general problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Telluride - part 1

Kia has 110,000 miles on it. We’ve regularly changed the oil at 3-5k mile intervals. A week ago, I heard loud knocking from the front of the car, along with loss of power. We drove it to our local kia dealer (kia of bedford, OH), where upon inspection, they found cylinder bank 2 to be inoperative due to loss of oil. They found approx 2 quarts of oil in the engine - way below normal. They observed no oil leaks. We inspected our garage and driveway floors, and there is no indication of any oil leaks. The kia dealer said the engine needs to be replaced, at a cost of $12,700. I contacted kia customer care, and they said it’s out of warranty and they won’t help. I replied back with an appeal to escalate to a higher / regional level for help. The oil had been changed at 105,000 miles. No oil leak present. Routine oil changes performed. This engine should never have had this issue at 110,000 miles. I know this is a known issue with this era of kia engines. I’ve asked kia to provide assistance in a repair.

Recently our 2021 kia Telluride, had a fluttering/metal knocking/mechanical sound and I scheduled a shop visit at our trusted local mechanic. After their inspection, they found that the oil was extremely low and there was metal shavings in the oil filter housing. This was found when absolutely no warning lights were activated that would indicate low oil level or any other engine challenges. The vehicle is maintained with regular oil changes. The vehicle only has 65k miles. Looking further into this online, it seems very similar to the theta engine recall from kia. No warning lights/indicator lights, well maintained vehicle with regular oil changes, and to all of a sudden consume almost all the oil and have metal shavings in the oil filter housing is extremely concerning. As of 4/6/2026 the dealer is assessing the vehicle and coming up with a plan and or further actions to be done.

2021 kia Telluride experienced sudden engine failure at approximately 120,000 miles. The failure occurred without any prior warning. There were no oil warning lights, dashboard alerts, or other indicators of low oil or engine malfunction before the engine failed. After inspection, the mechanic found no oil on the dipstick and discovered metal flakes in the engine and oil filter, indicating severe internal engine damage. No external oil leaks were identified that would explain the loss of oil. This suggests a potential internal engine defect or abnormal oil consumption without warning to the driver. The vehicle has been regularly serviced and properly maintained according to recommended maintenance schedules. There was no neglect, missed oil changes, or failure to maintain the vehicle. This sudden and unexpected engine failure creates a serious safety concern. A loss of engine power while driving, especially at highway speeds or in traffic, could significantly increase the risk of a crash and place the driver, passengers, and other motorists at risk.

No oil in engine can cause fire. Meineke in walkertown inspects the vehicle. No lights or warnings. Vehicle just started running funny. Problem confirmed by meineke in walkertown. They claim it is a consumption issue because there are no leaks.

Cooling fans running continuously after the car is turned off, which drains the battery. The dealership has identified that this is due to a faulty fan relay that will need to be completely replaced. The battery has been replaced once and the issue continued indicating that it was not a battery issue. The car ran out of battery in a busy location and caused risk to the passengers that were then exposed to busy traffic. The car has been inspected by repair specialists at the vaden Hyundai service center. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms before the problem began.

The 3. 8l lambda ii gdi v6 engine suffered catastrophic failure at approximately 102,000 miles. The root cause is excessive oil consumption documented by an independent repair shop well before the 100,000-mile powertrain warranty expired. At 81,207 miles, during a routine oil change, the mechanic checked oil level before draining and found nothing on the dipstick. Only about 3 quarts drained from an engine with 6. 9-quart capacity, meaning nearly 4 quarts were consumed since the last change. This finding repeated at 88,408 miles, with the shop documenting it was the second time oil was critically low. Both events occurred within the powertrain warranty. Original invoices are available for inspection. At no point during ownership did the vehicle display any warning — no low oil level indicator, no low oil pressure warning, no check engine light — despite oil levels falling dangerously low on multiple documented occasions. The absence of any driver alert while the engine operated with less than half its required oil is a serious safety deficiency. The engine failed on while driving with passengers including three young children, causing complete loss of power and requiring an emergency pullover. Loss of engine power at speed creates serious crash risk. The vehicle was serviced at an authorized kia dealer at 60,449 miles where a 60k service, multi-point inspection, and recall sc243b were performed. The dealer made no mention of oil consumption, did not reference TSB eng222 (addressing excessive consumption across multiple kia engine families), and did not perform an oil consumption test. Kia consumer affairs refused to submit a goodwill claim and closed the case, citing incomplete oil change documentation — despite the defect being documented within warranty. Excessive oil consumption in 2020-2021 Tellurides appears systemic based on numerous owner reports describing the identical pattern: extreme consumption, no dashboard warnings, and eventual engine failure.

