Complaint volume
332 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
332 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Kia Telluride, grouped by component category.
332 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 40 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 17,163 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 68
VISIBILITY/WIPER 53
ENGINE 37
STRUCTURE 21
VISIBILITY 15
POWER TRAIN 13
SUSPENSION 11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 5
332 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Windshield cracked all the way across from a tiny rock. So small that I didn’t even see it when it happened. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I don’t ever use my sunroof but noticed it was slightly open bc I saw light coming through. I tried to close it and it came off it’s track on one side. Given that the vehicle has had several recalls having to do with electronic features causing fires, I worry about this issue causing a fire. Also, it’s unsafe to drive during a storm. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | We were driving down Hwy 321 going approximately 65 mph and the sunroof just exploded. There were no other vehicles close for it to be hit my a rock. It sounded like a gunshot and glass went everywhere. Very dangerous and scary! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STRUCTURE | Driving down a 2-lane highway doing less than 60 mph, the wind from the oncoming semi-truck shattered the sunroof glass. This caused us to have to drive hundreds of miles home with water, wind and broken glass in our car with 3 children who were 6 years old and younger. I contact Kia Corporate compliants directly while the car was in the shop for several weeks and they said because it was already fixed there was nothing they could do. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear door latch was not operating properly, and the door failed to close as intended. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the wiring harness had melted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,000 |
| Jul 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof jammed open and was unable to be closed. There were no warning lights associated with this issue. I took the sunroof apart and found the bug deflector springs wedged themselves in the sunroof track, causing it to overload itself and break its mechanism. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | SUSPENSION | Rear shocks are defective, bounces around, diagonal pitch and rough / harsh ride. Dealers Idea of fix is shock Isolator replacement. They don't have in stock and make you wait several days for repair. There should be a recall on this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The panoramic sunroof hinges on my vehicle snapped and a part of the assembly fell and hit me in the head while I was driving. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | The vehicle had approx 10k miles and I simply tried to open the sunroof before leaving my driveway and something snapped. The Sunroof was then stuck in the open position, I could not close it. I called my regular dealership for help as it was under warranty and practically new. The dealership said they are too busy to help me, I have no garage and there was rain in the forecast. I called other dealerships and was able to find one who would take it in for a look. I was told it might take a few days and left the car. After a few days the dealership said they needed to order parts, that the entire sunroof track has to be replaced and it may take weeks. They were able to close the roof and I picked up the car, I had to take it back as wind was coming in as I drove and rain can too. I returned for repairs and issues approx 5 times until it was "repaired". I have not opened the sunroof again since, for fear of additional problems and no longer under warranty as many other Kia Telluride owners who have this issue with the sunroof. Being away from home and it breaking again would be a disaster and having to drive from a secluded area with unpredictable weather can be dangerous. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My sunroof hinges cracked and my sunroof will not close | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | ENGINE | Since November 2023, the car's engine has been burning oil. There are no leaks in the driveway. On January 8th (87,000 miles), I took the Kia Telluride for service at Mission Viejo Kia for a Check Engine light. They said the car had low oil and indicated that the cause was a leaking oil housing. They completed an oil change and added new oil. On February 19th (90,000 miles), the AC drain was clogged and water was entering the passenger side inside the vehicle. In addition to this fix, Mission Viejo Kia noted that the oil level was down to 1/2 quart. This was only 3000 miles since the last oil change. On April 6th (95,000) completed another oil change at Ramona Tire, where I was getting new brakes. They did note very low oil. June 24th (96,600 miles), the Telluride started rattling and stalling at lights. Upon inspection, Mission Viejo Kia determined it was due to low oil again. July 9th (98,000 miles) I inspected the oil dipstick and saw barely any oil. I took it to Mission Viejo Kia and it is currently awaiting direction from Kia Corporate for the next steps. This was only 2000 miles after the most recent oil change. There was no oil leaking in the driveway. My research has shown that Kia Tellurides and other Kia/Hyundia are experiencing rapid oil consumption. This eventually could lead to engine failure and catalytic converter failure. Class action suits have been filed and dismissed recently. My 100,000 mile warranty is coming up. This complaint is to document the issues I have been experiencing for any possible future action. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The sunroof wind deflector broke while closing the sunroof while parked. This dislodged the sunroof mechanism from its tracks and prevents the sunroof from closing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Came outside and windshield had spontaneously cracked. No chip. No spider web. The windshield had just had several huge cracks in the middle of the windshield in front of the driver. The glass just fractured. Spontaneously. In my driveway. Not sure if due to temperature -- i had driven for an hour with the AC keeping the car comfortable at 70 degrees and parked, in my driveway, in the sun, and yes, it is 98 degrees outside. But whatever the reason, windshield just cracked! KIA dis-owning the problem. Despite many people here complaining of same problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | SUSPENSION | Rear self leveling shocks failed, confirmed at 65,000 miles but issue had been present for months. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I am concerned with the solution to the vehicle recall. After taking care of the recall . You now have to disengage the parking break before driving the vehicle. What damage is happening if you do not do this or what potentially could happen if you do not disengage in the long run. Why was the engine not replaced? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof will not close. Arm malfunctioned. Taken to local dealer and awaiting instructions on further steps. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof exploded while driving on the highway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | ENGINE | My car started having an oil leak on [XXX] of 2023 which is the date reported to Mark Martin Kia. They replaced the oil pan on [XXX] 2024 and said that the issue was fixed. I drove it home, and the next day oil was still coming from my engine. I took it back and they said that the housing was what was leaking. The tech told me that 10k parts were on backorder so I'd have to keep putting oil in until the part arrives. Over a month went by of me having to pour oil in. [XXX] was when they fixed it. [XXX] my engine is no longer functioning. Major nock. Needs replaced! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Driver's side door will lose power while in park or while driving. This causes the locks to not work and windows (driver's and passenger's) will not go up or down. The mirrors will not fold in. Lights on the door goes out. Controls goes completely unresponsible. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sunroof on Kia Telluride will not close completely. Will begin closing and then will not set down into the closed position. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | SUSPENSION | . Cannot drive the vehicle because the rear end bounces up and down and side to side violently making it difficult to control ehile driving. Kia dealership said rear shock absorbers need replacement and Kia warranty does not cover $1800 repair. Kia dealer said this has happened previously. There are many comments on the internet from other Kia Telluride owners about the same problem. I opened a case with Kia Motor Company requesting they cover a portion of the repair given the numerous online complaints, and the obvious safety risks. They refused. Kia is clearly installing defective parts on this vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | STRUCTURE | Sunroof wind deflector snapped off after light use | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This vehicle was purchased back in July 2023. On multiple occasions since then, the Automatic Emergency Braking system has activated and slammed on the brakes when not needed. There have been no other cars, animals or other hazards to cause it to do so. Very dangerous that this keeps happening. Most recent and worse incident was yesterday(5/16/24). It is going to the dealer for service today. It's still under warranty and has approximately 55000 miles on it. Kia customer service help line showed little concern over incidents. We'll see what happens at the dealership today when I take it in. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | STRUCTURE | Sunroof guide/rail plastic piece broke upon opening and will not close. Sunroof is now stuck open. Dealer claimed entire sunroof needs to be replaced. Vehicle cannot be driven as sunroof glass feels like it'll pop off. No warning at all when it happened. Sunroof was open when driving and when we got home and parked it, it would not close and visibly confirmed the plastic part of the guide appeared broken. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | SUSPENSION,WHEELS | The rear shock is leaking/bad. My car only has 30K miles. It caused my wheels to wear unevenly, which could have led me and my family to have a car accident if a wheel popped while driving. An independent service center has confirmed this when the vehicle failed inspection. No warning of the issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |