168 of the
2,598 complaints filed about the KIA Telluride
are about the transmission —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2020.
168
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Was low on oil and check oil light don't go on have to put oil very 2 week because it get low and I don't have no oil leak at all I found out because the motor start shaking and making noise tow it home and mechanical came to check it out and didn't have oil he say I was lurking I was not in the highway because it could lock the mortar and cause a accident
NHTSA complaint #11756506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
our transmission not shifting to next gear on highway acceleration— RPM"s climbs but speed doesn't match—is a serious drivability and safety issue. My car was in the dealership for this problem and it has returned. my wife was entering a highway and RPM's increased and t .transmission wouldn't shit to the next gear.
NHTSA complaint #11755912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In August 2025, my Kia dealership serviced my 2021 Kia Telluride and billed me for 7 quarts of oil as part of the repair. Approximately four months later, in December 2025, the vehicle developed severe engine problems and became inoperable. The dealership diagnosed the failure as a collapsed timing tensioner and stated the engine required complete replacement. Kia Techline agreed with that diagnosis and used it as the basis for recommending a new engine. Despite acknowledging that engine replacement was necessary, Kia denied warranty coverage, leaving me responsible for an estimated $11,000 repair. I then obtained a second opinion from an independent, reputable repair facility. After inspecting the vehicle, the shop concluded the engine failure was not caused by a timing system failure. Instead, they found the engine contained only about one quart of oil and determined the damage resulted from oil starvation. They further stated that, in their professional opinion, the dealership had misdiagnosed the vehicle and that the low oil level was consistent with the possibility that the dealership failed to add the oil for which I was charged during the August 2025 service. What is especially concerning is that the dealership never documented or informed me that the engine was critically low on oil. Because the timing components rely on engine oil for lubrication, I believe it would have been impossible to properly inspect and diagnose a timing tensioner failure without recognizing and documenting the severely low oil level. Based on the independent inspection and the dealership's failure to identify or disclose the lack of oil, I believe the dealership either failed to perform the service as billed or failed to correctly diagnose the true cause of the engine failure. I am concerned that this incorrect diagnosis diverted attention from possible negligent workmanship during the prior service and led to an unnecessary recommendation for an $11,000 engine replacement.
NHTSA complaint #11755247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while stopped on several occasions, the Auto START/STOP feature was activated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart without any further issues. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three separate occasions; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A P0741 warning light comes on and off leading driver to believe the problem is intermittent when in fact it is a torque converter failed. The intermittent nature of the warning light could lead drivers to believe the problem is not a safety issue, particularly on a SUV with only 105,000 miles. However, when a converter fails it is definitely a safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11754967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
vehicles transmission gets stuck in 5th gear. when it happens the problem is fixed after restarting the vehicle. no warning that its stuck in 5th gear. When pulling out into traffic the car is very slow to move and my concern is that someone might get hit when pulling out into traffic not knowing the vehicle is stuck in 5th gear since there are no warning light on. after inspection with KIA, after the first incident they said nothing can be diagnosed since it wasn't throwing a code or check engine light. when the car once again got stuck in 5th gear on our last vacation i drove it for around 2 hours or 120 miles in 5th gear to try and get a check engine light to come, one never came on but i recorded videos of it stuck in 5th gear at highway speeds and at a stop in a drive through. it's happened on 3 different occasions all on longer road trip and has never had a warning light come on. you can shift into park or reverse and back to drive and it goes straight into 5th gear again. i have videos available but are too large or wrong format to upload currently the car is sitting at our local KIA dealership and im not picking it up until something is done to remedy the issue.
NHTSA complaint #11752585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apparently, they don't have a mesh screen protecting the radiator. They said a rock hit it but while driving I did not hear a rock hit it. They said the rock punctured the radiator causing it to leak radiator fluid and making vehicle undrivable. The vehicle left me stranded in the road. They took pictures of it but at a birthday party this weekend I have learned of several people having this same issue and the dealership claiming not their responsibility and we have to file insurance. Seems to me they need to put a mesh guard on the radiator to protect this from happening. Yes the Engine light came one.
