Telluride (1st)
Verdict Aim for a 2023 car, the cleanest window in this single-engine generation, ahead of the 2024-2025 cars with the most severe open recalls. On a 2024, confirm the 24V077 valve spring recall by VIN.
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
GDI Lambda-II
3.8L 6-cyl / 291 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Kia Telluride Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
GDI Lambda II
3.8LView details
Complaint Breakdown
Reliability Overview
The Telluride is the Kia side of the Palisade story. Both SUVs share the Hyundai-Kia 3.8L Lambda II GDI V6, both ride on the same large-SUV platform, both carry similar recall exposure across overlapping campaign numbers, and the Telluride's data confirms what the Palisade editorial said directly. Across 2020-2025, the Telluride accumulates 2,001 NHTSA complaints, 17 recalls, 39 crashes, 23 fires, 41 injuries, and 1 death. The Telluride's fire count is higher than the Palisade's (23 vs 14) on a smaller complaint volume, an inversion worth flagging.
The 3.8L Lambda II V6 (291 hp, 2020-2025) owns 1,987 of 2,001 complaints (99.3%) at 328.3 complaints per year. The complaint distribution carries 732 entries in the "other" bucket (37% of file), with engine at 340, electrical at 286, exterior at 205, transmission at 170, and body at 161. This is a heavier "other" concentration than typical for a Hyundai-Kia file but lighter than the pattern on the Outback and Forester built on Subaru's SGP platform. The "other" mix here captures door belt molding delamination (25V494), spare tire mis-specs, and digital instrument cluster issues rather than the Subaru windshield-and-multimedia signature.
The 2024 model year carries the most severe recall in the file. 24V077 covers an engine valve spring that may break while driving, with a consequence including a hole through the engine block. This is the same defect class as the Palisade's 24V106 recall, also covering 2024 model year cars, also calling out engine block penetration as the failure mode. The Hyundai-Kia Lambda II program issued separate campaigns for each nameplate but the underlying engineering defect is identical. Buyers shopping a 2024 Telluride or Palisade should treat the valve spring recall as a single platform issue rather than two separate brand events.
The recall log contains a re-recall pattern on the spare tire. 22V509 covered 2022 Sorento and Telluride vehicles with incorrect spare tires that could impair anti-lock braking. 25V745 re-issued for 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento on the same defect class, three years later. Other recalls cluster on instrument-cluster electrical defects (21V577 LCD blank screen, 22V344 excess adhesive in the cluster circuit board, 23V298 digital instrument cluster multi-Kia), seat-related issues (24V407 power seat motor overheat fire, 26V105 seat back frame manufacturing error on 2025 cars), and air bag manufacturing defects (21V164 OCS/ODS, 23V035 wire harness for second row).
For shoppers, the Telluride and Palisade are the same buying decision split across two brands. The data does not meaningfully distinguish them on reliability, and cross-shopping between them is picking based on dealership experience, warranty preference, or styling. The cleaner Full-Size 3-row alternatives are the Toyota Sequoia (V6 hybrid), Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-90, and the 2024+ Hyundai Santa Fe long-wheelbase if a smaller footprint will do. Within Hyundai-Kia, the Sorento is the smaller sibling on a different platform with cleaner per-year complaint figures, and the Carnival minivan substitutes if three rows and AWD aren't both required.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Telluride, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
Buyer's Guide
The Telluride is a single-engine generation, so used-Telluride shopping is engine-agnostic and reduces to which year. The 2024-2025 cars carry the most severe open recalls (24V077 valve spring break, 24V407 power seat motor fire risk, 26V105 seat back frame manufacturing error), while the 2020-2022 cars cleared most of their early manufacturing-quality issues but are now five-plus model years old with mileage to match. The 2023 model year sits in the middle with the 23V035 air bag wire harness and 23V298 digital instrument cluster recalls but no engine-block-piercing valve spring exposure. For buyers willing to absorb the higher fire-and-recall load, that 2023 window is the cleanest within the 1st generation.
Inspection priorities before buying any Telluride: verify the 24V077 valve spring recall has been performed on 2024 cars (this is the load-bearing engine-block recall); check the 24V407 power seat motor overheat correction on 2020-2024 cars; confirm the 24V214 driveshaft engagement recall on 2020-2024 cars (vehicle roll away risk); for 2022 cars verify both 22V344 instrument cluster adhesive and 21V577 LCD startup blank screen; for 2023 cars confirm 23V035 second-row air bag wire harness; for 2025 cars verify 26V105 seat back frame and 25V745 spare tire (a re-recall of 22V509); and confirm the 25V494 door belt molding delamination on 2023-2025 cars.
Cross-shop the Toyota Sequoia (hybrid powertrain available), Honda Pilot, and Mazda CX-90 for the cleaner reliability profile in the Full-Size 3-row segment. Within Hyundai-Kia, the Palisade carries the same recall exposure on the same Lambda II V6 and is not a meaningful alternative; the Sorento is the smaller sibling on a different platform and reads cleaner per-year; the Carnival minivan covers three-row capacity without AWD if that's acceptable.
What to check on a used 2020-2025 Kia Telluride
On a used 2020-2025 Kia Telluride, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the engine (343), the electrical system (288) and the exterior lighting (208). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 343 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride about the engine.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 288 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride about the electrical system.
- Check every exterior light, the wipers, the washers, the mirrors and the glass.Safety. NHTSA has 208 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride about the exterior lighting.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 170 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride about the transmission and drivetrain.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the trunk or hatch. Check the latches, the seals and the gaps between panels.Minor. NHTSA has 161 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride about the body and structure.
Recalls (17)
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride vehicles, equipped with power front seat(s). Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
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.
Show 12 older recalls
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 Telluride vehicles. The engine valve springs may break while driving, which can result in a loss of drive power and possibly create a hole in the engine block.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.
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.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Sorento and Telluride vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Telluride vehicles. Excess adhesive in a circuit board within the instrument cluster may cause the instrument cluster display screen to be blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Telluride vehicles. The LCD display screen may remain blank after startup. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
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."
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."
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Alternatives in Full-Size SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2020-2025 Kia Telluride complaints?
Owners have filed 2,001 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride. The systems they name most often are the engine, the electrical system and the exterior.
Is the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 2,001 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride have?
NHTSA has 2,001 owner complaints on file for the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2020-2025 Kia Telluride?
NHTSA lists 17 recalls covering some 2020-2025 Kia Telluride vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Kia Telluride?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the electrical system and the exterior, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Telluride?
The 2025 Kia Telluride received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (14.3% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard & Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 2,001 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.