Recalls
5campaigns
2 seat · 1 power train · 1 trailer hitches
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
365filed
Owner reports, 2020–2027 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 4★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 4★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
23mpg combined
$2,840/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
3.8 L 6-cyl· 8-speed automatic
2 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia Telluride. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2021 Kia Telluride. Not checked against your VIN.
Park outside: fire risk. NHTSA advises parking outside and away from buildings until the recall repair is done.
Park Outside: Fire from Overheated Power Seat Motors
Seats · front assembly · power adjust
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Repair progress not yet reported462,869 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V430000
Listed for 2021 Kia Telluride. Not checked against your VIN.
Park outside: fire risk. NHTSA advises parking outside and away from buildings until the recall repair is done.
Fire from Overheated Power Seat Motor
Seats · front assembly · power adjust
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
85.2% repairedof 462,869 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 24V407000
Listed for 2021 Kia Telluride. Not checked against your VIN.
Vehicle Roll Away from Disengaged Driveshaft
Power train · driveline · driveshaft
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
86% repairedof 427,407 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 24V214000
Listed for 2021 Kia Telluride. Not checked against your VIN.
Park outside: fire risk. NHTSA advises parking outside and away from buildings until the recall repair is done.
Tow Hitch Harness Fire While Parked or Driving
Trailer hitches
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
81.9% repairedof 36,417 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 22V626000
Listed for 2021 Kia Telluride. Not checked against your VIN.
Occupant Detection System Malfunction/FMVSS 208
Air bags · air bag/restraint control module
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
97.2% repairedof 142 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 21V164000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (365)
365 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
7involved a crash
4involved a fire
9injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 365 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 102 | 27.9% |
| Engine | 64 | 17.5% |
| Visibility/wiper | 64 | 17.5% |
| Electrical system | 41 | 11.2% |
| Structure | 33 | 9% |
| Power train | 28 | 7.7% |
| Visibility | 23 | 6.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 22 | 6% |
| Suspension | 20 | 5.5% |
| Service brakes | 14 | 3.8% |
How 2021 compares with other Telluride years
Best and worst Telluride years →2020768
2021365
2022324
2023207
2024219
2025116
202724
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 768 | 7 |
| 2021 | 365 | 5 |
| 2022 | 324 | 7 |
| 2023 | 207 | 6 |
| 2024 | 219 | 5 |
| 2025 | 116 | 3 |
| 2027 | 24 | 2 |
This year (2021)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 4★ · Passenger 4★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 15.5%★★★★☆
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Kia Telluride suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
23
mpg combined
20
city
26
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 395 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
$2,840per year
$237per month
652gallons a year
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 395 |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 428 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Telluride for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Kia Telluride FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Telluride have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 26V430000 (seat), 24V407000 (seat), 24V214000 (power train), 22V626000 (trailer hitches), 21V164000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Kia Telluride problems?
Owners filed 365 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (102), Engine (64), Visibility/wiper (64) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Kia Telluride get?
EPA rates the 3.8 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 20 city, 26 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Kia Telluride get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Kia Telluride suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (15.5% rollover risk).
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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