BestCarRank
Kia

2023 Kia TELLURIDE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2023 Kia TELLURIDE has 289 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 401. The most common issue is other problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: driving down the road, heard a noise and the sunroof exploded. thankfully we had the visor closed. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 7 crash reports 3 injuries

289

Total Complaints

6

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

OTHER

54 complaints
19%
  • Driving down the road, heard a noise and the sunroof exploded. Thankfully we had the visor closed
  • My car was sitting in driveway and not moved for 4 days. The windshield broke and cracked completely
  • I purchased a 2023 Kia Telluride for a family vacation tow vehicle. Spec's call out 5000 lb towing capacity and "pre-wired" for a trailer. Problem is, pre-wired means a connector in the back of the vehicle, but no actual harness available that plugs into it to run trailer lighting/brakes. Contact
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

Driving down the road, heard a noise and the sunroof exploded. Thankfully we had the visor closed

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2023 Kia TELLURIDE

Based on 24 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 15K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
13
30-60K
8
60-100K
3
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 20K mi · 6 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
2
60-100K
1
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 28K mi · 6 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
2
60-100K
1
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred. This vehicle is under 5 years old, so most of the fleet hasn't accumulated high mileage yet — low-mileage peaks reflect fleet age, not necessarily premature failure.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW29/01/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC262.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2023 Kia TELLURIDE

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,286
Per month
$191
Per mile
19.1¢
MPG
21
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$2,667/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$2,001/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2023 Kia TELLURIDE

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,735
Full coverage / month
$145
Liability only / year
$600
vs US avg
+4%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating0.94x
× vehicle age1.05x
= Full coverage estimate$1735

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Kia TELLURIDE Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
24 months
Transmission fluid
60K mi
Engine coolant
60K mi
Spark plugs
90K mi
Cabin air filter
15K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
60K mi

Turbo engines (Optima 2.0T, Sorento 2.5T) may benefit from more frequent oil changes.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Kia New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
5 yr / 60K mi
Powertrain
10 yr / 100K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
10 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
5 yr / 100K mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

10 year powertrain not transferable to subsequent owners

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
VISIBILITY(~50K mi)
$500
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 289 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • OTHER: Driving down the road, heard a noise and the sunroof exploded. Thankfully we had the visor closed

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: The KIA Telluride Tow Hitch Harness Module has been responsible for getting humidity and dirt inside and starting a fires. So, KIA has recalled this issue BACK IN AUGUST, 2022 and told everyone not to park the vehicle inside or near any buildings and expected a solution this October. However, it's

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • VISIBILITY: Driving home from purchasing vehicle heard a pop like squeezing an empty water bottle. Did not know what it came from. Eventually noticed a fine line crack in lower corner of passenger side of windshield extending from edge of glass towards center and curving up. Length approximately 9-10 inches. Co

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The reverse camera remains engaged even after shifting to drive. This can remain after 10-20 seconds. As I started to drive forward, the camera remained engaged and hit on moving cars behind me causing the vehicle to emergency brake even though nothing was in front of me. Almost causing an acciden

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Kia dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Kia TELLURIDE — Year Comparison

How does 2023 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
289
Recalls
6
Fire reports
2
Crash reports
7
Injury reports
3
Segment avg
401

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2023 Kia TELLURIDE