NHTSA complaint #11751513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I exited the highway, and my vehicle completely decelerated and ultimately shut down. I was unable to get my engine running and had to get it towed to the dealer. It has been at the dealer for 3 weeks now. The dealer said my engine will likely need to be replaced. It is a 2023 Kia Telluride with less than 66,000 miles on it.
NHTSA complaint #11749449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has 38000 miles now. At about 34000 miles I began to notice a slight rumble from the read end of the car when starting from a stop and making a turn. It has become more noticeable recently. It is only noticeble from a stop and below about 10 mph.After doing some searches online, I have learned that this is a common problem with the Telluride and is due to the AWD coupling. I have not yet scheduled a service appointment, but will do so today. One discussion forum suggested that a report be made to this site since there are no recalls on this part at this time.
NHTSA complaint #11747991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shut off and the battery warning light was flickering and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to coast the vehicle into a parking lot off the highway where the vehicle remained. The contact replaced the battery; however, approximately one hour later while driving 50-55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost power and shut off. The vehicle was coasted onto the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with alternator failure. The alternator was replaced. The contact was notified of a possible transmission failure; however, there was no fault codes retrieved. The vehicle was later taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that the head gasket was damaged, and the spark plugs needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11747463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the vehicle, the automatic transmission stuck in 5th gear. The paddle shifters would not operate, shifting the vehicle into neutral or park had no effect. The vehicle was being operated on a busy highway with multiple intersections, which put all passengers and the vehicle itself in danger since accelerating in 5th gear was almost impossible. The vehicle had to be completely shut off and restarted to reset the transmission. This happened on several occasions. Additionally, the vehicle would stick in gear and lurch into a lower gear when accelerating from a complete stop. No warning lights or sounds occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where it was purchased, and they were able to replicate the problem once. The vehicle problem was reported to KIA and they requested the dealer to replace the electric oil pump. The work was done and so far (3 days) the issue has not reoccurred.
NHTSA complaint #11747032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing this complaint regarding my 2020 Kia Telluride because of excessive oil consumption that Kia has refused to address. My vehicle currently has approximately 138,000 miles and consumes about one quart of engine oil every 500 miles. This level of oil consumption is excessive and creates an ongoing risk of engine damage if the oil level is not constantly monitored and replenished. After researching this issue, I discovered that many Kia owners have reported similar excessive oil consumption problems. Despite the large number of complaints, Kia has not issued a recall or provided assistance for owners whose vehicles experience this problem after the factory warranty expires. I sought assistance from my local Kia dealership. At one point, the service manager attempted to advocate for me and other customers by bringing these concerns to Kia corporate. I later learned that he was no longer employed there. They have completed oil consumption tests and agreed my car is consuming a significant amount of oil. They conducted a “band aid” fix that did not help. The last appointment when we brought it in, all they did was check oil levels again. Since then, my concerns have largely been ignored, and I have been offered no meaningful assistance. While I understand my vehicle is outside the warranty period, a vehicle should not consume one quart of oil every 500 miles under normal operation. This appears to be a widespread issue rather than normal wear and tear. I respectfully request that this complaint be investigated and added to the record of similar complaints involving Kia vehicles. I also ask that Kia be encouraged to provide assistance to affected owners whose vehicles suffer from excessive oil consumption caused by what appears to be a common defect. Thank you for your time and consideration.
NHTSA complaint #11746829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving with the AWD activated in the rain, the vehicle ran off the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact spoke to the seller, who confirmed a previous failure with the AWD coupler. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Another local dealer, Kia Service - Southlake Kia (4191 E Lincoln Hwy, Merrillville, IN 46410); was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer stated that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
NHTSA complaint #11744967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A continuation from my last post. I brought my car back to the dealer.The worker came out to inspect my car and he lifted the hood and he said I had a loose negative battery cable and that I had the wrong battery in my car. He said that might be the cause of the flickering lights.My car was at the dealership for three days before I was called to come pickup my car.He stated they found another service update that my car needed P0471 and that cleared my check engine light and the battery he said once again I have the wrong battery in my car and they were only able to tighten the negative cable so much.I explained to him that it was the correct battery because I went to Walmart where the battery was purchased and they auto manger printed out that paperwork that shows it is the correct battery for that car.Then he had me sign for my car and I left.While driving home my battery light stared flickering again.So I called him and said I thought you were able to tighten the negative cable to the battery. He then said they did the best they can do because it is the wrong battery.After he got off the phone all my lights on my dashboard lit up.My car seemed possessed.My steering locked up and brakes were not working.Scared and crying i called him back and was telling him what was happening to my car.He said once again it was due to battery. Crying I said I'm scared what do I do?He advised me to put my car in netural and try to pull off to the side.I explained to him that I was on the freeway in 5pm traffic my hazards, signals and brakes aren't working.I then asked him what do I do once I can stop the car.Do I bring it back to the dealership? He said the only thing they can do if i bring it back is to have me buy a new battery.At this point the car completely turned off.I was able to roll off the freeway then my car stopped completely violently as if someone slammed the the brakes.Now they want me to buy a new alternator and transmission.Car had no issue before taking it in.
