2023 Kia Telluride
The Verdict
The 2023 Kia Telluride has 204 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (111 complaints) and electrical (39 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 54/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Kia Telluride, consider the 2025 model year which has 48% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 48% fewer complaints
View the 2025 Kia Telluride dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 2
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
Risk
A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at ...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
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 damaged, causing them not to...
Risk
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer ser...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
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Under the Hood
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Complaints
Three times over the past year minor debris or small rocks have hit the windshield causing major spidering affects that have run all across the windshield. Even when using the windshield repair kits.
While driving 2023 Kia Telluride driver side over head visor detached tangling in front of driver obscuring vision.
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 locked. Fortunately, no collision occurred and no one was injured. The vehicle was towed for inspection. A technician at Colton Tire advised that the axle appeared to be bent. The vehicle was then transported by flatbed to Allstar Kia in [XXX] for diagnosis. The Kia dealership initially suggested the vehicle must have been involved in an accident because of a minor exterior scrape on the driver's-side rear passenger door. The vehicle has not been involved in an accident or collision. The scrape occurred while slowly maneuvering into a home garage at approximately 1–2 mph and did not involve impact to the wheel, axle, suspension, drivetrain, or differential. The dealership later advised that the technician believed an alleged “accident” caused the differential to slowly leak over time, ultimately causing the axle to bend “pretty badly.” I dispute this conclusion and have requested the complete diagnostic findings and physical evidence in writing. I am reporting this incident because the vehicle suddenly experienced a serious mechanical failure and loss-of-control event at freeway speed. I am also requesting investigation of whether the intermediate shaft, right-front driveshaft, axle, differential, or related drivetrain components could have been affected by NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-214 / Kia Safety Recall SC303, or another mechanical defect. I understand the recall has not been established as the cause of this specific incident. I am asking that the actual cause of the sudden vehicle lockup be investigated because the failure occurred at approximately 65+ mph and could have resulted in a serious crash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V430000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact was concerned that the recall posed a fire risk, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive or park. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and denied rental vehicle assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.
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 same day. In both incidents, the dashboard and infotainment system powered up normally, but the vehicle would not crank, consistent with all prior occurrences dating back to XXX. This brings the total documented occurrences to six between XXX and August 8, 2026, including two in a single day. In both August 8 incidents, my wife was stranded and had to be picked up because the vehicle would not start. This follows a dealer-confirmed and dealer-executed starter replacement (Kia of Cleveland, RO dated XXX, part #36100-3L160) that was performed after the dealer duplicated the fault on the vehicle and on a bench test — and a 4th recurrence on XXX, just 10 days after that repair. I have video evidence of all four August incidents (XXX, and the two on XXX showing the instrument cluster and infotainment fully powered with a no-crank condition. I am providing this update because the frequency of occurrences is escalating — two failures in a single day — despite a repair that was physically confirmed by the dealer's own testing. This strongly suggests the actual root cause (potentially an immobilizer/smart-key system fault, IBU communication failure, or intermittent wiring/ground fault) has not been correctly identified, and the defect continues to pose an unreasonable stranding risk to occupants. I am concurrently pursuing a vehicle replacement request with Kia America under Customer Care Case #26211382. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CLEAR COAT PEELING OFF IN SHEETS ON A 2023 KIA TELLURIDE. IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM AMOUNG KIA OWNERS HOWEVER KIA IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBLITY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
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, with both key fobs. The fault clears itself with no consistent trigger, making it undetectable by standard diagnostic scans after the fact. The vehicle was taken to Kia of Cleveland (2492 South Lee Highway, Cleveland, TN 37311) three times. On the first two visits (6/18/26 and 7/1/26) the dealer could not duplicate the fault and returned the vehicle unrepaired. On the third visit (7/17/26–7/27/26), the dealer successfully duplicated the no-start condition both on the vehicle and on a bench test after removing the starter, and replaced the starter under warranty (part #36100-3L160). Despite this confirmed and completed repair, the identical no-start condition recurred on [XXX], only 10 days and approximately 250 miles later. This is a safety issue: on [XXX], my wife was attempting to leave for work with our twin 5-year-old daughters in the vehicle when it failed to start. This is the type of defect that could strand occupants in unsafe locations or conditions (heat, cold, traffic, isolated areas) with no warning and no reliable workaround. I have video evidence of the [XXX] incident showing the vehicle's instrument cluster and infotainment fully powered with a no-crank condition, timestamped and showing the odometer reading. I am filing this complaint because the defect has now defeated a dealer-confirmed and dealer-executed repair, suggesting a root cause (such as an immobilizer/smart-key system fault, IBU communication failure, or intermittent wiring/ground fault) that has not yet been correctly identified. I am concurrently requesting a vehicle replacement from Kia America under Case #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
A P0741 warning light comes on and off leading driver to believe the problem is intermittent when in fact it is a torque converter failed. The intermittent nature of the warning light could lead drivers to believe the problem is not a safety issue, particularly on a SUV with only 105,000 miles. However, when a converter fails it is definitely a safety issue.
