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Cars › Kia › Telluride › 2023

2023 Kia Telluride problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
24%
48 of 207 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Kia Telluride. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 24% of relevant complaints.

Better than 81% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2023 Kia Telluride have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 48 of 207 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Telluride concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). For comparison, the 2022 scores 16%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
48
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
207
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
5 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER60 · 29%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM49 · 24%
VISIBILITY/WIPER29 · 14%
POWER TRAIN24 · 12%
ENGINE23 · 11%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14 · 7%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
no data
2020
35%
205 of 767
2021
25%
87 of 365
2022
16%
50 of 324
2023
24%
48 of 207

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN08/28/2026
On XXX, at approximately 7:40 a.m., my 2023 Kia Telluride, VIN [XXX], experienced a sudden mechanical failure while traveling approximately 65+ mph southbound on [XXX]. The vehicle suddenly locked up, causing the driver to lose control, skid, and swerve toward the side of the freeway. The rear wheels appeared to be lo…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE08/10/2026
This is an update to my original NHTSA complaint (ID 11755209) regarding an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect on my 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN [XXX]). Since my original filing, the identical defect has recurred twice more, on XXX — once at approximately 1:01–1:30 PM EST and again at approximately 5:03–5:17 PM EST, the…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE08/06/2026
My 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN [XXX]) has an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect that has occurred on four separate occasions between [XXX] and [XXX] (mileage range 49,850–51,180). In each occurrence, the dashboard and infotainment system power on normally, but the engine will not crank when the start button is pressed, …

Three of 48 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2023 Kia Telluride (6)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become d…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equip…
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 i…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2023 Kia Telluride

Questions people ask about the 2023 Kia Telluride

Does the 2023 Kia Telluride have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 48 of 207 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Telluride concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Kia Telluride?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2023 Kia Telluride. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Kia Telluride years are better?

Among the Kia Telluride years we track, the 2022 (16%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (24%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2023 Kia Telluride?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Kia Telluride shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.