149 of the 2,598 complaints filed about the KIA Telluride are about the body and structure — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2020.
149
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
I hear rattling/loud squeaking coming from liftgate rear door internally when driving. It has been noticed since purchasing the vehicle new.
NHTSA complaint #11758837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Driving and brakes malfunctioned and would not stop causing an accident into a tree
NHTSA complaint #11754431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
My 2021 Kia Telluride (60,500 miles) experienced failure of the panoramic sunroof wind deflector arm/mechanism. The broken component is available for inspection. The failure prevents the sunroof system from operating properly and may result in improper sealing, water intrusion, or further mechanical damage. The issue was confirmed by a Kia dealership. Kia has issued Technical Service Bulletin BOD 319 addressing Telluride sunroof wind deflector arm and mechanism failures. Despite this bulletin, I was quoted approximately $4,000+ for replacement of the entire sunroof assembly instead of the component repair procedure described by Kia. There were no warning lights or messages before failure. The issue occurred during normal vehicle use. I believe this known component failure presents a safety and reliability concern for Telluride owners.
NHTSA complaint #11753524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I attempted to open the moonroof on our 2020 Kia Telluride. When it opened, it was cockeyed and off track. I pushed the button to close it, and I heard a plastic piece break and the moonroof remained stuck open. I took this car to Kia of Olympia, Kia of St. Cloud and Horne Kia, all confirmed that the plastic parts that broke are related to to their issued TCB#BOD319. This is well known and frequent issue on 2020-2022 Kia Tellurides, where the plastic for the wind guard snaps off and gets lodged in the sunroof track. Even though this is a known issue with the Kia Telluride, they have declined to cover the repair cost, and we now must pay over $7,000 for an entirely new sunroof assembly.
NHTSA complaint #11753133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2027 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat unintendedly collapsed. The failure occurred spontaneously. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure and the failure ws not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 3,600.
NHTSA complaint #11752658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS:ACTIVE SHUTTERS/GRILL
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, road debris damaged the A/C condenser. The contact stated that the front grill setup failed to adequately protect the part from road debris. The dealer was contacted and determined that there was a hole in the A/C condenser. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and denied the warranty coverage due to the condenser being damaged by an external force. The manufacturer advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
NHTSA complaint #11751629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The power sunroof and its sliding track/rail assembly failed. While operating the sunroof using its normal electric open/close function during highway driving, the sunroof glass/panel traveled to full open and the track mechanism broke at that point, preventing normal closure. The vehicle and damaged sunroof/track assembly are available for inspection upon request. The failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion on the road, creating a distraction and an unexpected open aperture in the roof at highway speed. An uncontrolled/stuck-open sunroof exposes the cabin to wind, debris, weather, and noise, and could distract the driver attempting to address the malfunction while driving. There is also risk of glass or track hardware detaching from the vehicle. A Kia dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed the track is broken and quoted approximately $5,000+ to replace the sunroof assembly, citing no applicable warranty coverage. No warning lamps or messages appeared prior to the fail I have found other consumer complaints/forum reports describing similar sudden sunroof track failures on this make/model during normal operation, suggesting this may be a widespread component defect rather than an isolated incident or wear item. Despite this, the manufacturer has not issued a recall or extended warranty coverage for this failure mode, leaving owners to pay approximately $5,000 out of pocket for a repair caused by what appears to be a manufacturing or design defect rather than misuse.
NHTSA complaint #11748612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
My right headlight stopped working, even after replacing bulb several times. The exterior paint is chipping from different areas. The middle seat seatbelts middle and behind driver keep getting stuck, they will not retract. My vehicle is only 4 years old it started with the headlight issue within 2 years. Now the seatbelts and paint, this vehicle has been a pain.
NHTSA complaint #11748092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that four door belt molding trim pieces had become loose and unsecured, but the front driver’s side door belt molding trim piece had become unsecured and detached from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while touching the unsecured molding, the arm became bruised and scratched. No medical treatment was required. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V494000 (STRUCTURE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #11747891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Sunroof issue with the air dam that lifts up when the sunroof opens breaks off and throws the the sunroof off track so your stuck with it open or it breaks the track or glass
NHTSA complaint #11747748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
My vehicle’s white exterior paint and clear coat are delaminating and peeling off in pieces while driving. Loose paint pieces fly off the vehicle, creating a potential road hazard for other drivers. The defect affects the hood, the front, and the area above the windshield. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The paint delamination has been visually confirmed and is worsening over time. I have contacted Kia customer service multiple times by phone and email requesting repair or resolution. Kia has not responded or offered any remedy. The defect has not been inspected by the dealer as Kia declined to address it. No warning lamps or messages are applicable to this defect. The peeling first became noticeable approximately June 1st, 2026 and has progressively worsened since.