Driving on the highway when all the lights on the dashboard came on and heard a loud sound. Pulled over and noticed flames coming out. The front part of the car 911 was called. An incident report was made. The flames were out quickly. The car was towed and is at the dealership.

The checked engine light came on with code: p219c00. Vehicle was taken to the kia perris dealership for maintenance inspection. This happened after the vehicle had to be taken back to dealership for an oil leak post oil change service. The issue has been reported by multiple owners on reddit. Seems like a manufacturer issue that should be addressed.

On 12/24/25 the vehicle experienced the very same issue, on the highway, with my family in the car, coming from christmas eve festivities. The car decelerated and no cel (check engine light) ever came on. When transporting to dealer, the car began rough idling like it wanted to die, but still no cel. At this time, I am told there is a need for a new engine but no supporting documents or other diagnostic documentation has been shared with me and kia at this time is refusing to resolve the issue under the powertrain warranty and the car is still under 80k miles (powertrain is until 100k) additional info: on Aug 5, 2025, the vehicle, with no warning lights or cel present, the vehicle decelerated on the highway, putting me and my family in imminent danger (large truck behind us who narrowly missed hitting us) and after about 10 min the cel came on. The vehicle would not drive above 45mph. Once the car was stopped, the cel went off and the vehicle was diagnosed as failed high-pressure fuel pump, ocv harness, and solenoid, along with accompanying lines/gaskets/plugs and seals. After the repairs were done, I reported rattling noise to the dealer within 5 days of picking up the vehicle, when I had to bring it in for an axle joint replacement (aprox 8/12/25).

I purchased the 2021 Telluride (former owner of a sportage, rio and sorento). I have our local mechanic handle maintenance and service. After paying $1,400 for a tune up to address misfiring, we quickly concluded the transmission was shot and my engine was burning theough every drop of oil before it was due for a change. I went to kia of des moines, since it is covered under a 200k/20-year warranty. They replaced the transmission under warranty, I shared my mechanic details for records, and they told me they were going to do an oil consumption test. They sent me on my way, asking for me to return after 1,000 miles. I did (and then my car began shaking, but we thought it was due to snow conditions) and they quickly said, "yes, it is an issue!" my Telluride burned through almost 2. 5 quarts of oil in 1,000 miles. I left on 12/15, being told they would have direction from kia corporate on next steps and acknowledged I need a vehicle loaner during repairs (single disabled mother, who has to travel safely). I did not hear back, chasing for updates. Yesterday, steven text me saying I would need to authorize $1,600 engine tear down fee in order to confirm issue. I asked for denny, the manager to contact me. I also called kia care, who said it is up to dealer. I am seeing so many issues with Tellurides burning oil. And, I do not have $1,600 to make my vehicle safe - that amount would make me sacrifice my home or another necessity. Google said to fight it and to submit a form to you also. I have to fight this because I have no other choice than to sell an organ. I will stock up on oil to keep filling it so my engine doesn't blow up, but have incredible fear of being stranded and not being able to get my vehicle towed or us home safely. If there is anything you can assist with, I appreciate it. I just found out my parent's 2023 Telluride is burning too much oil too - they haven't got the $1,600 sticker, but I know that amount will wreck them also.

First there are holes in the block from a rod bearing coming off. It was leaking oil and started on fire. There are many recalls and law suits regarding this matter and we shouldn’t be on the hook for putting a new engine in.

On 11/01/2025, while traveling on the highway traveling at a speed of 80mph, my vehicle suddenly would not accelerate beyond 60 mph. I managed to exit safely, but this created a dangerous situation for both me, my daughter and other motorists . The next day, firestone inspected the vehicle and informed me the engine contained zero oil—yet no oil light, check-engine light, temperature warning, or sensor alerts were triggered at any point. There were no visible oil leaks, suggesting internal oil consumption, which I had reported to kia in October of 2024. On 10/21/2024, I paid $3,300 for a flywheel/ignition repair at a kia dealership. When I dropped off the vehicle for that repair, I specifically reported abnormal oil consumption and requested it be checked. Kia did not diagnose or remedy the concern. The combination -complete oil loss -no warning indicators -sudden loss of power and inability to accelerate -occurring at highway speed constitutes a critical safety defect. Drivers cannot take preventative action if the vehicle provides no indication of catastrophic engine failure until it is already occurring. This defect exposes drivers, passengers, and surrounding motorists to severe risk of collision or injury. Additionally, the dealership later provided a carfax entry simple stating "car maintenance" on 10/22/2024. No record of what was repaired, indicating inaccurate or incomplete documentation. I am requesting that NHTSA: -review this incident as a potential engine safety defect. -investigate whether other 2021 kia Telluride owners are experiencing similar catastrophic oil -loss or lack of warning indicators. -assess whether current recalls adequately address this failure pattern. -determine whether an additional recall or investigation is warranted.

