Kia
Kia Telluride years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2020. Best years: 2023.
The 2020 Kia Telluride draws the most owner complaints for its age: 763, or 109 for each year on the road, against a median of 65 a year across the 5 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2020 is headlights (160 reports).
- 2,015complaints
- 19recall campaigns
- 7model years with a page
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
2020
Most reported: headlights (160 reports, median 60,000 miles) and windshield (149 reports, median 5,000 miles).
Best years
2023
Most reported: windshield (42 reports, median 2,401 miles) and infotainment (34 reports).
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid. Too new to judge: 2025 and 2027.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- The 2020 alone holds 763 of the 2,015 complaints across the 7 model years with a page here (38%).
- Problem across the years
- The top problem moves around from year to year. Windshield leads in 4 of the 7 model years and has the most reports overall, 409. Pooled across the years, half of the 133 owners who gave a mileage for windshield were under about 5,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 4% of Kia Telluride complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2022, 19 of its 324 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- None of the 6 model years where owners report windshield has a recall on the same system.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2024 at 378 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 374. So far in 2026, 474 more have come in.
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
First generation (ON)
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 avoid | 763 | 109 | 7 | Headlights too dim or fail (160) | 12,200 |
| 2021 | 365 | 61 | 5 | Windshield cracks or distorts (74) | 30,000 |
| 2022 | 324 | 65 | 7 | Windshield cracks or distorts (89) | 27,258 |
| 2023 best | 207 | 52 | 6 | Windshield cracks or distorts (42) | 20,000 |
| 2024 | 218 | 73 | 5 | Windshield cracks or distorts (35) | 8,400 |
| 2025 | 114 | new | 3 | Engine stalls or loses power while driving (28) | 7,000 |
Year by year
2027 Kia Telluride
24 owner complaints so far; too new to call. 1 report involved a crash and 1 person was hurt. 2 recalls, including 26V-356 on the seat belts and 26V-135 on the seat belts.
2025 Kia Telluride
114 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: stalling (28 reports), windshield (20 reports) and infotainment (16 reports). 3 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 26V-105 on the seats and 25V-745 on the tires.
2024 Kia Telluride
218 owner complaints, 73 for each year on the road (1.1 times the model median). Most reported: windshield (35 reports), infotainment (31 reports) and false collision warning (19 reports). 6 reports involved a crash and 4 people were hurt. 5 recalls, including 25V-494 on the structure and 26V-430 on the seats.
2023 Kia Telluride best
207 owner complaints, 52 for each year on the road (0.8 times the model median). Most reported: windshield (42 reports, median 2,401 miles), infotainment (34 reports) and stalling (14 reports). 5 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. 6 recalls, including 25V-494 on the structure and 26V-430 on the seats.
2022 Kia Telluride
324 owner complaints, 65 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: windshield (89 reports), infotainment (42 reports) and seat belt (17 reports). 10 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. 7 recalls, including 26V-430 on the seats and 24V-407 on the seats.
2021 Kia Telluride
365 owner complaints, 61 for each year on the road (0.9 times the model median). Most reported: windshield (74 reports, median 3,200 miles), stalling (28 reports, median 87,000 miles) and engine failure (28 reports, median 87,000 miles). 7 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. 5 recalls, including 26V-430 on the seats and 24V-407 on the seats.
2020 Kia Telluride avoid
763 owner complaints, 109 for each year on the road (1.7 times the model median). Most reported: headlights (160 reports, median 60,000 miles), windshield (149 reports, median 5,000 miles) and oil consumption (76 reports, median 65,000 miles). 8 reports involved a crash and 11 people were hurt. 7 recalls, including 24V-148 on the exterior lighting and 26V-430 on the seats.
Recalls that cover several model years
The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.
The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Compare the Telluride with its rivals
Side by side over the model years both have on file: what owners complain about, the mileage problems start at, recalls, investigations and crash reports.
- Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade2020 to 2025
- Telluride vs Ford Explorer2020 to 2025
- Telluride vs Chevrolet Traverse2020 to 2025
- Telluride vs Honda Pilot2020 to 2025
- Telluride vs Toyota Highlander2020 to 2024
- Telluride vs Nissan Pathfinder2022 to 2023
Questions
What Kia Telluride years should you avoid?
The 2020 Kia Telluride draws the most owner complaints for its age: 763, or 109 for each year on the road, against a median of 65 a year across the 5 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2020 is headlights (160 reports).
What are the best years for the Kia Telluride?
The 2023 draws the fewest complaints for its age: 207, or 52 for each year on the road.
What is the most common problem on the Kia Telluride?
Windshield, with 409 reports across the 7 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
How many recalls does the Kia Telluride have?
19 recall campaigns cover the Kia Telluride model years 2020 to 2027 on this site. The widest, 24V-214 on the transmission and drivetrain, covers 5 model years.
How many Kia Telluride complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
4% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2022 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for windshield on the Kia Telluride?
No. None of the 6 model years where owners report it has one on the same system.