 |
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
Palisade owners report problems earlier. Half the Palisade complaints that give a mileage come before 13,000 miles; for the Telluride the halfway point is 14,000. 70% of Telluride reports and 78% of Palisade 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.
Kia TellurideHyundai Palisade
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 513 for the Telluride and 520 for the Palisade.
Worst and best years
The 2020 Telluride draws 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Telluride year for its age. The 2024 Palisade draws 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Palisade year for its age.
Kia TellurideHyundai Palisade
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 Telluride draws more recalls: 2.8 campaigns per model year against 2.2 for the Palisade. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Kia Telluride
17 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 5 model years
- 24V-407 (seats) covers 5 model years
Investigations
- PE23002: Complete loss of high beams (closed, led to a recall)
Hyundai Palisade
13 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (3), service brakes, hydraulic (2) and transmission and drivetrain (2).
- 25V-607 (seat belts) covers 6 model years
- 26V-034 (airbags) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- PE24021: Inadvertent seat belt unlatch (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ22005: Windshield wiper failure (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 Palisade complaints report a crash: 2.4%, against 2.0% for the Telluride. Fire reports: 23 for the Telluride and 14 for the Palisade. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Telluride and 1 in the Palisade for these model years.
Kia TellurideHyundai Palisade
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 Kia Telluride or the Hyundai Palisade more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Telluride and the Palisade split evenly (2 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Telluride has 1,987 complaints and the Palisade 2,305 for model years 2020 to 2025, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Telluride or the Palisade?
The Telluride has 17 recall campaigns and the Palisade 13 across model years 2020 to 2025. The Telluride draws more recalls: 2.8 campaigns per model year against 2.2 for the Palisade.
What are the most common problems on the Telluride and the Palisade?
The most reported problem on the Telluride is windshield problems (21% of its complaints). On the Palisade it is seat belt problems (20% of its complaints), against 4.1% on the Telluride.
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