Kia’s midsize Telluride SUV has generally been reliable since its 2020 debut. But some common issues have already cropped up. The SUV’s biggest early problems include windshields that crack easily and faulty headlights that may make night driving dangerous.
Key Points
- Kia Telluride owners have recently reported issues with chipped or cracked windshields. A class-action lawsuit was filed in 2020, and Kia has offered replacements, but the issue does not appear to be fully resolved.
- There have also been reports of issues with the collision avoidance system. Kia issued a technical service bulletin mentioning the problem may concern the forward-facing camera and has replaced many of them under warranty.
- There are only two recalls for the 2020 model Kia Telluride, and one each for the 2021 and 2022 models. Interestingly, none apply to more than a single model year, which suggests that while Kia is addressing issues quickly, they’re still having some teething problems.
- Thankfully, recalls are relatively minor and should not affect the SUV’s reliability. Even the 2020 model is likely still within Kia’s five-year/50,000-mile warranty, so these issues should be easily addressed by a trip to the dealer.
- While there are certainly some common problems with the Telluride, most are merely inconveniences and won’t leave you stranded on the side of the road.
Cracked Windshields are a Common Problem Reported Across 2020-2022 Model Years
One of the most complained about issues with the Kia Telluride has been cracking windshields. Cracks happen to any car, no matter the age or mileage. But the Telluride’s windshield seems to do so at an alarming rate. Of the 207 complaints noted by the NHTSA website about the 2020 Kia Tellurides, roughly half of them are related to this issue.
Owners have reported that they have replaced the windshield multiple times on vehicles that are no more than four years old. Apparently, even a small stone chip can quickly spread and become a crack. Other owners even report this occurring without damage from road debris.
This same issue led to a class-action lawsuit being filed in 2020. The plaintiff stated the windshield crack on his 2020 Telluride began at the edge of the glass and spread across the entire windshield. He wanted Kia to issue a recall for all Telluride windshields due to it being a “widespread issue.”
The lawsuit also states that Kia had begun repairing cracked windshields for certain owners, but that this service has not been offered to all owners of affected vehicles. As of this writing, the lawsuit has not been settled nor has Kia issued a recall for the issue. While the problem doesn’t affect the Telluride’s reliability, it’s understandable that this would be a very irritating problem to have with a new vehicle.
2020 Kia Telluride’s Headlights May Be Too Weak or Could Randomly Stop Working, According to One-fifth of NHTSA’s Consumer Complaints
Although the Telluride only debuted for 2020, the model has already garnered a large number of headlight complaints. NHTSA complaints, as well as discussions in online forums, mention the headlights being too weak for night driving. Random malfunctions are also reported.
Approximately one-fifth of the 2020 Kia Telluride’s over 200 NHTSA complaints is about the headlights, with one owner reporting: “Low beam headlights cause oncoming traffic to swerve and to flash bright lights, as if they are being blinded by low beams in this car.”
Another owner mentions both headlight high beams randomly going out at the same time. “I no longer have working high beams,” reports the 2020 Telluride owner, “and from Internet research, this is a known problem with no recall issued.”
There is reportedly minimal peripheral illumination from the headlights, and the lights are so poor that drivers cannot see the side of the road on unlit roads or around curves.
“The first set of headlights stopped functioning properly and was replaced by the dealer with new factory lights that do not illuminate adequately and are a safety hazard for both drivers and pedestrians,” mentions another 2020 Kia Telluride owner.
Collision Avoidance System Malfunction in 2020-2022 Model Years Prompts Many Consumer Complaints
Telluride owners have filed many NHTSA complaints about the collision avoidance system. This safety feature reportedly stops working at random, with the vehicle displaying an error light. The issue appears to affect all model years and is usually caused by a malfunction with the forward-facing camera.
According to Kia, this malfunction can render a wide array of advanced safety systems inoperable, including cruise control, lane-keep assistance, lane-departure warning, forward-collision avoidance/warning, and others.
Kia has issued several technical service bulletins about the issue and has replaced many of the faulty cameras under warranty.
Four Recalls for the Kia Telluride Relate to Safety Equipment and Electrical Issues
The Kia Telluride has garnered a total of four recalls from 2020 to 2022 that are unique to each model year. The 2020 models have two recalls, one for inoperative trailer brake lights, and another for seat belt assemblies that may not secure a child seat in the event of a crash.
The 2021 Kia Telluride has just one recall for an issue with the airbags’ occupant detection system. The system may not detect the presence of a child seat in the front passenger seat. In the event of an accident, the airbag may deploy and cause harm.
The 2022 Kia Telluride also has just one recall that is related to the LCD display screen. The screen may remain blank after vehicle startup due to a software issue. Kia has an update for the software that resolves the issue.
Kia’s Midsize Telluride isn’t a Perfect SUV, but None of its Problems Should Leave You Stranded
With over 225,000 units already sold since the Telluride’s debut, the SUV is now one of the Korean automaker’s best-selling models. While there have certainly been some issues along the way, the vehicle has been a reliable midsize SUV for most owners.
Kia seems to be aware of the issues that owners are currently experiencing with the SUV and has been actively addressing most of them.
Photos: Kia
