general problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Telluride - part 2

My 2020 kia Telluride consumes oil. At an alarming rate. About 2 quarts for every 1000 - 1500 miles. It currently has 125,000 miles.

Engine burns over a quart of oil every week. Kia states it's normal.

Right at 100k miles both our engine began burning oil at an extremely high rate with no clear resolution for the issue. We are adding 1-2 quarts ever week. Simultaneously, we received transmission solenoid codes from a check engine light. The sealed factory transmission had burn looking transmission fluid and after replacement the light continue to show and now the transmission is slipping and hesitating and we are being told it needs replaced.

For a while now I have had to add extra oil about a quart every so often (didnt chart mileage )between oil changes and I thought its just burning some oil. Last few months it went up to adding 2 quarts and recently I had to add 3 quarts of oil and I had just checked it 2 weeks ago. There is never a light or any kind of notice on dash panel about low oil. I have a epiletic daughter that requires a safe vehicle to get her to the hospital. So this is a real safety concern. I have been reading this is problem with Tellurides. Because of the oil consumption problem Tellurides have been stalling while driving. This could be a life threatening situation with my daughter not to mention for anyone driving the vehicle. The dealer will not do an oil consumption test since I'm at 113,000 miles. I paid $40,000. 00 for a quailty vehicle. It should not have these kind of problems. Kia manufacurer said call the local dealer, so its just a run around please help us figure this out.

The engine is stalling, knocking and the check engine light will occasionally come on. You can smell carbon monoxide and hot oil. We are having to add a quart of oil weekly.

Engine oil consumption issue. Engine is run dry due to overconsumption of oil, increasing likelihood of cracked engine block or engine fire. Secondary issue includes increased fuel consumption/ decreased mpg. First oil consumption test reflected 60% of oil used 1,000 miles after oil change.

Oven taken my car to jiffy line for more than regular oil changes and they always end up kinda jokingly saying man he’s always low on oil. I just blew a rod thru my block due to lack of oil and how fast it was burning. I feel so cheated out of my money. I’m stuck with a vehicle that I cannot drive and kia refuses to replace it.

My vehicle has an oil consumption problem that the dealership and every other kia dealership knows about. They are facebook groups about the kia Telluride oil consumption problems. I’ve had my vehicle in the shop countless times and it’s cost a lot of money. It now needs a new engine along with every other kia Telluride on the social media groups, complaining about the oil consumption and their engines going bad and needing replaced. The dealership refuses to replace my engine because there’s no recall.

Excessive oil consumption causing monthly oil changes. No low oil indicator causing engine to rattle.

History of engine randomly lurching/ hesitation when shifting. Have brought car in when it stalled out while driving, or at light. Largest problem now is oil leaking excessively. Kia has not been forthcoming on their history with this issue on 2020 Tellurides. Have been dealing with this the past couple of months and needed to bring it in for 'checks'. Service tech said that ½ quart of low oil after 1000 miles was not enough for kia to flag; told me to come in at oil change time. He said I did not need to worry as it was still covered under 100,000 warrantee. After checking it myself after driving another 1000 miles, I found that it was low. I brought this in for immediate concerns. I was told to 'wait' as my service tech was not there that day. He called me the next day to tell me I should bring in when I can so they can write up an 'approval ticket' for kia. I brought in the following week. Again he was off. I spoke with another tech who told me it was low 2 ½ q of oil - this was a week later. I now have to wait for kia to 'approve'. I was told this could take a week or longer. . I need my car. I asked for a rental and was told I may have to pay for it. This is frustrating and disturbing. I am told by other tech that I will probably need a new engine and I should not drive my car until it is addressed. This car is 4 ½ years old and has less than 70k miles.

Kia replaced oil filter adapter and now it burns through excessive amounts of oil. 3qts over 1000 miles. Kia wanted to do an oil consumption test but by the end it would have been out of warranty. Engine replacement would then not be covered.

The vehicle began burning oil around 61,000 miles, shortly after the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty period ended. The issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic, who identified leaking lower engine seals and excessive oil consumption. The mechanic advised that the engine will likely need replacement due to internal seal failure. This condition presents a potential safety risk if oil levels drop unexpectedly, leading to engine seizure or loss of power while driving. There were no dashboard warning lights or messages prior to discovering the problem; the only symptom was an oil smell and the dipstick reading consistently below normal levels between changes. The problem has been confirmed by an independent mechanic. The vehicle has been regularly maintained according to the manufacturer’s service schedule. The manufacturer has declined to offer assistance, citing warranty expiration and second-owner status, despite the failure occurring only 1,000 miles past coverage and appearing consistent with a latent manufacturing defect. The vehicle and documentation remain available for inspection upon request.

