Kia Telluride: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Kia Telluride problems by model year, from 1,663 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2020 (35%, 205 drivetrain complaints). 1 of the 4 Kia Telluride years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (16%), 2023 (24%) and 2021 (25%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2020 drew the most drivetrain complaints (205 of 390 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Kia Telluride year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Telluride | elevated | 35% | 205 | 767 | 1/4 | 7 |
| 2021 Telluride | no elevated signal | 25% | 87 | 365 | 2/4 | 5 |
| 2022 Telluride | no elevated signal | 16% | 50 | 324 | 4/4 | 7 |
| 2023 Telluride | no elevated signal | 24% | 48 | 207 | 3/4 | 6 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Kia Telluride years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Kia Telluride powertrain recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Kia Telluride involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2024 | 24V214000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2020–2023 |
13 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2019 | 19V594000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2020 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V436000 | electrical system: wiring | 2020 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V164000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2021 |
| Jul 2021 | 21V577000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2022 |
| May 2022 | 22V344000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V509000 | tires: temporary/emergency spare tire | 2022 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V626000 | trailer hitches | 2020–2022 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V035000 | air bags: side/window | 2023 |
| Apr 2023 | 23V298000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2023 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V148000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2020 |
| Jun 2024 | 24V407000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2020–2023 |
| Jul 2025 | 25V494000 | structure: exterior trim | 2023 |
| Jul 2026 | 26V430000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2020–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Kia Telluride
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Kia Telluride
What are the worst years for the Kia Telluride?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Kia Telluride years are the 2020 (35% of relevant complaints, elevated). 1 of 4 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Kia Telluride?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Kia Telluride years are the 2022 (16%), the 2023 (24%) and the 2021 (25%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Kia Telluride have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 4 scored years, 390 of 1,475 relevant NHTSA complaints (26%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2020.
Is the Kia Telluride reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 1 of 4 Kia Telluride years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 26% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Kia Telluride?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Kia Telluride years we track, out of 14 in total: 24V214000 (Mar 2024, 2020–2023). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.