Summary
The Kia Telluride has 29 recalls spanning 2020 through 2027, with the most serious being a driveshaft engagement defect on 2020-2024 vehicles where the intermediate and right front driveshafts can sit incompletely engaged, allowing the vehicle to roll away while in park and raising the risk of a crash or injury.
Two fire-related issues also affect multiple model years. On 2020-2024 vehicles, a power seat slide knob can stick, keeping the seat motor running until it overheats and catches fire, whether parked or moving. On 2020-2022 models equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch wiring harness, moisture and debris can cause a short in the harness circuit board that leads to fire. The 2020 model year alone also has a risk from the optional 4-pin accessory trailer harness kit, where a short can overheat the control module and start a fire even with the vehicle off.
On 2024 models, engine valve springs can break while driving, which can knock a hole in the engine block, cause sudden power loss, and let oil spill onto hot components where it can ignite. The 2025 model year has two seat-related recalls: the front seat back frame assemblies on power-seat-equipped vehicles can fail to hold occupants in a crash, and the seatback recliners on those same seats can loosen and shift in a collision. The 2027 Telluride has two distinct issues: the third-row center seat belt buckle can fail to latch properly, leaving that occupant unrestrained in a crash, and on Hybrid SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige trims with the Executive Package, the second-row power seats can continue moving after contacting a person, with a particular risk of trapping a child. The 2025 model year also shipped with an incorrect spare tire that, once installed, can impair anti-lock braking and traction control.
The 2023 model year has damaged second-row seat side airbag wiring that can prevent deployment in a side-impact crash, along with door belt molding that can detach and become a road hazard, a concern that extends to 2024 and 2025 models as well. The instrument cluster on 2022 vehicles can go blank at startup due to internal electrical faults, leaving the driver without a speedometer, gear indicator, or warning displays. The 2022 model year also has a spare tire mismatch that can interfere with anti-lock braking and traction control.
On 2020 models, axle shaft splines can wear and allow the parked vehicle to move without the parking brake applied. Seat belts across the front passenger, second, and third rows on 2020 vehicles may not properly secure a child restraint seat in a crash. Also on 2020 vehicles, Smart Cruise Control does not activate the trailer's brake lights when it slows the vehicle, and the high beam headlights can fail outright.
