Kia Telluride Years To Avoid: What A Smooth Test Drive Can Hide

    Disclaimer: This content was researched and written using AI tools and has not been fact-checked by an automotive professional. We do not guarantee its accuracy, reliability, or completeness. This website is not affiliated with any government agency or vehicle manufacturer. Verify recall information with the manufacturer, an authorized dealer, or an official government database. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for resulting losses or damages.

Click the high beams on, and the road ahead stays dim. On certain 2020 Tellurides, heat damages the gear mechanism inside the halogen headlamp. The low beams keep working, but the high beams won’t respond. That leaves less light to spot a bend on an unlit road.

The paperwork can hide another costly assumption. A seller’s receipt for the seat-fire recall might show a repair that Kia has since replaced. In July 2026, Kia recalled 462,869 Tellurides from 2020–2024 for a new seat-motor safeguard. Previously repaired vehicles need that work too, with a park-outside warning until it’s done.

This guide identifies which Kia Telluride years to avoid, which repair records matter, and when a newer model earns its premium.

    Some model years may need closer inspection because of recalls, service campaigns, corrosion risk, or owner reports. This does not mean every vehicle from that year is unreliable. Check the VIN, repair history, and vehicle condition before buying.

1. Start With 2020 on the Caution List

The first model year brings more to investigate

These are buying-guide judgments, not established failure-rate rankings. 2020 deserves the most caution in this buying assessment because its halogen high-beam defect adds a year-specific repair to the wider seat-fire and shaft recalls. Early AWD vibration and windshield complaints give you more to investigate before buying. Compare each vehicle’s VIN, repair history, mileage, condition, and symptoms rather than treating any model year as proven worst or best.

The headlamp fault can leave the low beams working while the high beams stop responding. On affected AWD models, a separate fault can cause vibration at 60–75 mph. Kia’s TRA099 bulletin covers certain 2020–2021 vehicles built through February 28, 2021. Diagnosis starts with tire pressure and balance before moving to the propeller shaft or AWD coupling.

Model year	Buying position	What needs closer scrutiny
2020	Strongest caution, especially with weak records or unresolved symptoms	High-beam repairs, AWD vibration, windshield cracks, and applicable seat-fire and rollaway remedies
2021	Consider selectively	Early-build AWD vibration, engine condition, and completed safety repairs
2022	Conditional buy	Exact instrument-cluster campaign, installed tow-hitch wiring, and applicable seat and shaft repairs
2023	Worth considering for its safety upgrades	Cluster software, second-row airbag wiring, seat-fire repairs, and loose exterior molding
2024	Judge by VIN and build date	Valve-spring recall eligibility, documented engine replacement where required, and seat and shaft campaigns
2025	Reasonable later-model starting point	Seatback recliners, exterior molding, spare-tire campaigns, oil use, and AWD chatter

Kia’s September 2026 oil-consumption bulletin, ENG270, covers 2020–2025 Tellurides. Its AWD bulletin, CHA129, also reaches certain vehicles across those years. The latter addresses coupling chatter, binding, or shudder during low-speed turns. A 2025 badge doesn’t place either complaint outside Kia’s repair guidance.

Fewer complaints don’t prove fewer failures

A 2020 Telluride has had more time to collect miles and complaints than a 2025. Sales volume also changes how many vehicles can generate reports. Without accounting for both, raw complaint totals can’t establish which year fails most often.

Recall populations measure how many vehicles may carry a defect. They don’t count confirmed broken parts. The 2026 seat-fire recall covers 462,869 vehicles, while NHTSA’s announcement lists 7 reported seat fires and 11 melted motors.

A bulletin’s model-year range doesn’t show how often the fault occurs, either. Under ENG270, dealers repair external oil leaks before starting a measured 1,000-mile consumption test. A short test drive can’t establish how much oil that engine burns between top-ups.

2. The Seat-Fire Repair Changed Again in 2026

An old repair receipt can leave the fire risk open

Recall SC374 / 26V430 replaces SC316 / 24V407 for certain 2020–2024 Tellurides. It covers vehicles built from January 9, 2019, through May 29, 2024. Vehicles repaired under the earlier campaign still need the new remedy.

A hard knock against the front seat’s side cover or adjustment knob can damage or dislodge the switch. The damaged switch can keep a seat motor running after you release the knob. Continued operation builds heat and can start a fire while driving or parked. Kia also identifies improper earlier recall repairs as a possible cause.

The knob may stick, or the seat may keep moving after you let go. A burning smell or smoke beneath the seat signals overheating. Those are listed warning signs, but you shouldn’t wait for them before arranging the recall repair.

Dealers install an electronic fuse assembly to stop continuous motor operation if the switch fails. Ask for a completed repair order showing SC374 against the vehicle’s VIN. Until that repair is complete, affected vehicles must stay parked outside, away from buildings and other vehicles.

The trailer wiring carries a separate fire risk

Recall SC247 / 22V626 concerns certain 2020–2022 Tellurides fitted with Kia’s genuine 4-pin tow-hitch harness. Moisture and debris can reach the harness module’s circuit board. Contamination can short the board and start a fire, even with the ignition off.

A tow hitch alone doesn’t establish whether this recall applies. Kia’s bulletin distinguishes the affected 4-pin accessory from its genuine 7-pin harness and aftermarket wiring. Those other harnesses require no repair under this specific campaign.

The dealer inspects the affected harness, repairs or replaces it as indicated, and installs a 15-amp TRAILER 1 fuse and label. A receipt showing only an earlier fuse replacement doesn’t document the later harness work.

Match the completed repair record to the wiring actually fitted beneath the rear bumper. An affected, unrepaired harness carries a park-outside warning. Switching off the engine doesn’t remove power from the fault’s potential fire path.

3. Find Where the Oil Goes Before Blaming the V6

A leaking housing gasket now has longer coverage

A low dipstick reading doesn’t prove the engine burns oil. Oil can escape where the filter housing bolts to the engine block. Kia’s WTY045 warranty extension covers that gasket leak on certain 2020–2025 Tellurides built through June 12, 2025.

The extension provides 15 years or 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the vehicle’s first-service date. Dealers inspect the housing and replace the gasket when the covered leak is confirmed. Eligible repairs cost the owner nothing.

Have Kia confirm eligibility against the VIN before paying for that repair. The inspection must identify oil leaking from the housing’s mounting gasket. Oil from another location needs separate diagnosis, and WTY045 doesn’t promise coverage for oil burning or every damaged engine.

Oil burning needs a measured test

Kia issued ENG270 in September 2026 for excessive oil consumption in 2020–2025 Tellurides. The dealer repairs external leaks first, then records the oil level and fills it to the full mark. Tamper seals help preserve the test conditions. You return after 1,000 miles with maintenance records.

The dealer measures how much oil restores the full level. More than 1 quart per 1,000 miles triggers the bulletin’s excessive-consumption repair path. That figure sets Kia’s repair threshold; it doesn’t establish how much every Telluride burns.

Verified excessive use leads to combustion-chamber cleaning, followed by another measured 1,000-mile test. Continued excessive consumption leads to the engine-replacement stage, subject to approval. Before buying, ask for both test results and the amount added at each visit. A full dipstick after a fresh top-up can hide the loss between services.

The 100,000-mile warranty depends on who buys it

Kia’s advertised 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain protection applies to the original purchaser and qualifying Kia Certified Pre-Owned buyers. An ordinary used-car sale doesn’t automatically carry that same protection. Ask the dealer to confirm your coverage using the VIN, first-service date, and sale status.

The warranty clock starts when the vehicle first enters service. Buying it used doesn’t restart those 10 years or erase miles already driven. A seller’s claim that it’s “still under 100,000 miles” leaves the time limit and buyer eligibility unanswered.

ENG270 supplies a repair procedure, but the bulletin alone doesn’t authorize a free engine. Maintenance verification forms part of its repair path. Work outside warranty requires additional Kia approval.

4. Certain 2024 Models Need an Engine Replacement

A damaged valve spring can break while driving

Recall SC296 / 24V077 covers approximately 2,872 Tellurides from the 2024 model year. The affected vehicles were built from October 1 through December 6, 2023. Have Kia check the VIN, since the model year alone doesn’t establish eligibility.

The supplier damaged some valve springs during manufacture. Fatigue cracks can develop from that damage until a spring breaks. Kia lists abnormal engine noise, a check-engine light, and uneven running among the possible warning signs.

A broken spring can cause loss of drive power. In rare cases, a broken valve enters the combustion chamber and damages the engine block. A hole in the block creates a fire risk.

“Engine checked” doesn’t document the required repair

Kia’s remedy is replacement of the engine sub-assembly. A general service stamp or inspection receipt doesn’t establish that this work happened. Ask for the completed dealer repair order identifying SC296 and the engine replacement.

Postpone the purchase if Kia confirms the recall remains open on that VIN. The recall repair costs the owner nothing, and Kia lists no owner-eligibility restrictions.

5. Three Driveline Faults That Can Feel Like Transmission Trouble

Worn shaft splines can let it roll in Park

Recall SC303 / 24V214 covers all 2020–2023 and certain 2024 Tellurides built from January 9, 2019, through October 19, 2023. The intermediate shaft and right-front driveshaft may not fully engage because of improper assembly. Partial contact can wear the splines, the teeth that transfer drive between the shafts.

Grinding or reduced drive power can warn of that damage. Worn splines can also let the SUV move while the selector sits in Park. Until repaired, Kia directs owners to select Park and manually apply the electronic parking brake before exiting.

The recall adds EPB software, with intermediate-shaft replacement if damage is found. A completed software update doesn’t mean the vehicle received a new shaft. Until the repair is complete, Kia advises shifting to Park and manually engaging the EPB before exiting. A damaged spline can allow unintended movement in Park if the EPB is not engaged.

Chatter through a turn may need software first

A rear-end shudder during a slow turn points toward a different repair path. CHA129, Revision 1, dated September 23, 2026, covers certain 2020–2025 AWD Tellurides. Listed symptoms include chatter, binding, jerking, and vibration while turning at 10–15 mph.

Kia links this complaint to changed oil-friction behavior inside the AWD coupling after harsh use. The bulletin names extreme temperatures and extended driving among those conditions. The dealer must confirm that the coupling produces the noise or vibration before updating its control software.

Kia specifically tells dealers not to replace the AWD coupling for this defined concern. Chatter that remains after the update needs further diagnosis. CHA129 is a one-time repair; later complaints fall under standard service and warranty rules.

Highway vibration starts with the tires

TRA099 addresses vibration at 60–75 mph on certain 2020–2021 AWD Tellurides built through February 28, 2021. Kia starts with tire pressure, road-force measurements, and wheel balance. A road-force test measures how unevenly a tire rolls under load.

The procedure calls for recording tire pressures, setting cold pressures to 35 psi, and road-testing for 20 minutes before testing the warm tires. Depending on the results, technicians adjust tire position, force-match tires to wheels, or correct balance. Persistent vibration can lead to propeller-shaft or AWD-coupling replacement after further testing.

Ask for the diagnosed cause and a repair quote before buying an SUV that shakes at cruising speed. A parking-brake update won’t correct wheel imbalance or a faulty propeller shaft. Under TRA099, a road-force reading of 31 pounds or more requires contact with Kia’s technical support.

6. Failed High Beams and Cracked Glass Need Different Answers

Working low beams can hide the headlamp fault

SC299 / 24V148 applies to certain 2020 Tellurides with halogen headlights. The affected production range runs from January 9 through November 18, 2019. Kia must confirm coverage by VIN, since not every vehicle built during that period qualifies.

Heat from the halogen bulb can damage the projector’s high-beam shield gear mechanism. One or both high beams can stop working while the low beams remain normal. Replacing a bulb won’t repair a damaged shield mechanism.

Kia inspects the affected headlamp and installs a retaining clip or replaces the assembly as required. The recall doesn’t automatically provide 2 new headlights. Before buying, test both high beams against a wall; a working low beam doesn’t confirm high-beam operation.

Windshield complaints don’t prove body flex caused the cracks

Kia acknowledged early windshield complaints in a November 1, 2019, goodwill notice. Owners reported chips that quickly spread into extensive cracks, leaving the glass beyond chip repair. Dealers could replace affected windshields after inspecting and confirming that condition.

The notice doesn’t identify chassis flex as the cause. It also doesn’t establish permanent free-glass coverage for every Telluride. It excluded collision damage and said Kia was still investigating. Ask Kia whether assistance applies before authorizing replacement, since the original support required inspection.

The separate Sanchez v. Kia lawsuit alleges that 2020–2023 Telluride windshields crack too easily. Its certified classes cover defined purchasers and lessees in 10 states. Class certification doesn’t establish that Kia is liable or guarantee payment. As of November 6, 2026, the case website lists a jury trial for February 22, 2027; verify the current docket because the earlier court-authorized notice did not set a trial date.

The wrong glass can leave the speed display doubled

A Telluride with a head-up display needs windshield glass designed for that equipment. The display projects driving information onto the glass, so optical compatibility matters. Unsuitable replacement glass can produce overlapping images instead of clear numbers.

Get a VIN-specific quote that identifies the replacement glass, installation, and any required calibration. On a vehicle with replaced glass, inspect the projected image from your normal driving position. A Kia logo on the windshield alone doesn’t establish correct HUD alignment. Persistent double images need diagnosis before you accept the installation.

7. A Newer Telluride Can Still Hide Safety Faults

A blank display can need software or a whole cluster

Model year and campaign	What fails	Required repair
Certain 2022, SC215 / 21V577, 3.5-inch LCD	A startup software error leaves the LCD blank, hiding the odometer. Dedicated warning lamps still work.	Update the cluster software.
Certain 2022, SC237 / 22V344	Excess circuit-board adhesive causes a poor electrical connection. The LCD goes blank, but dedicated warning lamps remain operational.	Replace the instrument cluster.
Certain 2023, SC270 / 23V298, 4.2-inch LCD	Startup errors can prevent required warning symbols and indicators from appearing.	Update the cluster software.

SC215 covers affected 2022 vehicles built from May 26 through July 16, 2021. SC237 concerns a later group built from September 9, 2021, through March 30, 2022. Match the VIN and repair order to the campaign; a software update won’t correct excess adhesive inside the cluster.

A smooth test drive won’t expose every safety defect

Affected Tellurides	Campaign and defect	Repair evidence to request
Certain 2023	SC262 / 23V035. Second-row side-airbag wiring can contact the seat frame and become damaged.	Inspection of both harnesses, with damaged wiring replaced or undamaged wiring secured.
Certain 2023–2025	SC347 / 25V494. Door belt-molding trim can separate and fall onto the road.	Replacement of affected belt-molding assemblies with improved assemblies.
Certain 2025	SC362 / 26V105. Faulty power-seatback recliners can reduce occupant restraint in a rear impact.	Front seatback-frame inspection and replacement where required.
Certain 2025	SC355 / 25V745. The incorrect spare can impair ABS and traction control when installed.	Replacement with the correct spare wheel and tire assembly.

The second-row airbag harnesses in SC262 were made to the wrong length. Folding or adjusting the seat can bring the wiring against the frame. Damage can prevent the seat-mounted side airbag from deploying in a crash.

SC347 concerns trim along the door windows. Its layers can separate, allowing pieces to detach while driving. The remedy replaces affected belt-molding assemblies with improved assemblies rather than merely inspecting them; it does not target the door’s latch or hinges.

The 2025 seatback recall addresses the recliner mechanism, separate from the earlier seat-motor fire defect. A loose backrest or grinding during recline can warn of trouble. Confirm the affected build range and campaign status by VIN before purchase.

The spare-tire defect can remain hidden until a flat forces you to fit the spare. NHTSA lists just 45 vehicles across the combined Telluride and Sorento campaign. That total doesn’t mean every 2025 Telluride carries the wrong spare.

For vehicles affected by SC262, Kia gives a specific airbag-light warning. If it stays on beyond roughly 6 seconds after startup, stop safely and arrange a tow. The same instruction applies if the lamp comes on while driving.

8. What a Later Telluride Actually Buys You

The 2023 refresh brought stronger crash protection

The 2023 Telluride gained standard LED headlights, available dual 12.3-inch displays, and new X-Line and X-Pro trims. Under the hood, Kia kept the 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 and 8-speed automatic. The cabin changed, but the refresh didn’t introduce a new engine design.

More substantial changes sit beneath the body panels. IIHS documents structural reinforcements and improved front and rear side airbags beginning with 2023 models. Its Good ratings in the updated side and moderate-overlap front tests apply to 2023–2025 Tellurides.

Those documented changes give family buyers a concrete reason to consider the later years. The 2025 Telluride earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+. Crash tests assess occupant protection and crash avoidance; they don’t measure oil consumption or engine life.

Build dates reveal changes the model badge can’t

Kia added a shaft-engagement inspection at the supplier on October 20, 2023. The added computer-vision check verifies that the driveshaft assembly fully engages. A 2024 built before that change can fall within the rollaway recall population.

A separate change reached production on May 30, 2024. Tellurides built from that date received a reinforced power-seat switch mechanism. The renewed seat-fire recall covers affected vehicles built through the previous day, May 29.

For 2025 models with power front seats, verify the recliner campaign status by VIN rather than relying on the model year or an assumed production change. With similar mileage, price, and condition, a vehicle with documented campaign completion deserves preference in your search. Its younger age still leaves less evidence of high-mileage wear, and the VIN needs checking for other campaigns.

A late build also doesn’t remove the need to investigate oil loss or rear-end chatter. Kia’s ENG270 oil-consumption guidance includes 2025 models. CHA129 covers applicable AWD vehicles built through December 17, 2025.

The redesigned 2027 starts a different reliability record

The second-generation 2027 Telluride replaces the V6 with a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. Buyers can also choose a 2.5-liter turbo-hybrid powertrain. Those engines bring different hardware and repair needs from the earlier V6.

As of November 2026, the 2027 Telluride had only months of U.S. service history; too little to establish long-term durability for either Telluride powertrain. A clean early complaint record can’t show how either performs after years of heat cycles and wear. The hybrid also adds electric motors and a 1.65-kWh lithium-ion battery to the turbocharged engine.

Sources & References

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