2020 Kia Telluride · symptom sheet
Headlights too dim or fail
- 160owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- $1,800median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
184 of the 763 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 160 of those describe headlights, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Telluride.
Tick what matches of 160 reports
Headlights on other Telluride years
No other Telluride model year has enough reports of headlights for a sheet of its own. See every Telluride year.
What this problem usually is
Headlight complaints fall into two camps. In one, a headlight goes out, often more than once, or fills with moisture behind the lens. In the other, the lights work exactly as built and the owner still can't see the road at night because the beam is too dim or too short. Owners in that second camp often report a dealer telling them it's normal.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the headlight assembly (94 reports) and the bulb (36 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The high beam headlights may fail.
All 7 recalls on the 2020 Kia Telluride, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the exterior lighting on the Telluride
Complete loss of high beams. Closed apr 17, 2024, led to recall 24V-148.
What owners paid
13 of the 160 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,500 to $2,370.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 6,500 and 72,000 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices 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.
INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
HEADLAMP SOFT CONNECTION INSPECTION This bulletin provides information to inspect and ensure proper internal connections of the headlamp on some 2021MY K5 (DL3a) vehicles produced from March 27, 2020 through April 14, 2021 and some 2020-2021MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 9, ...
SERVICE ACTION: TELLURIDE (ON) HEADLAMP INSPECTION (SA380) This bulletin provides information on certain 2020MY Telluride (ON) vehicles, produced from February 13, 2019 through March 30, 2019, which may exhibit intermittent or inoperative Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) at the headlamps due to an internal connection fault.
What owners wrote
“Started to notice the high beams where not working. The dash light shows the high beams were on but the lights never changed. I purchased 2 new low/high beams bulbs. That did not fix the issue. My telluride has over 60k miles on it. Doing teacher everyone who has a 2020 kia telluride has this issue just after vehicle hits just over 60k miles. Never noticed before as we never drove at night time before november.”
Filed Jan 17, 2024 · 60,000 miles
“High beams stopped working around 60,000 miles, changed the bulb but did not fix it. Had Kia dealer inspect it and said the entire unit would need to be replaced but Kia did not consider it a safety issue so all costs would be bore by me. Clearly this is a safety issue that needs to be remedied by Kia.”
Filed Aug 17, 2023 · 60,000 miles
“This is an addendum to NHTSA tracking # 11508192. Please see attached Kia Dealer repair recommendation which is to Replace both Front headlamps with a cost quote of $1,682.54!!!! This vehicle is a 2020 with less than 65,000 miles.”
Filed Feb 21, 2023 · 65,000 miles
“I recently bought the Kia used at approximately 75000 miles. The high beams do not work and the only way to repair them is an expensive complete headlight assembly replacement. Headlights should not become defective so soon and I have read forum after forum of those with the Telluride who have experienced the same problem.”
Filed Jan 4, 2023 · 75,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 160 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.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- 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
- Check engine light or misfire 37 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 34 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 31 reports
- Engine leaks oil 25 reports