2021 Kia TELLURIDE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2021 Kia TELLURIDE has 413 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: chipped glass from rock/debris, windshield instantly cracked.. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 6 crash reports 8 injuries

413

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

90 complaints

22%

• CHIPPED GLASS FROM ROCK/DEBRIS, WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY CRACKED.
• THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING WITHIN A MONTH OF THE PURCHASE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-80. SEVERAL TRIPS TO KIA WITH KIA TECH LINE AND THEY DENY THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE. THEY SAID THE VIBRATION MEASURED WITH A PICOSCOPE WAS WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. AFTER FIGHTING WITH KIA CONSUMERS, I TOOK IT TO A DRIV
• THE KIA TELLURIDE HAS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH AIR FLOW BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD ROWS AND ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OUTPUT FLOWS. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP AIR FLOW EVEN IN THE CAR AND WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR IT REQUIRES FREQUENT STOPS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO ADDRESS THE TEMPERATURE ISSUES OR ME TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CHIPPED GLASS FROM ROCK/DEBRIS, WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY CRACKED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

81 complaints

20%

• I DROVE TO WORK, ON A REGULAR ROAD, AT 40-45 MPH. NO ISSUE. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I CAME OUT 12 HOURS LATER I HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE LENGTH OF MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS NOT PARKED UNDER A TREE AND THERE WAS NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THERE WA
• BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 772 MILES ON VEHICLE AND THE FIRST ROCK TO HIT WINDSHIELD CAUSED QUARTER SIZE CRACK ON WINDSHIELD. AN I LITERALLY MEAN FIRST TIME A PEBBLE HIT WINDSHIELD SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WAS DRIVING 62MPH ON FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A SMALL TICK AND LOOKED AND IMMEDIATELY WENT REALLY?
• LAST WEEK THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND TODAY THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT, NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 2021 S MODEL 2800 MILES ON THE CLOCK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I DROVE TO WORK, ON A REGULAR ROAD, AT 40-45 MPH. NO ISSUE. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I CAME OUT 12 HOURS LATER I HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE LENGTH OF MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS NOT PARKED UNDER A TREE AND THERE WAS NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THERE WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

53 complaints

13%

• MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ON THE FIRST COLD MORNING. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT STARTED SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND IDLED FUNNY. I SHUT IT OFF.
• 021 KIA TELLURIDE, FEBRUARY 13, 2021. TEMPERATURES ARE SINGLE DIGITS OR BELOW AND GOT WORSE AS THE WEEK WENT ON. STARTED THE ENGINE AND A LOUD SQUEAL OR WHISTLING NOISE CAME FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. LAST ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEN SLOWLY STOPS. ENGINE ALSO STARTS TO SOUND LIKE IT HAS MORE POWER ONCE N
• As I started the car, it began to shake and shudder while idling. And the check engine light turned on. I could smell the unburied gas inside the car.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ON THE FIRST COLD MORNING. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT STARTED SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND IDLED FUNNY. I SHUT IT OFF.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

35 complaints

• LAST WEEK THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND TODAY THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT, NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 2021 S MODEL 2800 MILES ON THE CLOCK
• DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REMAINED STUCK OPEN ABOUT 1 INCH WHEN DRIVER ROLLED DOWN WINDOW WITH SLIGHT TAP ON WINDOW SWITCH DRIVING MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN WHILE IN MOTION WHEN USING SWITCH TO OPEN OR CLOSE WINDOW EVEN AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP (ON SHOULDER OF ROAD) A
• The instrument cluster failed in less than 30 days on my new 2021 Kia Telluride LX. Bought the vehicle with only 9 miles on it and I am shocked to take in for service so soon. The engine starts up and the car drives but none of the gauges light up or work in the instrument cluster.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“LAST WEEK THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND TODAY THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT, NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 2021 S MODEL 2800 MILES ON THE CLOCK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

30 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY, TAKING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SLIGHTLY AND OFTEN VI
• WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, WE HEARD A LOUD CRACK AND OUR SUNROOF BURST OPEN AND SHOWERED US WITH TEMPED GLASS. IT WAS VERY STARTLING AND CAUSED MY WIFE TO VEER INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE MOMENTARILY. THE SUNROOF BURST OPEN IN AN UPWARD FASHION. NOTHING HIT THE SUNROOF GLASS. THE
• WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE PASSENGER NAD DRIVERS WINDOW FLEXES AND WILL NOT ALWAYS ROLLUP. THE WINDOW FLEXES ENOUGH THAT IT CONTACTS THE DOOR GASKETS AND IT ASSUMES THERE IS A PINCH POINT AND ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS IS SLOW DOWN TO LESS THAN 55 MILES AND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY, TAKING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS OPEN SLIGHTLY AND OFTEN VI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 413 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: CHIPPED GLASS FROM ROCK/DEBRIS, WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY CRACKED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: I DROVE TO WORK, ON A REGULAR ROAD, AT 40-45 MPH. NO ISSUE. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I CAME OUT 12 HOURS LATER I HAD A CRACK THAT STARTED AT THE BASE OF MY WINDSHIELD AND SPREAD ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE LENGTH OF MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS NOT PARKED UNDER A TREE AND THERE WAS NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THERE WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ON THE FIRST COLD MORNING. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT STARTED SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND IDLED FUNNY. I SHUT IT OFF.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: LAST WEEK THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND TODAY THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT, NOTHING HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. 2021 S MODEL 2800 MILES ON THE CLOCK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)