Driver Assistance Warning (DAW) warning bells and dash sign "Driver Needs a Break" with Coffee Pot showing goes off constantly. Even with safest driving possible, on purpose safest driving, the warning and sounds goes off every few miles and few minutes. KIA dealer has kept car for 2 weeks and say they can not duplicate and I drive it (Perfectly) and it goes off. this is a 2023 Kia telluride , previous year models and later models you could turn off or turn down sensitivity of this warning. KIA eliminated the owner the opportunity to disable or turn down this warning. It is a safety hazard because it is always going off, causing the driver to take his attention from the road to the dash every few minutes with the bells and coffee pot Take A Break Warning . KIA will not do anything about it.
The Kia Driver Assistance Warning, Showing a Coffee Pot, and Warning "Driver needs to Take Break" goes off constantly. Sometimes starts within 5 minutes of driving and goes off constantly for every 3 minutes . Dealer says it is a KIA problem and can not do anything. This constant warning is a Safety Hazard because it takes the Drivers Attention off his Driving with the constant Bells going off. It is a 2023 Kia Telluride and previous models you could turn off this Warning but NOT in 2023 according to dealer and KIA will not repair or turn off. This is a Safety Hazard.
My 2023 Kia Telluride has been subject to at least 8 separate NHTSA recalls, including SC181 (seat belt/child restraint), SC194 (trailer brake light/cruise control), SC207 (airbag OCS/ODS), SC262 (side airbag wire harness), SC303 (driveshaft/rollaway risk), SC316 (power seat motor fire risk), SC347 (door trim detachment), and now SC374/NHTSA 26V430 (recurrence of the power seat motor fire risk, explicitly noted as possibly caused by an improper repair under the earlier SC316 recall). I am especially concerned that the current recall (26V430) describes the same underlying defect as an earlier recall (SC316/24V407) that was supposed to have been repaired, and that no remedy is yet available for this recurrence. This raises serious questions about the adequacy of the original repair and the vehicle’s ongoing fire risk. I am filing this complaint to document this pattern of recurring safety defects and request that NHTSA and Kia treat this as evidence of an unresolved, recurring hazard — not an isolated incident.
The fuel gauge intermittently fails and incorrectly displays that the vehicle has little or no fuel, even when the tank is nearly full. On the first occasion, I was at home. The second time, after shopping, I started the vehicle and the gauge indicated there was no fuel, despite knowing the tank was almost full. As I continued driving, the fuel gauge slowly began registering correctly until it eventually returned to showing the proper fuel level. This has now happened twice. This is a serious safety concern because the driver cannot accurately determine the amount of fuel in the vehicle. An incorrect fuel reading could cause someone to believe the vehicle is out of fuel, become stranded in an unsafe location, or make unnecessary emergency stops, creating a potential hazard for both the driver and others on the road.
On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I exited the highway, and my vehicle completely decelerated and ultimately shut down. I was unable to get my engine running and had to get it towed to the dealer. It has been at the dealer for 3 weeks now. The dealer said my engine will likely need to be replaced. It is a 2023 Kia Telluride with less than 66,000 miles on it.
