Kia Telluride Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Kia Telluride model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2021 drew the fewest (365) and the 2020 the most (768).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Still collecting reports |
24 | 2 | Seat belts | — | 19–35 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
116 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | 20–22 |
| 2023 | 207 | 6 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 21–23 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
219 | 5 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 20–22 |
| 2022 | 324 | 7 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 21–23 |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
365 | 5 | Unknown or other | 5★ | 21–23 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
768 | 7 | Exterior lighting | 5★ | 21–23 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Kia Telluride years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2020 Kia Telluride: 768 complaints
Most-reported: Exterior lighting 185 (24%); Engine 149 (19%); Visibility/wiper 136 (18%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 9 fires, 11 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 6,000 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
2021 Kia Telluride: 365 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 64 (18%); Visibility/wiper 64 (18%); Electrical system 41 (11%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 4 fires, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 3,200 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The Kia Telluride years with the fewest complaints
2021 Kia Telluride: 365 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 64 (18%); Visibility/wiper 64 (18%); Electrical system 41 (11%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 4 fires, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 3,200 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Kia Telluride: 768 complaints
Most-reported: Exterior lighting 185 (24%); Engine 149 (19%); Visibility/wiper 136 (18%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 9 fires, 11 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 6,000 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Kia Telluride owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 116 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7,000 |
| 2024 | 219 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8,400 |
| 2023 | 207 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 20,000 |
| 2022 | 324 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 36,000 |
| 2021 | 365 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 3,200 |
| 2020 | 768 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 6,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Kia Telluride recalls
- Fire from Overheated Power Seat Motors (2020–2024 model years; 462,869 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2026; 26V430000)
- Fire from Overheated Power Seat Motor (2020–2024 model years; 462,869 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2024; 24V407000)
- Vehicle Roll Away from Disengaged Driveshaft (2020–2024 model years; 427,407 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2024; 24V214000)
- Door Belt Molding Trim Can Detach While Driving (2023–2025 model years; 201,149 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2025; 25V494000)
- Blank LCD Display/FMVSS 101 & 138 (2023 model year; 108,936 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2023; 23V298000)
All 19 Kia Telluride recall campaigns · Kia Telluride problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Kia Telluride years FAQ
Which Kia Telluride year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2021 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (365). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Kia Telluride years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2020 and 2021 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the visibility/wiper. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Kia Telluride problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the visibility/wiper (347 of 2,023 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Kia Telluride have?
NHTSA lists 19 recall campaigns covering the Kia Telluride. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Kia Telluride recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.