Complaint volume
709 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Kia Telluride Complaints
709 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Kia Telluride, grouped by component category.
709 Total complaints
8 Crash reports
7 Fire reports
7 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are exterior lighting, visibility/wiper, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 8 crash reports, 7 fire reports, 7 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 188 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 18,754 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to exterior lighting, visibility/wiper, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Kia Telluride?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Kia Telluride
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Kia Telluride complaints?
8 Crash
7 Fire
7 Injury
1 Fatality
7 Towed
6 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Kia Telluride complaint categories?
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 162
VISIBILITY/WIPER 121
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 86
ENGINE 80
STRUCTURE 34
POWER TRAIN 31
SUSPENSION 19
VISIBILITY 12
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
709 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started jerking. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle displayed a message "Consider Taking a Break". The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission and both front and rear axles, oil pan gasket, brakes, drive train, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,826. | Crash: No Fire: No | 64,826 |
| Apr 2024 | STRUCTURE | Pearl white Telluride paint chipping off with no explanation. Several body shops state that this is a well known issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | Valve cover gasket leak, coolant hose leaks, passenger side axel boot slinging grease, parasitic draw | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | White Pearl Paint peeling which I paid extra for to get this paint color / type. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | ENGINE | Excessive oil consumption | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | The torque converter is malfunctioning to where I have been unable to use my vehicle for almost 2 months. It is available for inspection, but is currently at a repair shop pending inspection to get an estimate on costs to fix the issue (if it is something that can be fixed). My safety along with my family's safety were put at risk due to the inability for the vehicle to pick up speed while driving on major highways [XXX]. During this time the check engine light came on for the 1st time, the vehicle would not properly pick up speed, continuously makes a whining noise when vehicle is on whether it's being driven or not and it shakes at various speeds. A diagnostic was completed and the code listed was for the torque converter. Since that time (1st week of February), I have not been able to drive the vehicle. This is the only vehicle in my household. I am still having to make payments on it and cannot use it. KIA has had a recall in the past issued in June 2020 for a specific timeframe of vehicles produced between May 18, 2020 - May 20, 2020 for the "Automatic transmission/Torque Converter Assembly Replacement". With this recall, KIA only listed 19 VIN's to associate this major issue with. The recall also stated to complete this action prior to the sale of the vehicle to prevent customer complaints. My car was manufactured in June 2019 and I purchased it mid year 2020. If KIA has sold thousands of Tellurides since that time, how can only 19 be affected? I have attached a copy of the previous recall. Once I receive an estimate, I can also forward it. I also have copies of every/all maintenance completed since getting this vehicle to show everything has been completed on time & by a KIA dealership in my area (it doesn't let me upload this file). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | There have been several times over the last couple of months when my car brakes on its own. I have not had any "extra" features on such as cruise control or lane assist. I have been driving 70 mph on the highway, my car suddenly brakes, and then I am unable to accelerate. It is absolutely terrifying. We called our nearest Kia dealership after the second time and they told us to get a car wash and since it hasn't been consistently happening, they wouldn't be able to re-create it or fix it. We have been going out of our way to keep the front sensor, and it still happens. I worry that I will be driving on the highway (again) when this happens, and the semi truck behind me won't have time to adjust to my sudden, and unwanted, deceleration. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The highbeams quit working Causing poor visibility | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | ENGINE | The motor was empty of oil after driving 2400 miles since the last oil change. The oil was changed on [XXX] at 102,220 miles. When the check engine light came on, I checked the oil and there was none on the dipstick on [XXX] at 104,884 miles. I had an oil consumption test run at the Kia dealership in Hickory, NC they stated I was only 1 quart low at 1,000 miles. This test was completed in September 2023. The dealership stated since I passed the first round of the oil consumption test that there was no issue with my Telluride. When the car is running, one can smell the oil burning from the exhaust. The dealership in Hickory refused to further investigate the issue. When I returned to the dealership on [XXX], they stated they would not do another oil consumption test because my 100,000 mile warranty was over. I told them I have an extended warranty and they told me most extended warranties do not cover oil consumption. In September, this dealership also failed to replace the housing for the oil filter properly, causing the oil to leak out tremendously after changing the oil. I had to take it to a different mechanic to figure out why there was an excessive leak. There is an oil consumption issue with my Telluride and the dealership in Hickory, NC is refusing to aid me in identifying the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2024 | STRUCTURE | Body paint defect causing large sections of paint chipping off. This is a common enough issue amongst the owners community and Kia fails to acknowledge the latent defect and take action. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | ENGINE | 2020 KIA TELLURIDE 41,000 miles: Engine overheated and ceased while on the freeway. Head Gasket blew, coolant hose had a hole the size of my fist on one side and the other clean split, along with cylinder 3 and 5 misfiring. I lost power and was able to go 25 mph on the freeway and lots of white smoke coming from the hood of the car. Semi trucks were slamming on their brakes to avoid hitting me as it was a dark foggy evening. The engine failure on the freeway could have easily caused multi vehicle collisions involving semi trucks resulting in casualties and loss of life. After 2 months in the shop the dealership has approved a new engine, however they don't know when they can get it in and no time frame when I will have my vehicle back. There was no warning and dealership confirmed there would not have been a warning until after the engine failed. I have maintained all maintenance schedules. There is a Facebook group with many similar stories of engine failures | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES | The 2020 KIA Telluride was purchased with the "tow package" which included "self-leveling" rear shocks. The self-leveling rear shocks failed early and has created a safety concern with braking/handling/steering in addition to comfort in ride. Concern with the shocks began around 60,000 miles (roughly Jan 2023), but there was no indication of shock failure or leakage. Our independent service center/mechanic told us the shocks looked fine and that typically shocks should never fail this early. We just assumed the ride was rough and even after replacing tires, the ride never improved. As it progressively worsened, the local certified KIA dealership has now inspected and verified that both rear shocks have failed (leaking and rusting) and that the ride is unbearable (the vehicle is over 77,000 miles now). I believe the vehicle is unsafe to drive in its current condition and though it is out of warranty for this repair, we are having the dealership replace both rear shocks. Over the course of the past 17,000 miles, braking, steering, and cornering have certainly been compromised due to this early shock failure, putting me and my family as well as other motorists at risk. There were not any warning lamps or other obvious signs of wear other than riding in the vehicle. The ride left most passengers feeling ill, with headaches from a very rough ride even on smoot concrete. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Projector high beams not working. Tested the fuse and relay and both tested fine. Replaced headlights. No remedy other than replacing entire headlight assembly. This is a safety issue and should be recalled and repaired by dealer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | POWER TRAIN | Passenger front CV axle boot leaking grease causing damage estimated $1000. Seems to be a huge issue for a lot of Kia owners (as parts seem to be on back order now). No rough terrain driving. So if this is an issue driving on Minnesota roads, bad parts by Kia. I lived on a farm where you drove on uneven terrain all the time… never had a vehicle (Ford, Buick) never had this issue | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The high beams do not work. Neither one. Bulb replacement did not fix either. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The high beams of the vehicle are no longer operational. Changing the light bulb does not solve the problem. As per the dealer, the entire unit must be replaced. The failure occurred while driving in the night. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The hi-beam function in the headlights are inoperable. I recently purchased this vehicle and the service department at the dealership of purchase confirmed afterwards that the hi beam function does not work. I do not understand how this is not a safety recall on all 2020 Tellurides as there are many forums from individuals who have experienced the same issue. Simply replacing the faulty system kicks the bucket down the road. Unable to utilize the high beams in remote areas reduces safety. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | High beams no longer work on the front lights. