2020 Kia Telluride

2020 Kia TELLURIDE SUV AWD

Overall

★★★★★

Front Crash

★★★★☆

Side Crash

★★★★★

Rollover

★★★★☆

2020 Kia TELLURIDE SUV FWD

Overall

★★★★★

Front Crash

★★★★☆

Side Crash

★★★★★

Rollover

★★★★☆

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Campaign: 19V594000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Campaign: 20V436000

TRAILER HITCHES

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Campaign: 22V626000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.

Campaign: 24V148000

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.

Campaign: 24V214000

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.

Campaign: 24V407000

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.

Campaign: 26V430000

ENGINE

Loss of oil that is going out the heads and exhaust. This causes loss of power. Oil light doesn’t come on. This happened twice. Once in March and we took it to the dealership to have it fixed. Unfortunately, the issue wasn’t fixed and it happened again in August.

STRUCTURE

In March of 2025 I noticed that my Kia Telluride had a quarter size piece of paint missing in the middle of the roof near my windshield. As the past year has progressed paint delamination has occurred across the roof of my vehicle with other delamination spots being noticed in other areas of the body. My vehicle is a 2020 with 66,000 miles and is a white pearlescent coat. The delamination is exposing the body of my vehicle to the elements, causing rust and deterioration at a rapid speed. With a simple hand washing, the paint peeled off of my roof in a large area. This should not be occurring with a vehicle that has been well taken care of and should have many years of life left. Kia should be held responsible for the delamination that is occurring widely with the white pearlescent paint color.

ENGINE

I have a Kia Telluride 2020 EX AWD automatic. I bought it used about 2.5 years ago. It’s been having some ongoing issues with oil consumption, which from what I have learned is pretty common in this car. Since I learned that I’ve been increasing the frequency of oil changes and topping off oil in between. It burns oil at an absurd rate, and gives no warning when oil is low. On the most recent change, a month ago, the mechanic recommended changing it after 3,000 miles. Yesterday the car completely shut down while driving on the highway, no warning or anything, just a noise, smoke and then the car died in a matter of seconds. I nearly got in an accident trying to drift to the side of the road with no power or anything. No control of the car. Ended up stuck in traffic going 70 mph with a toddler. After it was towed, our mechanic found there was no oil left and we had two holes in the engine casing. He explained it looks like when the oil ran out completely, some part broke off in the engine and shot through the housing. So it’s looking like we need a new engine. We had NOT driven it 3000 miles since the last oil change just a month ago, and we have even topped off the oil since that change, most recently a week ago. This means the car burned through about 9 quarts of oil in 3000 miles. Multiple mechanics have told us this is a known issue with the car, and there is nothing to do to prevent it. When we called the dealership to inquire about getting a new engine, they told us we would need to do an oil consumption test. Obviously this is impossible on a car that does not drive and has two holes in the engine. So we are stuck paying out of pocket. Kia is well aware of this issue and is doing nothing.

SEATS

I own a 2020 Kia Telluride with a Canadian VIN permanently registered in [XXX] (military) and live in [XXX]. The vehicle has an active fire risk recall. Kia America and my local dealership in [XXX] are refusing to perform the federally mandated safety recall including a significant fire hazard if not repaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle hesitated to maintain automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was previously repaired at a local dealer for an unknown recall associated with an engine oil leak. The vehicle was towed back to the same local dealer where it was diagnosed and an engine flush was suggested, and the contact was informed that six fuel injectors needed to be replaced as a possible repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My sunroof stopped being able to close all the way. I took it to the dealership and to fix it, it will cost over $7,00 dollars. It will open but won’t close all the way.

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

On December 9, 2025, the factory exterior paint on my 2020 Kia Telluride (Snow White Pearl) began experiencing massive, sudden delamination, shearing completely off the roof down to the factory primer layer in a sheet larger than a hand towel. The peeling is continuing to spread due to wind exposure while driving. Furthermore, the paint failure has compromised the protective coating, causing specs of rust to actively break through the paint throughout the trunk and exterior body panels. This indicates a severe manufacturing defect in factory paint adhesion and corrosion protection, posing a direct threat to the vehicle's structural integrity and body longevity. Kia America has refused warranty assistance due to vehicle age/mileage limits, despite this being a widespread manufacturing failure.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Large chunks of paint peeling from hood and top of car. Yes, available for inspection. Safety concerns for visibility issues for driver and other drivers if paint impairs visibility. Yes, visited a collision repair shop, stated they see this being an issue a lot with Kia Tellurides, especially the snow white as they didn’t put primer on vehicle first. Yes, was inspected by insurance representative. No warnings, started about a month ago and has gotten gradually worse.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The sun roof warning light on dash suddenly came on and when I tried to open it up it broke and would no longer close. Finally got front toclise but back won't. Paeamount Kua of Asheville wants 7000 to fix even though I have extended warranty.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My engine failed from burning oil, even though the car has been maintained its whole life, 14 documented oil changes, roughly every 5,000 miles. • Jiffy-lube shop found the crankcase completely bone dry, only 4,344 miles after the last oil change. No reading on the dipstick. They added 6 quarts. Engine was knocking before and after. • No oil warning light ever came on, and no low-oil warning, just a check engine light and the knocking. • Towed same day to an independent shop. They found code P0524 (engine oil pressure too low) and say the internal noise is probably a rod bearing. Engine needs to be replaced. • The car goes into limp mode while driving. On the highway it dropped from 60 mph to 20 mph in live traffic with no warning. I couldn't safely get to an exit. • That's about 1.4 quarts per 1,000 miles, Kia's own bulletin ENG222 calls 1 quart per 1,000 excessive. • The car is not drivable, hasn't been repaired. This happened around 3 months after purchasing it second hand. Lots of other 2020 Telluride owners are reporting the same oil consumption problem.