The engine; I took my vehicle to be serviced at the dealership on Feb 18,2025 due to it making a weird whining noise when accelerating and/or turning causing the check engine light to appear. I was told then that my vehicle had no oil in it due to a leak in the oil housing filter. I paid $1900 to have it repaired. Then on may 20th I had to take my vehicle back to the dealership to be serviced for the same issue but this time was told that the cylinder 3 fuel injector needed to be replaced. I then paid $1200 for it to be repaired. Here it is July 21st and the same issue has happened with the diagnostic code reading cylinder 3 fuel injector and the vehicle will cut off at any time while driving. I took my vehicle back to the dealership and was told that my vehicle was 4. 5 quarts low on oil and this was due to my vehicle burning oil and I need to replace the engine or trade the vehicle in. My vehicle has only 124,000 miles on it and should not be needing a new engine or repairs. I purchased this vehicle used with 106,000 miles on it and has had it for a year. I have researched the issue and found that 40plus others has had the same issue with the same vehicle. This issue needs to be looked into. I'm unable to upload my invoices as proof of defect. I can email them if you would like me too.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Telluride. The contact stated that while he was servicing the vehicle, the contact noticed that there was a hole in the rear upper part of engine block.  there was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal burning oil odor coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the contact was informed that the engine would need to be disassembled to determine the cause of the failure. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that three oil changes needed to be performed, and the engine needed to be flushed and replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to follow the dealer's instructions. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 93,364.

I am consuming excessive oil consumption and the oil consumption tests have failed twice. This usually leads to driving and hearing noises and the car shaking which could lock up the engine and or cause a safety concern if locks up while driving and sudden stop.

High oil consumption.

Oil consumption, consuming too much oil , need it recalled please it’s too much already.

Another kia Telluride reporting the known defect in 2020 kia Tellurides related to severe and excessive oil consumption that poses a potential safety risk and financial loss. I have recently experienced repeated and worsening oil loss between routine oil changes with no visible leaks or warning lights. The rate of consumption exceed 1 quart per 1,000 miles which kia defines as “excessive” under technical service bulletin eng222 (rev 5). This condition creates a risk of engine failure while driving, especially because there are no warning signs that the engine is about to seize. I am in the process of contacting my dealership but kia of America declined to acknowledge this issue despite it being well documented and affecting a wide range of kia engines. I believe this is a safety defect that warrants further investigation due 1) sudden engine failure or stalling from low oil levels 2) lack of adequate early warning indicators 3) unreasonable financial exposure to consumers for a manufacturer-related defect 4) a pattern of complaints across similar models/engines. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further and ensure kia is held accountable for this widespread and dangerous issue.

Oil consumption- I have had to keep oil in the car to top off my oil in between oil changes. It will get low before I can make to another appointment and start shaking or making a loud noise when driving or braking. Oil consumption test says I’m burning 2 qt /1000 miles. Checking online and different forums this is a know issue for these models of vehicles.

In may 2025, I brought my 2022 kia Telluride to the dealership for an oil leak. They kept my vehicle for a week. Then in June, while driving with my [xxx] son, the engine completely stalled — a terrifying and dangerous situation. I returned the car to the dealership, and they tried to point out a bunch of unrelated issues. But once I got home, the car shut off again. I took it back and was finally told that the engine had blown — and that this kind of failure "happens all the time" with Tellurides, according to their own words. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The engine failed catastrophically on a highway bridge putting four 18 year old boys in grave danger. They managed to get the vehicle to the other side of the bridge but it was not safe. Not a single warning light came on prior, and the engine temperatur gauge didn't show anything out of the ordinary. Oil levels were checked and topped off prior to the trip. Oil was changed 9 months prior. A local kia dealer has confirmed total engine failure. Kia has denied the claim despite being under the warranty period because I cannot supply complete oil change records. Who keeps those? I only keep the most recent one which shows 9 months prior. A quick search shows the 2020 kia Telluride engine is failing at an alarming rate and kia corporate offices are practing the deny and delay strategy to Dodge responsibility. I will now have to hire attorneys and pay $10,000 to replace their faulty engine.

Our kia Telluride had engine failure and a leaking oil pan. There were no warning messages or lamps at all. We noticed a blue smoke coming from the engine upon acceleration and a knocking noise from engine. We took it to a local repair shop and they said the engine was shot. We needed a new engine and a new oil pan as well as an oil change.

For the past year to year ½ I have brought my car in for concerns with idle, hesitation when accelerating, stalling out, etc. This has put me in compromised situations when in traffic, at stop lights and when trying to accelerate to get on the highway. I was told it was fine, until it was not. Now my engine needs to be replaced. What I discovered in my car was their worksheet on issues that they never shared with me. Identified issues on this report: fault code 6, po300400 - history, cylinder misfire, po30500 - history, cylinder misfire po34100 when going back for a 'simple' 1000 mile oil check, I was told there was not enough oil loss to identify concern. When I checked my own oil after another 1000 miles, kia then pursued. In researching, there is a history of these engine problems and engines needing to be replaced with kia. This is unacceptable and has compromised safety and any value I hoped to have with my car.

This car is burning oil at an outrageous amount. 2 to 3 quarts in 1000 miles. This is a hazard to drive myself and my two young children in.

This is a follow-up to complaint #11666572 regarding my 2020 kia Telluride (VIN: [xxx] ), with urgent concerns about ongoing safety violations and abusive conduct by greenway kia east and kia America. On June 26, 2025, kia America reversed its prior refusal and agreed to reimburse uber, rental, and towing costs—but only after I filed multiple complaints. Earlier, they claimed to have no influence over the dealership, which had refused all reimbursement after I complained about service manager gina. Worse, on June 27, the dealership responded via bbb telling me to contact gina again—the very person I formally complained about for unprofessional and negligent conduct. This isn’t just mishandling; it is degrading, retaliatory, and dangerous. Key safety/legal concerns: • my vehicle was returned on may 31, 2025, with dangerously low coolant, just days after engine replacement—posing a critical safety risk. • the service manager dismissed my concerns until I insisted, then acted with open disrespect. • repairs were withheld may 19–28 unless I paid $1,833. 77, despite warranty coverage. Only after I came in person on may 28 did they reverse and offer free service. • I was charged $580. 97 for a diagnostic test tied to a manufacturer defect that led to engine replacement—still not refunded. • the pattern of neglect, retaliation, and deception from both the dealer and kia America endangers drivers and violates federal safety standards. This dealer has acted with impunity since may 19, 2025. Their behavior is abusive, unsafe, and incompatible with their licensing. I urge NHTSA to investigate whether greenway kia east should retain its dealership license. Their conduct undermines public safety and federal standards. A full follow-up and attachments were sent to nhtsamedia@dot. Gov from [xxx] . Please contact me for documentation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On [xxx], my kia Telluride received a warranty engine replacement at greenway kia east in orlando, FL. Just two days later, on [xxx], the engine overheated while I was driving with my young child. The temperature warning light came on. I stopped immediately and opened the hood — there was no coolant in the system at all. This failure occurred immediately after a major engine replacement, suggesting that the dealer failed to fill or properly check the coolant system. I was left stranded near a daycare and had to call a third-party tow truck because kia roadside assistance estimated a 90–120 minute wait. This put my child and me in serious danger. Despite the dealer’s clear negligence, I was sent an invoice for $1,833. 77, blaming me for the damage. Upon retrieving the car on may 31, 2025, I personally checked under the hood — the coolant level was still below the min line. When I pointed this out, the service manager said, “we’re not required to top it off, but if that satisfies you, we’ll put some in. ” this is extremely unsafe and irresponsible, especially after a critical repair like an engine replacement. Later, the dealership even claimed to kia America that the engine was not replaced under warranty, contradicting their earlier confirmation. This kind of conflicting information, combined with unsafe practices and disregard for basic safety protocols, raises serious concerns about consumer safety and the dealership’s integrity. To make matters worse, kia America closed my case ([xxx]) on June 10 without notifying me or giving me a chance to respond. I received only one dropped call from an unknown number, and no voicemail or follow-up communication. A formal complaint was mailed to kia America on June 11, 2025, and I am currently waiting for their response. On June 12, 2025, I also filed a complaint with the better business bureau (bbb). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have a 2020 kia Telluride that I bought brand new from kia. I have performed regular maintenance on the vehicle and performed the repairs required by any recalls. When my vehicle surpassed 75k miles, the vehicle started having issues with excessive oil consumption. I had my vehicle serviced at 75k miles with the oil changed. When my vehicle was passed 79k miles, the vehicle started stalling, piston misfiring, and engine started vibrating. I took it into the dealer, and they performed diagnostic tests. The determined pistons were working fine but my oil level was very low. This was around 4k miles after my oil change. Kia requires oil changes every 7500 miles. I had the dealer change the oil. Once again, when my vehicle was approaching 4500 miles, the vehicle started to vibrate, piston was not filing properly. I checked my oil level, and it showed very minimal oil on the dip stick. The oil level was well below that was needed for the engine to properly operate. I put closed to 5 quarts of oil to get the engine to the oil level it needed. I am concerned that the excessive oil consumption can lead to the vehicle stalling on the road resulting in collision with other vehicles resulting in bodily injury or harm. According to kia the oil consumption is fine. How is consuming 5 quarts of oil in 4500 miles fine when the manufacturer states oil changes are required every 7500 miles? the engine itself has a capacity of 6. 9 quarts. At the rate my engine is burning oil, I would need over 7. 2 quarts of oil to drive 7500 miles. Additionally, having an engine continuously operating with low oil would result in engine damage and thousands of dollars in repairs. The problem I am having in my vehicle is experienced by thousands of kia Telluride owners. It's the same problem kia has had in the past with other models. Kia is trying to avoid repairing their defective vehicle and placing the burden on the consumer.

Had in deals hop several times was told it was on record I was there with the issue but no light on, light came on during travel on interstate and car lost all power long block blew . Was extremely lucky I didn’t get ran over by the tractor trailers . Loaded car with kids included . Kia should be reasonable for everything and they are saying no .

Transmition- I started bringing it into the dealer around 80,000 miles because it was slipping and bucking (gears). Allegedly, they could provide warrenty coverage but could duplicate the problem. It is doing it more frequently and hesitates (drastically) which can cause an accident from behind. Yes, it was reproduced but as I stated, I was told, "they couldn't do 'anything about it'". It has been inspected multiple times at kia prior to 100k warrenty at one point, my check engine light kept coming on, then it just went off. There seems to be some major faulty component with this make, model and year. I have read many very similiar complaints, online and there seems to be chronilogical issues/problems that arise at certain miles. Everything I have read, it the exact same situation I have been having which is just geting worse by the day. However, I was blatently informed by kia, "they would not replace the transmition unless it went. " I think that is totally ridiculous, you wait until it goes and can cause an accident before you will fix/replace the part. I also read and heard from multiple mechanics that it could be the "failed torque converter" which was never mentioned from the dealer. I have also had issues with the cv axle and oil plastic housing.

Windshield cracked from minor item being thrown up by car in front of me. Engine burns out no oil on dipstick with regular maintenance engine tick transmission slips axle boot ripped oil pan cracked due to it being faulty.

We have had multiple issues with this car. First the pearl white peeling off on hood and above the windshield. Second cv3 axles boots leaking on our vehicle and multiple others at the kia dealership. Third burnin oil even with good maintenance records. 3rd sunroof won’t open or close now for no reason at all. 4th back seat now attempts to fold at random times. Even with our kids in the seat. 5th oil housing leak. 6th cel comes on and off randomly causing it to run rough. 7th screen is now to have issues of not working right. We’ve had to pay out of pocket for multiple things. Including the paint. We’ve spoken to service department and common issue they don’t see why it’s not a recall by now. Dealership is no help. Beware.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Telluride. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 76,500.

Vehicle went on accessory mode while driving on the freeway. No codes were read at dealership and now they're claiming its a seized engine. They will not help me out and are claiming my extended warranty will not cover the cost due to the lack of maintenance on the vehicle. Mind you, I did my oil changes as expected using the recommended synthetic oil. Why hasn't there been a recall on this vehicle yet for the danger this creates as this is my family vehicle where I drive my newborn to and from his daycare and appointments. We are very lucky we were able to pull the vehicle to safety and to the shoulder of the freeway before an accident occurred.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the dealer was performing an oil consumption test. In addition, the contact was advised by the dealer that further diagnostic testing was needed to diagnose the failure, which could result in the engine being disassembled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the valve cover gasket was replaced. In addition, the oil housing was replaced two times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.

I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a known defect in my 2020 kia Telluride, which is experiencing severe and excessive oil consumption that poses a potential safety risk and financial burden. Vehicle information: •make/model: 2020 kia Telluride since ownership, I have experienced repeated and worsening oil loss between routine oil changes — with no visible leaks or warning lights in most cases. The rate of consumption is approaching or exceeding 1 quart per 1,000 miles, which kia itself defines as “excessive” under technical service bulletin eng222 (rev 5). This condition not only creates a risk of engine failure while driving, but it also puts owners like myself at risk of uncovered repair bills in excess of $12,000. I have already contacted my dealership, kia corporate, and fidelity warranty services, and was told coverage is uncertain — despite this being a well-documented issue affecting a wide range of kia engines. I believe this is a safety defect that warrants further investigation due •sudden engine failure or stalling from low oil levels •lack of adequate early warning indicators •unreasonable financial exposure to consumers for a manufacturer-related defect •a potential pattern of complaints across similar models/engines as a responsible vehicle owner, I respectfully urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further and ensure kia is held accountable for this widespread and dangerous issue. Thank you for your time and consideration.