2020 Kia Telluride · symptom sheet
Check engine light or misfire
- 37owner reports
- 48,409median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
207 of the 763 complaints on this car are about the engine. 37 of those describe misfire.
Tick what matches of 37 reports
Misfire on other Telluride years
No other Telluride model year has enough reports of misfire for a sheet of its own. See every Telluride year.
What this problem usually is
These reports start with the check engine light. Many describe the engine running rough or shaking at idle, a P0300-series code, or a catalytic converter code. A worrying number say the light was flashing. Owners often list ignition coils or spark plugs already replaced, and the light coming back afterward.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the spark plugs (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes.
All 7 recalls on the 2020 Kia Telluride, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 95,335 miles, from the 25 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2020 Kia Telluride that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
3.8L GDI MISFIRE DTC JUDGMENT LOGIC IMPROVEMENT This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) on some 2020MY Telluride (ON) vehicles with 3.8 GDI ULEV engines, produced from January 9, 2019 through May 19, 2020, which may exhibit a cold start misfire with MIL ...
What owners wrote
“For the past year at least I've had check engine light come on and turn off before being able to get in for a diagnostic. Along with the entire engine shutting down while idling, parking, turning. Whole electrical system failure. Can't move the steering wheel. Have to restart the car and it takes a few tries. Sometimes the car will be off and will not start back up for a while.”
Filed Nov 1, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 37 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
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Other problems on this car
- Headlights too dim or fail 160 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 149 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 76 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 61 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 57 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 34 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 31 reports
- Engine leaks oil 25 reports