NHTSA complaint #11743764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle experiences a recurring mechanical failure where the electronic AWD coupling/rear axle locks up and binds when accelerating through turns. This creates an immediate safety hazard by altering steering dynamics and causing vehicle hesitation or severe wheel hop in intersection turns. A certified Kia dealership has already fully replaced the entire factory AWD Coupling assembly twice: first under the original warranty on July 16, 2024 at 48,054 miles, and again under warranty on May 2, 2025 at 59,350 miles. Following a preliminary check-in for the same symptom on April 9, 2025, this identical component failure has now recurred for a third time at approximately 77,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11743123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle was taken in several times for a vibration, binding coming from the rear. It has been ongoing back to the original owner. It is the all wheel drive coupler. This is a known issue with TSBs out on it. Kia has been contacted and seems unwilling to help, replace. Online thousands of these things have failed some even twice. In icy or slippery conditions this can cause loss of control due to binding.
NHTSA complaint #11742769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the side view mirror's blind-spot system generated phantom alerts while there was no object nearby. Additionally, the headlights inadvertently fluctuated between dim (low beam) and extremely bright (high beam) settings. The instrument cluster displayed that the vehicle unintendedly switched to Smart Drive Mode but failed to display the transmission gears. The trunk button intermittently failed to operate as needed. The back over prevention sensing system failed to alert that there was an object behind the vehicle while reversing. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure, but twenty-six history trouble codes were retrieved, indicating the power steering, ABS, air bags, blind spot collision, front radar, and Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) malfunctions. The contact stated that prior to the failure, a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign: SC357 Engine Control Unit (ECU) was performed on the vehicle; however, the dealer informed the contact that the failure was not related. The dealer recalibrated the front radar, but the failure recurred at night while driving. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
NHTSA complaint #11742649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A week after purchasing a New 2025 Telliride with less than 8 miles on it the Transmission stopped shifting into gear. I would have to move manuel mode and shift into each gear to keep SUV moving. Never got a check engine light and nothing showed when codes were ran on car from dealership. The first dealership where I purchased from replace throttle body thinking that would fix it but it did not. After driving a few hours back to work the same issue happened again and I had to bring to closer dealership near job for repair. They said you transmission is completely not working and needs to be replaced. They opened a case with KIA, unlike previous dealership and repaired the Transmission. Since I have had the transmission completely repair it is starting again, but seems it has something to due with the engine nothing throttling down and up and make a little jump when taking off or slowing down.
NHTSA complaint #11742628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle (VIN: [XXX] ) has suffered repeated catastrophic engine shutdowns and complete loss of propulsion power while in motion. The dashboard displayed "Engine off! Shift to P or N, then start engine." This has occurred so many times the owner lost count, requiring multiple tows to Kia of Beavercreek. Following one incident, Service Manager Brad personally assured the owner's wife, looking her directly in the eye, that the repair was successful and the vehicle was safe. Within 48 hours of pickup, the identical shutdown recurred. The vehicle was towed back a second time. The dealership now states they cannot duplicate the condition, leaving this life-threatening defect unresolved. Delivery has been officially refused due to imminent risk of collision or serious injury. Kia America case open: No. [XXX]. Ohio Attorney General case open: No. [XXX]. This vehicle is an active, unaddressed public safety hazard requiring immediate federal investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11741795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.