This car keeps burning excessive oil. I am on my 3rd oil consumption test each time it burns 0. 75q in 1000 miles. The dealer states that that is not enough oil. My mile 3000, there is no longer oil on the dip stick, and we start the process all over again. This car has been burning oil that doesn’t even meet a standard oil changer interval since the cars had 70,000 miles on it. It now has 94k. After reading multiple online forums, it seems like anyone who has a 2020-2021 kia Telluride has this problem, and kia refuses to acknowledge the his problem.

I am a 2nd owner of a kia Telluride and the engine failed without warning at less than 90,000 miles. No check engine light, no temp gauge, no low oil level light. No warning at all. Just failure of the "push rod bearing" NY kia was regularly maintained and when I took it to the dealership, they told me it was down about 3. 5qts of oil! again no low oil light? it holds 7qts. . . 9,000$ later out of my pocket after being denied a goodwill engine replacement from kia to put a new motor in. I have found many others on on-line forums who have experienced this. Please help.

Inspected by kia for 2nd time due to vehicle suddenly shaking, overheating and turning off. First time fluids were low and replaced, kia stated should be fine but then while driving on the highway this past week same dangerous problem happened again suddenly where my vehicle started abruptly shaking making it hard to control, alerted overheating and immediately shut off. This time kia diagnosed this issue is being caused by multiple hoses and seals failing due to degradation and leaking in multiple locations. Kia’s diagnostic repair inspection states heater core hoses(all), valve cover gaskets,radiator hoses upper & lower, and other seals or connecting components are all leaking and need replaced. Have read online and communicated with other owners of the Telluride in which many state same complaints of similar or same problem, therefore this seems to be a very common issue, a safety hazard and concern, not to mention a costly repair that seems to be a quality or manufacturing issue that may need to be evaluated further.

We own a 2021 kia Telluride which we bought new, have changed the oil as expected and had the 100,000 mile check completed. It now has about 116,000 miles and has been a great and safe car, until now. On a random trip home, traveling on a busy highway, we had to pull over because we suddenly lost power. Our children were in the car and this was very dangerous on a very busy highway. We had it towed to our local garage and was told it was down 3-4 quarts of oil which wrecked the engine and we would need a new one! there were no warning lights for the engine or the oil at all. We are currently having the engine replaced at our very hefty expense as we have no other choice. I see this is quickly becoming an issue with the 21 Telluride and I hope that kia will do something about it!.

Vehicle (2021 kia Telluride) at ~94k miles received cel p000a for (camshaft position - slow response (bank 1)). Personally checked the oil before taking the vehicle to the dealership and there was very little oil, below the "l" line. Vehicle is burning oil fast, which more likley than not cause the p000a cel. Vehicle would go im amd out of not being able to accelerate. Dealership wants me to pay diagnostic fees for them doing absolutely nothing other and resetting the code and conducting an oil change. Vehicle is a cpo which has a 10y / 100k mile warranty which seems like the dealership is trying to prolong until vehicle is out of warranty to diagnose it correctly. Engine is burning oil and needs to be replaced but the dealersbip wants to play games with customers.

Rear shock failure for the second time. This time in under 9 months. Front crash detection constantly goes off in cold snowy weather or rain. Engine issue is frequent popping sound in exhaust and causing dirty oxygen sensors.

1. The engine consumed oil to where it soaked up all the oil in the engine likely as part of a piston ring failure. We have had it at the shop for the last 9 weeks, and cost to replace engine is $10,500 and because extended warranty explicitly wrote this out of the contract as this is a known issue and kia has stated as such, but not a recall yet so nothing they will do to help. It is available for inspection, but we need the car back so likely not going to drag on much longer. 2. Yes, as no warning lights on the car came on, nothing out of the ordinary other than it just started acting weird and I took it in to get looked at, and was told there was no oil in the engine at all and this is known issue and engine is blown and we have to pay out of pocket to fix. This is extrememly alarming as we have 3 small kids that ride in that car daily and could have caught fire or broke down on the road at any point. 3. We have been told repeatedly by kia and the extended warranty provider, jm&a, this is a known issue and many cases have been reported this year alone. 4. No, just the kia dealership where we bought it. 5. There were no warning signs at all. No low oil light or notification came on at all leading us to believe there was a major problem.

Bought the vehicle in February. The vehicle is burning oil too fast. In 1 week 5 qts. I don't drive much as I work from home. Kia dealer wants thousands of dollars. I paid for extended warranty.

The contact owns a 2021 kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine located on the rear driver's side had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the fire department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was not provided. The cause of the failure was not yet been determined. A police report was not filed. There were no occupants at the time of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

The contact owns a 2021 kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had previously illuminated; however, the warning light then turned off independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

I am reporting a serious and ongoing electrical and transmission issue with my 2021 kia Telluride (VIN: [xxx] ). The problem began under 20,000 miles and has continued intermittently for years, progressively worsening. My vehicle is currently at ~99,600 miles and under extended warranty. The key safety concerns include: transmission lockout: the vehicle intermittently becomes stuck in park and will not shift, even with the brake depressed. No-start condition: the vehicle will randomly become completely unresponsive—no dash lights, no infotainment, and no engine start. Electrical system failure while driving: multiple safety systems fail mid-drive, including: loss of power steering and air conditioning random activation of esc, tpms, collision assist, blind spot, and parking brake warnings infotainment screen turns off while in motion component failures due to electrical shorts: both the radio and the backup camera were diagnosed with shorts and had to be replaced under warranty. Brake lockout post-shutdown: the brake pedal becomes very firm and the vehicle will not restart until hours later. Most concerning, my wife and children have been left stranded in the disabled vehicle on multiple occasions due to these issues. The car has been in the shop several times — around 50,000 and 80,000 miles — but no permanent resolution has been found. This is a clear and escalating safety hazard. The failures affect critical systems while driving and leave the vehicle unpredictably disabled. Kia has been made aware and an escalation is underway, but I am filing this report to ensure the NHTSA is aware of the pattern and potential danger these failures pose to others. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I recently brought this 2021 kia Telluride used from a local dealership with 103,000 miles and everything was great , until yesterday I notice that when coming to a stop the car would sputter I thought maybe it was just a one off because I recently got recall work done at a kia dealership and they checked over the vehicle and everything was fine. So this morning im driving to work and it happens again so I check the oil and its completely empty I've went less than 3k miles on this oil change something needs to be done no warning to lights.

The last two times I have been due for an oil change my car has been completely empty. It is 4 years old and burning 4/5 quarts of oil between oil changes. Yesterday for example, my oil notification came on, today I start my car and my engine light came on, check the oil and nothing. Put 2 quarts of oil in it so I can make it to the mechanic tomorrow. This should not be happening on a 4 year old vehicle.

Excessive oil usage to the point of no oil on dip stick yet engine doesnt alert to low oil or pressure. Engine started sputtering and stalling which is why we even checked. Oil changes are done on normal basis. This seems to be a common complaint on the internet now that I am looking into this. This car is 4 years old and should not be having engine trouble.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? while driving the vehicle, it intermittently hesitated during acceleration until there was a very loud popping and banging noise, it was sudden and very loud. We experienced a complete and sudden loss of power. The car then proceeded to send off nearly every alert on the dash, and threw a code which was p061b. The engine blew out, the oil pan was fractured by ejected connecting rod (visible from underside). How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? when the engine blew out in the fast lane, our physical safety was at risk due to the immediate loss of control and power, the inability to merge, and stopping next to the center divider in a high-traffic area. In the car were my wife and 3 kids. Psychologically, the fear and panic of our family being stuck, the stress of making quick decisions, and the vulnerability of being exposed to fast-moving vehicles added significant pressure. In that moment, our family was left utterly helpless, fearing for our lives in the face of an overwhelming, life-threatening crisis. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? the car is currently at a kia service center in santa rosa, CA. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? unknown, the vehicle is at the service center in santa rosa, CA. The vehicle was also inspected by a local mobile mechanic. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? there were no alerts, warning lamps, or messages, the car did experience some hesitation during acceleration but it was intermittent.