While driving my car randomly displays a warning that I need to shift to park or neutral immediately and turn off my engine. Sometimes my car will work afterwards, other times it will not and I’m stuck for 5-7 minutes. It happens in the middle of me driving with no warning signs. I’ve tried to ignore it and the whole car shuts off and the brakes lock up. It is very frightening. I brought it in the first time and they claimed it was my battery so they replaced it. It’s now happened 4 times and they have no idea how to fix it. My car has been at the dealership for 6 weeks now with no end in sight. They want to give me my car back but I keep pushing back. They were able to duplicate the issue one time but no error codes came up. It happened to the technician at a stop light so they’re claiming it’s probably only when stopped. Which is not true, so they don’t see the safety concern!!! I’m 8 months pregnant and do not feel safe driving a car that shuts off in the middle of me driving! I have also opened up a case with corporate. I have seen Reddit threads and so many complaints regarding this issue. Specifically on 2025 tellurides, although mine is 2023. I want out of this car because I genuinely fear for mine and my families safety in this car. I can’t believe this isn’t a bigger issue!!!!
AWD Coupler is bad make noise and shaking at low turn speeds only
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake light illuminated and was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a repair on the wheel speed sensor and parking brakes. After retrieving the vehicle, the EPB warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, but the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on eight occasions for the parking switch, a software reset, and other unknown repairs. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted, and the vehicle became inoperable. The contact stated that the brakes had seized. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was covering the cost of the repairs. The dealer informed the contact about signing a waiver. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
My vehicle has an active Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag dashboard warning light. A professional diagnostic scan has confirmed the active fault code: B143100 - "SIDE AIRBAG REAR DRIVER RESISTANCE CIRCUIT SHORT TO GROUND This exact physical failure matches the known manufacturing defect detailed in NHTSA Campaign 23V-035 (Kia Recall Code SC262). While my specific VIN does not currently show up as part of the official recall population, the vehicle is suffering from the identical manufacturing defect and active short, resulting in a disabled passenger safety system.
The engine cooling fan activates at high speed and runs continuously for an extended period — in one instance, overnight — after the vehicle has been turned off, locked, and left unattended. This has occurred on multiple occasions. No warning lamps or messages appear before or during the event. The vehicle gives no indication anything is wrong; the fan simply runs at full speed on its own, without the ignition on, for hours at a time. The component involved is the engine cooling fan and/or its control module. Based on owner community research, the likely cause is a faulty signal being sent to the Engine Control Module, which triggers the fan to run even when the vehicle is not overheating and is fully shut off. The component is available for inspection. Safety risk: The vehicle is parked in an attached garage. An electrical component running uncontrolled and unattended for hours inside an enclosed structure attached to a residence poses a credible fire hazard. A bedroom is located directly above the garage. This is not an inconvenience — it is a fire risk to occupants of the home. The problem has been reported to an authorized Kia dealer on multiple occasions. The dealer was unable to replicate the condition during the service visit and did not perform a repair. The defect is intermittent in nature, which makes dealer replication difficult, but video documentation of the fan running with the vehicle off and unattended exists for multiple incidents. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps illuminate during or prior to the event. The fan simply activates after shutoff with no prior symptoms. VIDEO LINK of both incidences: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Multiple times over the course of six months the vehicle would turn itself and all electric components off while being driven, with no warning. The car would then refuse to restart.
Engine shuts off without warning while driving. First reported to the dealer on XXX (approximately 12,000 miles) and has continued for 2.5+ years despite repeated repair attempts. Shutoffs typically occur at low speed while decelerating, such as turning into neighborhoods or approaching stops, but have also occurred while coasting at 33 mph on a busy road with cruise control active (August 8, 2025). Frequency has varied from roughly every 1,000 miles to severe clusters: three shutoffs within one hour on [XXX] and again on [XXX], and five in a single day in mid-August 2025. The dealer reproduced the failure with diagnostic equipment connected in August 2024. Most recent events: XXX;XXX (quit while coasting at 20 mph on a busy four-lane road with cruise control engaged);XXX (quit while slowing to turn onto a neighborhood street, 87 degrees F, A/C on high). The vehicle usually restarts immediately, but on [XXX] it would not restart for 5-7 minutes. After restart, cruise control retains its previous set speed, indicating an incomplete power cycle. The dealer (Kia Store East, [XXX]) has attempted repairs since September 2023 under Kia case #XXX, including crank position sensor replacement, MAP sensor replacement (June 2025), and a four-wheel-drive coupler replacement plus software update (October 2025); shutoffs continued after every repair. Historical fault codes include P0068 and B1763. Events have occurred in traffic and at intersections with several near-misses, including one that nearly caused a collision in an intersection on XXX. This is a family vehicle regularly carrying children. Repair orders are available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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