NHTSA complaint #11746035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The factory paint on my 2020 white Kia Telluride has failed. The paint is peeling and flaking from the hood and the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request, and I have photographs documenting the paint failure. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The peeling paint exposes the underlying metal to the elements, which may lead to corrosion and deterioration of the vehicle over time. Pieces of peeling paint may also detach while the vehicle is being driven, creating a potential hazard for other motorists. In addition, the loss of the factory paint significantly reduces the value of the vehicle and raises concerns about the quality and durability of the manufacturer's finish. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? At this time, the problem has not been confirmed by a Kia dealer or an independent service center. However, I have found numerous reports from other owners of white Kia Tellurides experiencing similar paint peeling issues, suggesting this may be a widespread manufacturing defect. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Not at this time. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lights, messages, or other vehicle symptoms before the paint began peeling. The issue developed gradually as the factory paint began separating from the hood and roof under normal use.
NHTSA complaint #11745343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Clear coat on pillar trim around windows on all four doors is oxidizing.
NHTSA complaint #11743966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Sunroof won't fully close which becomes a big issue when driving or parking the vehicle in the rain. Kia dealership diagnosed that the full sunroof assembly needs to be replaced at a total expense of $6,441.56 since the vehicle is out of the 5-year warranty period. No warning messages were displayed on the vehicle prior to this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11742831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I have used the sunroof on my 2021 Kia Telluride probably less than ten times in the 5 years I've owned it. I started getting a leak in front of my rearview mirror so I searched for the drains by opening the sunroof and fond them. Cleaned them out as best I could. closed the sunroof but was still having a leak. The next time I opened it to look at it, it jammed and wouldn't open completely or close. With a little help, i was able to get it back on track and close but still had the leak. Took to the dealership for service and to have them look for a problem with the sunroof. They said it wasn't closing completely and the entire frame would need replacing at about $3400.00. This seems to be a common problem from what I'm seeing on Kia Forums. I was wondering if you are considering a recall on this issue?
NHTSA complaint #11737292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Multiple door belt molding trims from two doors on my 2024 Kia Telluride detached from the vehicle, which is the subject of safety recall SC347 (NHTSA 25V494). The detached trim piece falls onto the roadway while driving, creating a road hazard for other vehicles and increasing the risk of a crash. The defect was confirmed by a Kia dealership, which documented the issue and acknowledged it falls under the active safety recall. I first brought the vehicle to the dealer on February 10, 2026 to have the recall repair performed. The dealer informed me the replacement parts are on backorder and didn’t provide or recommend a temporary rental. As of today, May 11, 2026 — over three months later — the repair has not been completed and no estimated completion date has been given. I have called back to ask the parts department at my service center for an ETA but they are only able to tell me that the replacement parts are still on back order. The failed component is the exterior door belt molding face plate, which is available for inspection at the dealership. Prior to full detachment, symptoms included the trim appearing visually loose and producing rattling and wind noise. My safety concern is that I am being forced to drive an unrepaired vehicle with a known safety defect because Kia has failed to supply adequate parts to complete this federally mandated recall repair in a timely manner.
NHTSA complaint #11736938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I was at a complete stop, made a right hand turn, and as I was turning, the driver side door opened/became a jar and then my car alerted me that the door was open Yes, my safety was at risk because the door was open It beeped the lights were on in the cabin, and there was a notification on my dashboard
NHTSA complaint #11733065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I was notified of a recall on my vehicle related to door trim. I contacted my authorized Kia dealership to have the recall repaired and was told the required parts are unavailable, with no estimated timeline for resolution. I have been on a waitlist for over one year with no update. The unrepaired defect causes excessive noise that makes the vehicle unsafe and unsuitable for highway travel. I have submitted a formal demand letter to Kia America requesting either expedited repair, a vehicle buyback, or compensation for damages — and have received no response after 17 days.
NHTSA complaint #11730983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Hello, I've contacted customer service for Kia America and also, customer service in Puerto Rico since I'm a resident in Puerto Rico, so that I can address the safety recall with number SC303 and also a technical service bulletin with number BOD319. However, customer service advised that they can't pull up my SUV vehicle information with the VIN provided. I'm unable to address the safety recall and the technical service bulletin since Kia can't pull up the vehicle information. My vehicle is experiencing technical failure with the intermediate shaft as described on the safety recall. Also, the sunroof is experiencing technical difficulties compatible with the information included on the TSB. I ask for your support to address the described issues, accordingly. Thank you!
NHTSA complaint #11730234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Sunroof mechanism failure in May 2025. Had sunroof repaired and paid out of pocket at KIA dealership. The sunroof was off track therefore the roof was exposed to elements. March 2026 sunroof mechanism has broken again. Sunroof has not been operated since repair in May 2025 for fear of getting stuck open again.
NHTSA complaint #11726125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.