The 2020 Telluride has the most complaints registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration debuted in 2020, and there are currently three model years available for the midsize crossover. And they’re all award winners. The debut-year Telluride is not a bad vehicle, but when compared to the 2021 and 2022 SUVs, it earns the title as the worst model year.
Key Points
- All Tellurides from 2020 to 2022 are award winners, topping their categories, according to Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.
- The 2020 Telluride has the most complaints registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), putting it on the worst-years list. But it’s not necessarily a bad car.
- The 2022 Telluride is the best bet. Its main advantage over 2020 is that it’s new and hardly has any complaints as a result.
- You really can’t go wrong regardless of the Telluride model year you choose to buy.
2020 Kia Telluride is Hardly a Bad Car, but Consumer Complaints of Windshield Chipping, and Multiple Recalls Make it the Worst Year
The 2020 Kia Telluride may be the worst Kia Telluride yet, with 200 NHTSA complaints, but it’s hardly a bad year.
Most of the complaints cover minor issues with exterior accessories and windshields.
So far, there’ve been 106 NHTSA complaints about the windshield wipers alone. Drivers said they noticed small chips on their windshields that became worse, creating large cracks overnight.
The windshield problem was experienced after about 10,000 to 13,000 miles on the odometer, and often after prolonged sun exposure.
Another driver mentioned a small rock hitting their windshield and causing a notably huge crack across the center. It reportedly cost $500 to replace.
While some drivers could point to a reason for chipping, some couldn’t. Nobody wants to buy a car with a windshield that cracks spontaneously.
Weak Headlights Add to 2020 Kia Telluride’s Problems
Exterior lighting problems also seem to be widespread for the 2020 Telluride. The NHTSA has recorded over 30 complaints about the headlights alone.
Some drivers claimed their headlights were unsafe at night, hardly illuminating the road enough to see properly.
Others report that when the headlights automatically turn on due to rainfall, they may shine too bright, affecting other drivers’ visibility.
One 2020 Kia Telluride owner noted that the factory lights installed on the trailer tow package would randomly fail to illuminate when using the brake lights. This can lead to potentially dangerous conditions.
Drivers also experienced poor headlight illumination specifically when turning a corner.
Transmission Troubles Also Affect Telluride’s 2020 Model Year
The 2020 Kia Telluride has even more serious complaints involving transmission problems. For starters, the NHTSA has received 13 complaints about powertrain issues.
Reports include drivers experiencing vibrations at speeds of around 65 mph, and a loud, annoying humming from the interior.
One driver was at risk of a crash when their Telluride wouldn’t accelerate to highway speeds — aggressively pushing down on the gas pedal, and servicing the SUV three times didn’t help matters. This phenomenon is called “transmission slipping.”
The issue causes the rpms to rev up without delivering any power to the drivetrain. This can lead to the vehicle’s inability to meet speed requirements and putting drivers at risk of a collision.
Another driver’s vehicle randomly shifted into neutral while driving at lower speeds, turning, or accelerating.
It caused the SUV to randomly stall in traffic. Restarting seemed to return power to the transmission, though.
With Just Two Recalls and no Investigations, the 2020 Telluride Should be Celebrated, but they’re Enough to Place it on the Worst List
The 2020 Telluride has so far recorded just two NHTSA recalls. One of them is for the widespread lighting issue, specifically for the failed brake lights when using the tow package.
According to Kia, the brake lights of trailers connected to a vehicle fail to illuminate when the Smart Cruise Control applies the brakes.
This results in cars that do not meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements.
The other recall was for incorrectly installed seat belt assemblies that did not properly secure child restraint systems if a crash occurred.
Front passenger, second, and third-row seats were all affected. There are no open investigations into the vehicle, though.
Overall, most of the 2020 Kia Telluride’s problems are minor, but the sheer number is overwhelming.
Kia is not unaware and has released about 127 technical service bulletins for the vehicle, according to Car Complaints.
As a result, the automotive complaint resource ranks 2020 as the worst model year for the Kia Telluride.
2022 is the Latest and Best Model Year for the Telluride, with Multiple Awards and Few Complaints
Many publications have praised the 2022 Telluride. Car and Driver called it the gold standard of its segment, ahead of the likes of the Ford Bronco and Kia Sorento. The Telluride also made the publication’s 2022 10 best list for its handsome looks, unrivaled luxuriousness, and exceptional value.
Edmunds awarded the Telluride Top Rated pick among all SUVs from any mainstream brand, and for good reason. The high comfort level, technology, third-row space, and cargo significantly influenced their decision. The 2022 Telluride also claimed Kelley Blue Book’s Best Three-Row Midsize SUV award for a powerful V6, lots of technology, sophisticated standard safety, and driver-assist features, and value for money.
Kia has clearly prioritized safety with the SUV, culminating in its five-star NHTSA overall safety rating.
The vehicle also won the IIHS Top Safety Pick award after getting “Good” ratings in frontal and side crash tests, and roof strength.
The caveat to this award is that it only covers Tellurides equipped with optional LED headlights.
The 2020 and 2021 model years won similar awards from Edmunds and KBB.
However, the 2022 is a best-year pick for being new. The NHTSA complaint count is still meager (about 29), with six of those covering easily chipped windshields like in previous years.
Kia has also made one recall due to a blank LCD that causes information, such as the digital speedometer, to not display.
As the years roll by and more information surfaces, we’ll know if the 2022 Telluride deserves this spot or not.
Whichever Kia Telluride Model Year You Choose, You Can’t Go Wrong
The Kia Telluride has hardly placed a wrong foot since its unveiling. All three years of the vehicle are award winners, receiving multiple accolades from various publications.
Even though the older 2020 model has recorded almost 200 NHTSA complaints, they’re mostly minor.
So, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a lot of value for your money regardless of the model you buy.
Photos: Kia
