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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | STRUCTURE | While driving at interstate speeds the sunroof window shattered outward. This was not the result of a rock or flying ice event as no other cars where near by at the time. I have found that many others have experienced this issue and Kia refuses to cover the repairs even though it appears to be an issue with Kia Telluride sunroofs. If the sun shade had been open at the time both me and my 12 year old son would have been covered with glass and this could have caused a high speed accident from the glass and the sound of the explosion. Kia needs to address this issue but our request for compensation has been denied. Also Kia refused to provide documentation of this denial as it was in an email from the local dealer to Kia. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My infotainment/navigation system has failed before the 4 year anniversary of my car 1/13/21. The screen freezes with larger vertical magenta colored blocks in the foreground with an olive green and brown background. Sometimes the screen is completely black. The color on the screen often oscillates between blue and regular functionality. When the system temporarily worked, I updated the software. Yet updating the software did not correct the chronic, safety issues with the screen. This very flawed Kia Telluride 2021 infotainment system presents a real safety hazard to every driver who has purchased this car. Today I am in Capitol Kia replacing a 3 year old infotainment system on my own dime. I counted there should be a class action suit and a recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | STRUCTURE | In November 2024, the sunroof mechanism failed in a crooked, partially open position and would no longer move. The motor operated, but there was a grinding noise and no movement of the sunroof. I had to return from North Carolina to Alabama in the rain with a partially open sunroof. The service department at Bramlett Kia in Decatur, Alabama, confirmed the sunroof mechanism has to be replaced. The service technician said the electrical cable to the sunroof was caught in the mechanism. Parts were ordered and took several weeks to be shipped. The sunroof is to be repaired next week. This is obviously a defective design and could lead to safety issues if the sunroof were to become detached while the vehicle is moving. My sunroof has stayed in place but the mechanism is bent on both sides and loose in one corner. I don't know if the sunroof is still being held safely by the mechanism. Parts invoice ($2907) is attached. Labor is estimated at $1000 but I do not yet have the invoice. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | My engine started jerking when stopped. Then the electrical started acting up, like the windows wouldn't roll back up. Then the engine just shut off while I was driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | Anytime going through the car wash the front and back parking sensors don’t work and gives an error. It is now permanently stuck with this error. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Opened the sunroof today for the first time in over a year. The sunroof opened with no problem. Tried to close sunroof, and it will not close all the way. Tried multiple times to open and close without success. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | STRUCTURE | Sunroof has got jammed in open position. You have issued a statement on this now Kia will not manufacture the parts to the roof (backorder really) and wants to charge you $5000 to put a whole new roof on - | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ENGINE | Engine oil pan gasket and oil filter housing have failed shy of couple hundred miles of manufacturer warranty | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle surges when at a stop. Normally RPM run about 500, when the vehicle surges the RPM's jump without notice to 1000 or more and the car acts like a race horse wanting to get out of the gate. Heavy pressure on the brake is needed at all times when stopped at a light, for a turn, at a stop sign. This started around 82K miles and was reported to the dealership. Dealership could duplicate issue and no codes were thrown. Again reported at 89.5K, 91.6K, 99.6K, 103.5K with same response from dealership. Contacted KIA and received a case number in case the issue is a warranted situation and is uncovered after 100K mile warranty expires. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The pearl white paint on my vehicle started to delaminate (confirmed by Wallace Kia Collision center). It started at approximately 24,000 miles, approximately 9 months past Kia's 3 year paint warranty. This is a known issue with the paint - pearl white, with many manufacturers affected. Kia, thus far, has refused to cover the repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | STRUCTURE | Vehicle sunroof has become stuck in it’s tilted open position. The spoiler at the front has detached. Since the sunroof cannot close, if there is a wind, hitting the car, the sunroof can’t detach from the car at this point, and fly into another car. This issue has been reported with the numerous Kia telluride’s as seen on the Internet. It is not nearly anesthetic problem. It is a safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ENGINE | I am the original owner of our 2021 Kia Telluride and we follow the manufacturers recommendations and ensure our oil is changed every ~10K miles. Our Kia was recently serviced at Nationwide Kia in Timonium Maryland in April 2024 and had the oil changed. As I was driving today, [XXX] the Oil Pressure Warning Light came on. When I pulled over, I checked the dipstick and it was below the low level. I immediately put in 5 quarts of oil and the light remains on. I contacted Kia and will be taking the car in for them to assess; however, I am urging that a recall for this issue is addressed. This is a common problem that others are having as well. This could have caused significant issues as I work in the inner city of Baltimore and breaking down would not be a good thing for a [XXX] Please ensure Kia does the right thing and issues a recall for this issue. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While driving, opened sunroof and it got off track and exploded the sunroof. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof Deflecter broke. The small side arms plastic snapped on both sides. Sunroof won’t close flush. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE | Sunroof/moonroof will no longer close. It is stuck in the open position and this will cause water to enter the cabin if it rains. The vehicle was examined by the dealer and they confirmed that a component is fault and will need to be replaced. No warning lamps or additional symptoms were noticed prior to the sunroof malfunctioning. The vehicle only has 44,100 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Was opening the sunroof and heard a popping sound. Wind deflector arm broke and now the sunroof will not close all the way leaving the risk of interior of car getting wet and creating mold since I live in an already humid climate. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I have it so the doors do not automatically unlock when I arrive somewhere. When I arrive at a destination and put the car in park, the people in the backseat cannot pull the handle to get out. If the child safety lock (which is a button on the door handle with the window and lock buttons) is ON, the back windows and the door latches do NOT work. If the child safety lock is OFF, the windows work but the door still cannot be opened using the latch. This seems like a safety issue to me, since most people will reach for the latch in an emergency, but they can't get out. I have to push the unlock button form the driver door. If it is pushed on the front passenger door, it will not unlock the back doors. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | POWER TRAIN | I was driving and stopped in the center lane and the SUV would not move. I was left in an unsafe position. I was there about 10-15 min and got pushed out of the road. I turned the suv off and on a few times with no difference in response. I let the suv sit there about another 5 min and was able to move the suv and the problem has not occured today but it does seem to be shifting a little hard and have noted that recently. I saw something online about NHTSA ID numbers 11425571 and 11354498. that might be relivent but I was trying to to find more information on those. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | SEAT BELTS | After sunroof repair seatbelt no longer functioning. Track seemed stuck so unable to retract seatbelt. Dealer said they had to take seatbelt apart for sunroof install and they didn’t put it back correctly. Took 2 days for repairs to be completed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | VISIBILITY | Sunroof track broken, causing it unable to be closed. Dealer covered with tape until parts able to be ordered approx. 5 days later. Tape flew off while driving on highway with potential for an accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof is stuck open. Some plastic has broken off inside the track while simply opening the sunroof. It cannot be closed. The dealer said 'sorry we can't close it. For $4,000 we can replace the entire sunroof". This is a safety issue. I have seen on other forums this happening a lot with this model. The glass can shatter, it can fly off the tracks. This is clearly a mfg issue and not an user issue. It should be recalled or at the very least warrantied. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Track for sunroof broke and will not properly open or close. I was able to close it back but will not touch until the part can be repaired/replaced. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The sunroof will not close. Kia published a technical service bulletin (#319) in July 2023 related to this issue. The plastic wind deflector and track appear to have broken. We are unable to drive the vehicle due to inability to close (electronically or mechanically) the sunroof during any inclement weather. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The barely used sunroof made a clicking noise, and now will not open or close. It looks askew and now cannot drive in inclement weather. There seem to be many people with this issue when you google it online and deserves a recall. Thanks. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | SUSPENSION | In the summer of 2023 I started hearing a clunking noise from the rear of the vehicle that became louder when going over bumps. Took the car to the dealer and I was told the rear shocks were bad and needed to be replaced. Aug of 2023 the original shocks on the car were replaced which was premature for the average life of shocks. Then months later the same things started and I had a puddle of fluid on my garage floor. I took my vehicle back into the same dealership in June of 2024 only to find the rear shocks had failed again. This time in less than a year. Now in September, I can feel the back end getting loose when I go over bumps, which is what happened previously before the shock completely failed. The ride is continuing to regress. Up until this I thought I would go into another Telluride but the lack of longevity in the ride comfort has changed my mind. Something has to be wrong for brand new shocks to fail so shortly after installation | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |