2020 Kia TELLURIDE: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE WE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A YELL FROM MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK ROW "THE SEAT IS CRUSHING THE BABY!". OUR 5 MONTH BABY WAS STRAPPED IN THE MIDDLE SEAT CENTER ROW AND THE BACK PART OF THE SEATS FOLDED FORWARD DISLODGING THE REAR FACING CAR SEAT AND TIPPING IT UPWARD A BIT. I HAD TO EMERGENCY STOP THE VEHICLE IN MID TRAFFIC, UNBUCKLE AND CRAWL IN THE BACK SEAT TO PUSH THE SEAT BACK OFF OF MY BABY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR SURE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK ROW PUSHED THE SEAT RETRACT BUTTO…

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183605 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW 2020 KIA TELLURIDE PURCHASED ON 3/18/19. ON 4/6/19 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT 1273 MILES. TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP GARAGE ON 4/8/19 AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH CORPORATE KIA ON 4/9/19. NO ONE IS CALLING ME BACK. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH A DOOR THAT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,273 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195709 at NHTSA ↗

WE BOUGHT OUR 2020 KIA TELLURIDE 7-3-2019 & ON 7-11-2019 OUR WINDSHIELD BROKE FROM A SMALL ROCK WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH TODAY FROM A PASSING CAR. I HAVE HEARD OF 100S OF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THESE INFERIOR WINDSHIELD WINDOWS WITH POOR UNSAFE PRODUCTION.

Owner-reported narrative. 657 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231136 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD CRACKED

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231487 at NHTSA ↗

VERY SMALL CHIP IN WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN AN HOUR BEFORE WE COULD GET IT FILLED IT RAN FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL TELLURIDES.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231577 at NHTSA ↗

ONLY HAD OUR CAR10 DAYS. 1ST ROAD TRIP AND A RICK POPPED UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN. WITHIN 10 MINS OF THE SUN. IT SPREAD ACROSS ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. TO HAVE PAID THIS MUCH FOR A BRAND NEW CAR AND HEARD THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE... IT HAS GOT TO BE RESOLVED. COMPLETELY SO SICKENING.

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231777 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE GLASS QUALITY/DESIGN. IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS (5/13/19) MY RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW CRACKED. I DID HEAR A VERY SLIGHT SOUND (LIKE A WATER BOTTLE EXPANDING) BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WITHIN AN HOUR, THE CRACK OCCURRED. THERE WAS A VERY SMALL 'DING' BUT CONTINUED TO BREAK. I REPAIRED IT WITH MY INSURANCE. ON 7/16 I PARKED AT WORK AS USUAL. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, MY FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A 6-7 INCH CRACK. I COULD NOT SEE AN IMPACT SITE. THE CRACK IS UP AROUND 10 HIGH AND NOW SPLITTING TO THE LEFT ACROSS. WE WERE AB…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233151 at NHTSA ↗

SMALL PEBBLE HIT CAR WINDSHEILD ON TOP LEFT CORNER. PLANNING ON PULLING OVER TO ACCESS SITUATION. THEN NOTICE A CRACK THAT WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT REACHED THE REVIEW MIRROR. I CALLED KIA CORPORATE TO REPORT AND THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE 2020 TELLURIDE ARE HAVING WINDSHIELD CRACKING PROBLEMS BUT WILL NOT REPAIR IF CAUSED BY PEBBLE. ONLY IF STRESS CRACK. I HAVE HEARD OF TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2020 TELLURIDE WINDSHIELD AND THINK THEY NEED TO INVESTIGATE ISSUE FURTHER FOR SAFETY REASONS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11234140 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2019-08-13 (August 13, 2019)

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."

Consequence: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.

Reported: 2020-07-28 (July 28, 2020)

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."

Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.

Reported: 2022-08-15 (August 15, 2022)

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.

Reported: 2024-02-26 (February 26, 2024)

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.

Consequence: Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.

Reported: 2024-03-20 (March 20, 2024)

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.

Reported: 2024-06-05 (June 5, 2024)

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.

Reported: 2026-07-02 (July 2, 2026)

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.