Your vehicle report

2020 Kia Telluride

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
777
Received Mar 2019 to Oct 2026
Official recalls listed
7
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
4
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Glass shatters or cracks without impact175 complaints · 23% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Headlights dim or fail at night156 complaints · 20% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Engine burns excessive oil between changes83 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #26V430000Park outsideKia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. 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.
  • Recall #24V407000Park outsideKia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 8 crashes, 9 fires, 11 people injured, 1 death.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

6 more problems

Brakes

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

1 more problem

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2020 Kia Telluride
151
Show as a table
YearComplaints
201973
202071
202152
202250
2023151
2024122
2025126
2026 (to Oct 2026)132
Total777

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Glass shatters or cracks without impact17523%4.5×
Headlights dim or fail at night15620%1.8×NHTSA recall #24V148000
Engine burns excessive oil between changes8311%17.9×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2024
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 3.3%
Paint peels off roof and hood547.0%26.2×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2024
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.7%
Engine stalls and loses power while driving202.6%3.2×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jul 2025
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.7%
Suspension struts and shocks wear out early192.5%4×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2023
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.8%
Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed141.8%2.2×
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips111.4%0.7×
Seat belt fails to latch or retract91.2%0.9×NHTSA recall #19V594000
Check engine light comes on repeatedly91.2%1.2×
Head gasket leaks coolant into engine91.2%0.7×
Vehicle catches fire from wiring81.0%0.8×NHTSA recall #22V626000
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving70.9%1.1×
Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps70.9%–
Side mirrors give poor rear visibility60.8%–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving50.6%0.6×
Rear door latch fails to open or close40.5%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking40.5%–
Air conditioner blows hot air or fails40.5%–
Engine knocking from rod or main bearings40.5%0.8×

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #26V430000July 2, 2026462,869 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    seats: front assembly: power adjust

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. 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.

    A fire increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.

  • NHTSA recall #24V407000June 5, 2024462,869 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    seats: front assembly: power adjust

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. 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.

    A fire increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.

  • NHTSA recall #22V626000August 15, 202236,417 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    trailer hitches

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. 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.

    A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.

  • NHTSA recall #24V214000March 20, 2024427,407 vehicles affected

    power train: driveline: driveshaft

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.

    A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy

    Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.

  • NHTSA recall #24V148000February 26, 202435,031 vehicles affected

    exterior lighting: headlights

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.

    Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.

  • NHTSA recall #20V436000July 28, 202086,921 vehicles affected

    electrical system: wiring; exterior lighting: brake lights; forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.

  • NHTSA recall #19V594000August 13, 201930,168 vehicles affected

    seat belts: front; seat belts: rear/other

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.

    Remedy

    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2020 Kia Telluride.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN