Complaint volume
315 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
2021 Kia Telluride Complaints
315 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Kia Telluride, grouped by component category.
315 Total complaints
7 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
6 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 unknown or other, visibility/wiper, engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 7 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 6 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 37 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 11,798 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to unknown or other, visibility/wiper, engine?
- 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 2021 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.
2021 Kia Telluride
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Kia Telluride complaints?
7 Crash
4 Fire
6 Injury
0 Fatality
8 Towed
5 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Kia Telluride complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 66
VISIBILITY/WIPER 52
ENGINE 33
STRUCTURE 20
VISIBILITY 14
POWER TRAIN 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
SUSPENSION 9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 5
315 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle transmission has been slipping and Sutter since around 30k miles. Dealer has test vehicle and agrees but will not repair due to no codes in PCM or ECM. Vehicle stalled almost causing another vehicle to clip rear of vehicle. Issue is getting worst. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The sunroof button is defective. It allows both the “vent” and “slide open” functions to activate at the same time, which should not be mechanically possible. This causes the sunroof to jam and break the track system. It’s a design flaw that leads to physical damage and could easily become a safety issue if the sunroof fails while driving or during a storm. This needs to be addressed before more owners end up with broken hardware from a faulty control system. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine located on the rear driver's side had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was not provided. The cause of the failure was not yet been determined. A Police report was not filed. There were no occupants at the time of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Towed | 90,000 |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Child Safety Lock Failure. At random times something within the rear doors will make a constant clicking noise for roughly 20 seconds. When clicking stops the dash will display child safety lock failure. The clicking noise sounds as though it is coming from an electrical component such as an actuator or solenoid. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | I am reporting a serious and ongoing electrical and transmission issue with my 2021 Kia Telluride (VIN: [XXX] ). The problem began under 20,000 miles and has continued intermittently for years, progressively worsening. My vehicle is currently at ~99,600 miles and under extended warranty. The key safety concerns include: Transmission Lockout: The vehicle intermittently becomes stuck in Park and will not shift, even with the brake depressed. No-Start Condition: The vehicle will randomly become completely unresponsive—no dash lights, no infotainment, and no engine start. Electrical System Failure While Driving: Multiple safety systems fail mid-drive, including: Loss of power steering and air conditioning Random activation of ESC, TPMS, Collision Assist, Blind Spot, and Parking Brake warnings Infotainment screen turns off while in motion Component Failures Due to Electrical Shorts: Both the radio and the backup camera were diagnosed with shorts and had to be replaced under warranty. Brake Lockout Post-Shutdown: The brake pedal becomes very firm and the vehicle will not restart until hours later. Most concerning, my wife and children have been left stranded in the disabled vehicle on multiple occasions due to these issues. The car has been in the shop several times — around 50,000 and 80,000 miles — but no permanent resolution has been found. This is a clear and escalating safety hazard. The failures affect critical systems while driving and leave the vehicle unpredictably disabled. Kia has been made aware and an escalation is underway, but I am filing this report to ensure the NHTSA is aware of the pattern and potential danger these failures pose to others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On [XXX] my vehicle had a collision warning signal, then tire pressure, then brake lights and entire dash instrument panel. I parked the vehicle, then later in the evening test drove it again and the panel lit up again, in addition to the loss of the speedometer, tachometer, gear display, and drive mode display, so I immediately drove it to Courtesy Kia in Altoona, PA. On 4/18/25 Wendy Giordano of Courtesy Kia confirmed vehicle intake Courtesy Kia reset codes and was unable to replicate or diagnose a repair. The vehicle was returned on 4/23/25 despite my expressed concerns over safety. On [XXX] the vehicle again displayed the collision warning and the instrument panel lit up again, in addition to the loss of the speedometer, tachometer, gear display, and drive mode display. I got off the highway and limped the vehicle closer to my home, stopped for a brief time, and proceeded the three miles to the dealership. In this time I lost power steering, and eventually brake lights and turn signals within 1,000 feet of the dealership and was nearly collided with in front of the dealershipOn 5/12 I continued to ask status and request a loaner with no adequate follow up. I was bounced between JT, Tyler and Wendy Giordano my service advisor. Around 5/22 I called in requesting an update and was put on the phone with the service tech to describe my issues On 6/6/25 John from courtesy ford left a 2 minute long rambling voicemail, 6/3 he said he received a fax. He said he spoke to service department and I could drive the car, that I could be driving the car now. "he wasn't sure what was going on with it" They've driven it and can't find anything. Kia is looking at video, service rep there on Tuesday and find nothing wrong. I think, how long and haven't had it long. Suggest you "just drive it, I don't know" In addition I've followed up with numerous emails and calls to determine course of action and repair and haven't had a productive repair plan. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The sun roof exploded driving on a busy interstate highway, fortunately the sun visor was closed otherwise we and our dogs would have been wearing the glass. Lots of glass coming off the roof on cars behind us. Dealer has confirmed other failures. Dealer is servicing now at no charge. No warning of this failure and should be a recall as many of these early model KIA Tellurides have this issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | I recently brought this 2021 kia telluride used from a local dealership with 103,000 miles and everything was great , until yesterday i notice that when coming to a stop the car would sputter i thought maybe it was just a one off because i recently got recall work done at a kia dealership and they checked over the vehicle and everything was fine. so this morning im driving to work and it happens again so i check the oil and its completely empty i've went less than 3k miles on this oil change something needs to be done no warning to lights | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My main screen on my 2021 Telluride goes out suddenly, turning off the backup camera and collision warnings. Sometimes when I start the car it never turns on, sometimes it starts to boot and then goes out and sometimes it works for a few seconds/minutes and then turns off. Once and a while it turns on and stays on for days before going on randomly again. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Sun roof opened and will not close. Wind detector became stuck causing window not to close | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My wife was driving with my kids when there sounded like an explosion and the sunroof exploded. There was nothing around that hit the glass and we haven't been involved in any accidents that may have compromised the integrity of the glass. The sound sounds like an explosion and luckily when it scared my wife while driving, she didn't jerk the wheel and flip the vehicle. Also, thankfully the sunroof shade was closed otherwise glass would have exploded everywhere inside the vehicle hitting my kids and wife. It appears that it explodes up and in the middle of the sunroof by looking at how the glass was missing. It seems this is a common occurrence with the 2021 kia telluride. There's no warning, no cracking, no signs of it going to bust; it just does it. I'm going rounds with Kia to get it fixed but the keep sending me down an endless rabbit hole, so I have in the meantime I paid out of pocket for it. Because I paid out of pocket for it after I was told I could by cooperate I could and then be reimbursed, which is not accurate, kia doesn't want to inspect the car. The only thing the dealerships tell us is yeah, they've seen this happen before. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Headlight on passenger side is no longer working causing unsafe visibility issues. While under warranty, the car was taken in for service at a Kia dealership twice for the same problem but during this time frame, the headlight issue was only occurring intermittently. Both times no repair or replacement was made and I was told the headlight was fine. The headlight ended up experiencing complete failure shortly after my warranty expired. I have pictures of my dash mileage when it happened. Researching online, I have discovered other Kia Telluride owners with similar complaints about their headlights failing in this way. Furthermore, Kia Dealerships either fail to make the repair properly by not correcting the known defect(which results in failure again) or have been charging thousands of dollars for a new complete headlight assembly replacement. Normally, when a headlight fails, it is just a matter of swapping out the headlight bulb with a new one. Unfortunately, because of the defect and failure with the design, it is not that cheap/simple to fix. A class action lawsuit has begun because of Kia's inaction. Kia should do the right thing and issue a recall the fix this unsafe problem of headlight failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | The last two times I have been due for an oil change my car has been completely empty. It is 4 years old and burning 4/5 quarts of oil between oil changes. Yesterday for example, my oil notification came on, today I start my car and my engine light came on, check the oil and nothing. Put 2 quarts of oil in it so I can make it to the mechanic tomorrow. This should not be happening on a 4 year old vehicle | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | Excessive Oil usage to the point of no oil on dip stick yet engine doesnt alert to low oil or pressure. Engine started sputtering and stalling which is why we even checked. Oil changes are done on normal basis. This seems to be a common complaint on the Internet now that I am looking into this. This car is 4 years old and should not be having engine trouble. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Upon attempting to open the sunroof, a loud pop was heard on opening and sliding backward, and it was determined the air deflector arm had broken. The sunroof will not fully close nor fully open now, it is stuck partially open. The dealer confirmed the issue and has to order the part with no idea on ETA to get it. The vehicle inside is exposed to the elements when driving and the rear of the sunroof is elevated which is a risk to objects. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, other drivers were flashing their headlights, attempting to notify the contact that the front headlights were not functioning as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the high beam headlights were replaced. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving at various speeds, the driver’s side front high beam headlight failed to illuminate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The high beam headlights were replaced. The contact tested the lights, and the front driver’s side high beam headlight failed to operate. Upon further inspection, the dealer stated that there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the headlight assembly kit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V148000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,688. | Crash: No Fire: No | 67,688 |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | March 7th my engine light came on while pulling out, in reverse, of a parking spot. My engine light also turned off on March 7th later in the day. Between then and now, it came on and went off a few times, but my car seemed fine. On April 1, the light reappeared again while backing out of a parking spot. My car was not working like normal. It was shaking a bit and seemed kinda stuck, but also very slowly moving in reverse. Shaking stoped once I put it in drive but the engine light stayed on. I took it to my mechanic and the code given was “internal engine failure”. He told me should be under warranty, so I called the dealership. Service guy told me no active recalls and also that I was outside of the warranty. I have 118,800 miles. Vehicle is less than 4 years old. I am waiting to hear back from my mechanic as to how much repairs should be. I don’t know if he is thinking I need a whole new engine or just a part. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? While driving the vehicle, it intermittently hesitated during acceleration until there was a very loud popping and banging noise, it was sudden and very loud. We experienced a complete and sudden loss of power. The car then proceeded to send off nearly every alert on the dash, and threw a code which was P061B. The engine blew out, the oil pan was fractured by ejected connecting rod (visible from underside). How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the engine blew out in the fast lane, our physical safety was at risk due to the immediate loss of control and power, the inability to merge, and stopping next to the center divider in a high-traffic area. In the car were my wife and 3 kids. Psychologically, the fear and panic of our family being stuck, the stress of making quick decisions, and the vulnerability of being exposed to fast-moving vehicles added significant pressure. In that moment, our family was left utterly helpless, fearing for our lives in the face of an overwhelming, life-threatening crisis. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The car is currently at a Kia service center in Santa Rosa, Ca. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? UNKNOWN, the vehicle is at the service center in Santa Rosa, Ca. The vehicle was also inspected by a local mobile mechanic. 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 alerts, warning lamps, or messages, the car did experience some hesitation during acceleration but it was intermittent. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I let the sunroof back and it pretty instantly snapped and a piece of the traction for the sunroof broke off. I don’t use the sunroof often (maybe 6 times total since buying the car). I let it back occasionally to make sure it doesn’t stop working from use. Now the back of the sunroof is titled upwards and will not close. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Vibration at highway speeds Most noticeable when accelerating up an incline at around 70-77mph car vibrated strongly. Had tires balanced and after few days problem persisted. Vibration was not as strong with balanced tires but still noticeable. To reduce vibration I have had to reduce speed and move to slower lanes. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Opened sunroof and arm popped out/off track. Sunroof is stuck open. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I have a well-maintained 2021 Kia Telluride, however the paint on the roof of the car is peeling off. In my research, I have found that many owners are experiencing the same issue especially in SNOW PEARL WHITE color. I have contacted my local dealership but they are refusing to address the issue and have quoted me $2,470.74 to repaint the roof. I've had vehicles for decades and never had paint issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | ENGINE | While driving under normal conditions the engine started making a weird sound. Shortly after the power steering wend out and the dash, lights and infotainment system went dark. The engine shut off completely and will not go back on. This is after bringing the car in for continuous issues and always being told they are resolved and the car is fine. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The sunroof, which is hardly used, opened and will not close. It has gone off of the track. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I’ve taken my vehicle to Kia a few times about my transmission sputtering and the first time they told me I needed a transmission flush, I paid $250.00 to have it done just to have it continue to happen and every time I bring it there they say they aren’t seeing or feeling anything. It’s still doing it. Also I opened my sunroof and it hasn’t been used much since I bought it in 2022 and now it’s stuck open. Took to the dealer just for them to tell me I have to pay $140 diagnosis fee and my warranty most likely won’t cover to fix it. I purchased the platinum bumper to bumper warranty! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |