Carlexica

2020 Kia Telluride: problems, recalls and reliability

7 recalls and 767 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is exterior lighting (27% of complaints); the 2021 model year looks more trouble-free.

Data updated weekly · 18 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Jul 2026

7
recalls
767
owner complaints
9
fire reports
8,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

NHTSA crash testOverall ★★★★★Front ★★★★★Side ★★★★★Rollover ★★★★★
5-star NHTSA overall safety ratingWeak spot: exterior lighting (27%)9 fire reportsProblems reported early (median 8,000 mi)

Common problems

Computed from 767 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Exterior Lighting (headlights, taillights)27% · 175 complaints
Visibility/Wiper (windshield, wipers, defroster, mirrors)20% · 127 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)20% · 127 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)7% · 46 complaints
Structure (body, frame, doors, rust)7% · 43 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)5% · 31 complaints
“Plastic part of sunroof mechanism snapped, causing the whole sunroof to jam and not be able to close properly. Not only does this put interior damage of the car at risk, it puts a driver and passengers at risk in the case of inclement weather.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2026
“I own a 2020 Kia Telluride with a Canadian VIN permanently registered in [XXX] (military) and live in [XXX]. The vehicle has an active fire risk recall. Kia America and my local dealership in [XXX] are refusing to perform the federally mandated safety recall including a significant fire hazard if not repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Seats · Sep 2026
“The sun roof warning light on dash suddenly came on and when I tried to open it up it broke and would no longer close. Finally got front toclise but back won't. Paeamount Kua of Asheville wants $7000 to fix even though I have extended warranty.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“Loss of oil that is going out the heads and exhaust. This causes loss of power. Oil light doesn't come on. This happened twice. Once in March and we took it to the dealership to have it fixed. Unfortunately, the issue wasn't fixed and it happened again in August.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2026
“My sunroof stopped being able to close all the way. I took it to the dealership and to fix it, it will cost over $7,00 dollars. It will open but won't close all the way.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2026
“The car has stalled numerous times on the roadway while driving. The issue has been identified as an oil consumption issue. There was no low pressure warning light or other warning indicating that there is an oil pressure issue or any other early warning of an engine stall. The dealer has indicated that a complete engine replacement is required to correct the problem. Based upon research, there has been a significant amount of complaints pertaining to this issue. This same oil consumption and engine stall issue was part of a Class Action settlement by KIA, however this particular KIA model was not covered in the litigation.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2026
“Vehicle is burning a significant amount of oil leading to it becoming dry. I am seeing a lot of people complaining about this issue but there has not been a recall sent out.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2026
“I went to open my sunroof and I see a piece sticking up. My sunroof then wouldnt close. I get home and find out its the wind deflector. I tried to close the sunroof and now my sunroof if stuck open. One of the tracks is now misaligned and I can't close my sunroof.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2026
“Large chunks of paint peeling from hood and top of car. Yes, available for inspection. Safety concerns for visibility issues for driver and other drivers if paint impairs visibility. Yes, visited a collision repair shop, stated they see this being an issue a lot with Kia Tellurides, especially the snow white as they didn't put primer on vehicle first. Yes, was inspected by insurance representative. No warnings, started about a month ago and has gotten gradually worse.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2026
“The sun roof came completely off the tracks and won't close. The car is no longer weather proof and is at risk of the glass flying off at high speeds. Problem has not been reproduced or confirmed. Has not been inspected by the manufacturer or others. No warnings prior to the failure.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2026

When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 7 campaigns

Driveshaft (power train)24V214000 · Mar 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.

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.

Power adjust (seats)24V407000 · Jun 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.

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.

Power adjust (seats)26V430000 · Jul 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.

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.

Brake lights (exterior lighting)20V436000 · Jul 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."

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.

Headlights (exterior lighting)24V148000 · Feb 2024

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

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.

Trailer hitches22V626000 · Aug 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.

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.

Front (seat belts)19V594000 · Aug 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."

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.

Trouble codes owners mention

OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.

How other years compare

Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Telluride years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.

Check your exact Telluride by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

Open VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Kia Telluride reliable?

NHTSA has 767 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2020 Kia Telluride. The most complained-about area is exterior lighting (27% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2020 Kia Telluride problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 8,000 miles or less.

Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have open recalls?

7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.