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Both High Beam headlights failed. Turning on the High Beam illuminates the blue indicator light on the dash, but no change occurs in exterior illumination. The dangers of high speed highway driving (70 MPH) go way up. There is no backup in case the low beam also breaks. And the cost to repair is extremely expensive. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | ENGINE | With 40k miles on the car driving on the freeway the coolant hose burst without any warning, it didn’t come off, it was weak and split. This caused head gasket damage and cylinder 3 and 5 to misfire with coolant getting in the cylinders. It was dark and foggy out and the car was over heating due to the failures. I lost power and could only go 25mph on the freeway. Semi trucks were honking flashing their lights, passing me and one slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting me due to how dark it was. Even though I was driving with my hazards on. I pulled over as soon as I could, but had a panic attack during the ordeal planning out the best way to die. Sounds dramatic but with all the smoke coming from the car I thought it could blow or get hit by a semi. Looking at online groups there are issues with the Telluride engines that are creating dangerous situations. It’s a matter of time before this problem causes a serious injury or death. I know others that have made complaints to Kia and NHSTA. When is this problem going to be taken care of?? My car has been at the dealership since Dec 19 2023. I am waiting to here back from Kia if they will cover the engine under warranty. The dealership said they had another Telluride with engine failure in Oct 2023 that Kia did not cover under warranty. The dealership has confirmed all these statements. There was no warning that there were any weak spots in the hose. No leaks or warning lights until it left me stranded on a dark foggy night on the freeway. Since Kiefer Kia in Eugene, OR still has my car I have not received any paperwork yet | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | ENGINE | When starting the vehicle to warm up (in colder temps) it made a squealing noise and slowly faded. Returned to drive the vehicle and there was a puddle of oil underneath. Upon inspection, it appeared that the leak was coming from between the (plastic) oil filter housing and the engine (it's connected to. This causes a concern as it could cause my engine to seize while driving (especially on freeways). Causing a collision risk and destroying the cars engine at the same time. When researching I found that this is a common (cold temp) issue among Telluride's. I attempted to call Kia service at least four times with no answer/no call back. On my fifth call attempt I was routed to the parts department and found that the part is and has been on backorder for some months now. Was told that there are over 3000 on back order to the states, all accounted for. I researched the issue and found various Kia Telluride forums stating the same cold weather temp issue. This is obviously not an isolated case with no one (O'Reilly, Auto Zone, Advanced Auto & the dealership) having the part in stock and over 3,000 other cases awaiting their back-ordered part. Previous to this, I attempted to get an oil change at a local lube shop and was advised that they could not do an oil change on my vehicle because there was an issue with the oil drain plug and the oil pan seal circulating with the local live shops. They would be unable to do my oil change unless I sign a waiver stating they're not liable for anything that occurs after the oil change occurred. I am attempting to make an appointment now, however with all the parts on backorder (for months now) the only thing I can do is to not drive my vehicle until their is a stockpile of parts available to alleviate this malfunction. This issue has not been investigated by insurance or authorities as I'm uncertain that this falls within their wheelhouse. Recently my check engine light came on, I had the code checked it was the thermostat. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the high-beam headlights became inoperable. The contact stated while attempting to activate the high-beam headlights, the headlights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed headlight assembly. The contact was informed that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The parts were ordered for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,800. The contact stated the dealership is going to replace the headlights under the extended warranty. | Crash: No Fire: No | 99,800 |
| Jan 2024 | ENGINE | The vehicle has been losing oil, the dealership checked with no issues along eleith a coolant leak in the rear of the vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | 104,271 |
| Jan 2024 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while her husband was seated in the vehicle at below 5-degree Fahrenheit, he became aware that the heater and defogger was inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 85,000 |
| Jan 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The pearl white paint on my car started chipping off about a year ago. This morning the roof started peeling heavily. This is ridiculous as the car is just now 4 years old. I’ve never had a car peel ever. The forward collision sensor randomly comes on and says it’s not working. Please fix these issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |