Midsize and three-row SUVs · model years 2020 to 2024
Kia Telluride vs Toyota Highlander: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Highlander looks better on 3 and the Telluride on 2, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2020 to 2024 | Telluride | Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 1.9% | 4.8% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.1% | 0.4% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.5% | 3.5% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 15,000 | 59,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.0 | 2.8 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 1 | 0 |
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 Highlander it is transmission and drivetrain. Complaints citing windshield and wipers make up 18% of all Telluride complaints, against 1.8% on the Highlander. The Highlander leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 32% of its complaints, against 8.6% for the Telluride.
Kia TellurideToyota Highlander
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 Highlander it is transmission failure (14% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Telluride.
| Problem | Telluride | Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 21% 389most in 2020 · 5k mi | 2.1% 2810k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 3.3% 6135k mi | 13% 170most in 2021 · 27k mi |
| Transmission fails or needs replacement | 0 | 14% 181most in 2021 · 70k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 6.4% 119most in 2020 · 60k mi | 5.4% 70most in 2021 · 66k mi |
| Headlights too dim or fail | 9.3% 174most in 2020 · 60k mi | 1.1% 14 |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 7.6% 143most in 2022 · 8k mi | 1.9% 2545k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 0.3% 6 | 8.4% 109most in 2021 · 51k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 3.8% 7134k mi | 3.8% 5059k 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 Highlander the halfway point is 59,000. 69% of Telluride reports and 41% of Highlander 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 TellurideToyota Highlander
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 498 for the Telluride and 415 for the Highlander.
Worst and best years
The 2020 Telluride draws 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Telluride year for its age. The 2021 Highlander draws 2.9 times the complaints of a typical Highlander year for its age.
Kia TellurideToyota Highlander
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 two draw recalls at about the same rate: 3.0 campaigns per model year for the Telluride and 2.8 for the Highlander. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Kia Telluride
15 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (4), seats (2) 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)
Toyota Highlander
14 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (2), tires (2) and equipment (2).
- 23V-720 (structure) covers 4 model years
- 24V-452 (tires) covers 4 model years
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Highlander complaints report a crash: 4.8%, against 1.9% for the Telluride. Fire reports: 21 for the Telluride and 5 for the Highlander. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Telluride and 1 in the Highlander for these model years.
Kia TellurideToyota Highlander
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 Toyota Highlander more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Highlander looks better on 3 and the Telluride on 2, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Telluride has 1,874 complaints and the Highlander 1,304 for model years 2020 to 2024, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Telluride or the Highlander?
The Telluride has 15 recall campaigns and the Highlander 14 across model years 2020 to 2024. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 3.0 campaigns per model year for the Telluride and 2.8 for the Highlander.
What are the most common problems on the Telluride and the Highlander?
The most reported problem on the Telluride is windshield problems (21% of its complaints). On the Highlander it is transmission failure (14% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Telluride.
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