2020 Kia Telluride Problems And Complaints

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Rating7.9

Ranked #2 in 

Midsize SUV
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$31,890 - $43,790
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  • SO

    Southeast Oklahoma

    24/12/2022

    Rating:

    (2 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... car when it first came out, summer 2019. Loved it in the beginning, however after I hit 100k miles disappointment began. Constant oil leaks, kia service department being lack luster, axle needing replaced, light switch for dim to bright went out, and check engine light constantly on. Not to mention several recalls which I should’ve known being the first year out. I think in all honesty the closest kiaRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • HR

    Heidi R

    13/10/2022

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... the car and had to wait 2.5 weeks to have it looked at. We drove it to KIA service and they said the engine was dead. They said they would not pay for it because we hadn't had it serviced since it was purchased. We put 11K miles on the car, mostly highway miles. We also put in 4 quarts of oil on a road trip back in March 2022.Read More

    Source: edmunds

  • S

    Saunders

    05/10/2021

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... periods. And even with this I’m dumping a gallon of coolant about every 4 days. Dealer service department not helpful. I’m very frustrated and completely wishing I bought a different vehicle as I’m sure this may be the beginning of multiple problems Read More

    Source: edmunds

2020 Kia Telluride Problems Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

598

Complaints
Overall Safety Rating
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 7, 2024

The Kia Telluride was introduced in 2019 as the company's 2020 model. Kia is well-known for its dependability and worth. Its spacious three-row inside, driver-assistance attributes, and high safety rank results were based on the admiration of many mid-size SUV enthusiasts. It arrived with such a lot of publicity and thrills as drivers looked for a lower-cost SUV with several premium amenities. Several Kia Telluride owners are reporting a danger of catching fire while allowed to park or drive due to a trailer hitch problem. The issues with Kia Telluride are quite major, like the engine, powertrain, airbag, electrical system, and exterior lighting. The 2020 Telluride's competitors are equally impressive: the Chevrolet Traverse, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Honda Pilot. The 2020 Telluride is a fairly reliable blending in the segment, with only 238 complaints and 3 recalls. Let's examine in greater detail the problems it has encountered thus far.

Engine and Mechanical Complaints

Engine: The contact is the owner of a 2020 Kia Telluride. According to the contact, there is a major, yet well-known design problem in the heater block/heater core that causes the blasting heat to drop when the car is in standby mode or starting to move at low RPMs. Some other issue is that the transmission can enter neutral at any time. As a result, the engine's RPM would increase to 5-7000 rpm without having to press the accelerator.

Power Train: The Kia Telluride is commercialized as a car that outperforms the competition in its class. To accomplish this, the ride must be pretty comfortable, which it is not. At 4,900 miles, one driver experienced acceleration concerns. Their Telluride would not reach freeway speeds. Another driver was having trouble with their Telluride changing into neutral while driving. The problem manifests itself at lower speeds, after having turned, and while accelerating.

Safety Complaints

Air Bags: The contact is the owner of a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been involved in a collision and that the airbags had been removed. There was no airbag deployment.

Exterior

Exterior Lighting: The contact is the owner of a 2020 Kia Telluride. According to the contact, lights are dangerous at night. They felt that the lights did not provide enough illumination to see the road. Other issues include the trailer tow package's factory lights. When combined with the leading brake lights, the lights would occasionally fail to illuminate. Their trailer lacked brake lights, resulting in hazardous driving conditions.

Dashboard

Electrical System: The contact is the owner of a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving, the dash gauge cluster (tachometer, speedometer, fuel, and engine temperature) all reset to zero. The digital speedometer display is also blank. The entire dash is useless except for the entertainment system, which works perfectly. This also disables all adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance systems. Rebooting the vehicle will not restore the dash instruments.

2020 Kia Telluride recall

S.No.

Recall Date

NHTSA Campaign ID

Issues noticed

Additional remarks

Remedy

1

August 15, 2022,

22V626000

Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles that may have been prepared with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness that was either implemented as original equipment or purchased as a device from a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the printed circuit board (PCB) of the tow hitch harness module can cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

It is recommended that owners park outside and away from systems until the recall repair is completed. The treatment is currently being developed. Interim notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2022, informing owners of the safety risk.

2

July 28, 2020,

20V436000

Inoperative Trailer Brake Lights/FMVSS 108

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride cars installed with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When the SCC applies the brakes while towing a trailer, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate.

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will be free of charge to install an extra wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights. The recall will begin on September 10, 2020.

3

August 13, 2019

19V594000

Incorrect Seat Belt Assemblies Installed/FMVSS 208

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling a limited number of 2020 Telluride vehicles. In the event of a crash, the seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third-row seats may not firmly to safeguard a child restraint system.

Owners will be notified, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and consider replacing any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The driver's seat belt, which has a non-US specification label, will also be replaced with a US-specification seat belt as part of the repair. The repairs will be carried out at no cost. The recall started on August 30, 2019.

Should you buy a used 2020 Kia Telluride?

The 2020 Kia Telluride was the model's debut year. This midsize SUV is even manufactured for expeditions, according to the firm. It didn't take too long in the industry for owners to recognize that the explorations Kia was referring to weren't the ones they wished to have. With its wholly lavish characteristics and incredible deal cost, it encompasses that association. It meets all of the criteria for an American family hauler, including ample cabin space and modern features. Few competitors provide the same level of interior and accommodations for this price. When you consider its refined driving dynamics, the Telluride quickly has become a yardstick in the sizable crossover class. The 2020 Telluride is prophesied to be 80 out of 100 reliable. This is why nearly 75,129 people purchased the 2020 Telluride. Kia Telluride issues were reported by some owners. The problems with Kia Telluride are the engine, powertrain, airbag, electrical system, and exterior lighting. 

  • Complaints
  • Recalls
  • Investigations
  • Manufacturer Communications

October 2, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11691041

Components: 060000 ENGINE (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11691041

Incident Date:
October 2, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
5XYP24HC6LG

Consumer Location:
ALEXANDRIA, VA

Summary
Oven taken my car to jiffy line for more than regular oil changes and they always end up kinda jokingly s...

September 28, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11690141

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11690141

Incident Date:
September 28, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
5XYP6DHC1LG

Consumer Location:
Unknown

Summary
Windshield cracked from minor item being thrown up by car in front of me. Engine burns out no oil on di...

September 24, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11689421

Components: 060000 ENGINE (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11689421

Incident Date:
September 24, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
5XYP5DHC0LG

Consumer Location:
HARRISON, MI

Summary
My vehicle has an oil consumption problem that the dealership and every other Kia dealership knows about....

September 22, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11688822

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11688822

Incident Date:
September 22, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
5XYP3DHC3LG

Consumer Location:
ROGERS, MN

Summary
I had the AWD coupler replaced at 66000 under warranty due to a TSB and hesitation when turning at slow s...

September 14, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11687196

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11687196

Incident Date:
September 14, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
5XYP3DHC7LG

Consumer Location:
MINNETONKA, MN

Summary
For the past year to year I have brought my car in for concerns with idle, hesitation when acceleratin...

82/100Best

Quality & Reliability

Assesses the extent of issues, glitches, and design imperfections encountered by...

90/100Best

Driving Experience

Owners' assessments regarding the vehicle's design, performance, comfort, functi...

77/100Best

Resale

CARHP's projection of depreciation, which estimates the probable decrease in the...

71/100Best

Dealership Experience

Owners' interactions with dealerships associated with this brand, encompassing b...

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