March 7th my engine light came on while pulling out, in reverse, of a parking spot. My engine light also turned off on March 7th later in the day. Between then and now, it came on and went off a few times, but my car seemed fine. On April 1, the light reappeared again while backing out of a parking spot. My car was not working like normal. It was shaking a bit and seemed kinda stuck, but also very slowly moving in reverse. Shaking stoped once I put it in drive but the engine light stayed on. I took it to my mechanic and the code given was “internal engine failure”. He told me should be under warranty, so I called the dealership. Service guy told me no active recalls and also that I was outside of the warranty. I have 118,800 miles. Vehicle is less than 4 years old. I am waiting to hear back from my mechanic as to how much repairs should be. I don’t know if he is thinking I need a whole new engine or just a part.

On or about December 2024, we noticed a hesitation or sputtering in the performance of our kia. I contacted ancira kia who reviewed the vehicle, which displayed no warning lights. Since they couldn’t duplicate the issue, nothing could be done. On or about [xxx], the vehicle’s cooling fan engaged on its own while parked in the garage and revved up extremely high. This was the second time this had happened. Ancira kia couldn’t duplicate the problem although they mentioned another customer was experiencing the same problem. A few days later, I was advised to bring the vehicle in for a sensor replacement. So far, the problem hasn’t recurred but I won’t know if it’s fixed until it never happens again. On [xxx], while traveling from del rio to san antonio, TX, we stopped at a rest area. There were no warning lights visible and no performance issues noted until this time. When we started the vehicle to leave, we noticed a slight knocking that went away when we put the vehicle in drive. After our next stop, we noticed the knocking noise again when we started the vehicle and the noise dissipate when we drove. After the next stop the noise appeared to be louder so we decided to stop for lunch and let the vehicle cool down so we could check the oil. When we checked the oil, we saw there was no oil marking the dip stick. I took the vehicle to ancira kia who also found no oil marking the dip stick. The engine was ruined and needed to be replaced. None of the Telluride’s warning systems illuminated. No check engine or oil pressure lights lit up. This is a catastrophic failure of the Telluride which placed my husband and I in severe danger. We could have been injured and possibly killed had the engine seized while we traveled on the highway between del rio and san antonio, texas (150 miles). My vehicle is meticulously maintained at ancira kia. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving under normal conditions the engine started making a weird sound. Shortly after the power steering wend out and the dash, lights and infotainment system went dark. The engine shut off completely and will not go back on. This is after bringing the car in for continuous issues and always being told they are resolved and the car is fine.

Component/system failure: the engine and lubrication system appear to be malfunctioning. The vehicle has repeatedly experienced sudden engine shutdown while stopped at traffic lights and during low-speed operation. The dealership has identified oil leakage involving the oil pan and oil filter housing and has indicated there may be an internal oil leak within the engine. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: when the engine shuts off unexpectedly, the vehicle loses propulsion in active traffic. This creates a risk of rear-end collision and prevents immediate maneuvering out of traffic flow. The loss of engine power while stopped or moving at low speeds presents a serious safety hazard to myself and surrounding drivers. I am concerned that the suspected internal oil issue may lead to catastrophic engine failure while driving. Dealer confirmation / reproduction: the issue has been reported to the dealership multiple times beginning in January 2025. The vehicle has undergone multiple inspections and repair attempts, including partial fuel injector replacement, battery replacement, and an oil consumption test. The dealership has acknowledged oil leakage and has stated that replacing the oil pan gasket and oil filter housing may not resolve the suspected internal oil leak. The defect has not been permanently corrected. Inspection by manufacturer or others: the vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the dealership. The matter has been escalated to kia corporate for review. No police or insurance inspections have occurred, as no collision has yet resulted from the stalling events. Warning lamps / symptoms: during each stall event, the check engine light illuminates along with multiple dashboard warning lights. The stalling first began in January 2025. Oil-related concerns and possible oil loss were reported during prior service visits. The condition continues despite repair attempts.

My engine started jerking when stopped. Then the electrical started acting up, like the windows wouldn't roll back up. Then the engine just shut off while I was driving.

Engine oil pan gasket and oil filter housing have failed shy of couple hundred miles of manufacturer warranty.

I am the original owner of our 2021 kia Telluride and we follow the manufacturers recommendations and ensure our oil is changed every ~10k miles. Our kia was recently serviced at nationwide kia in timonium maryland in April 2024 and had the oil changed. As I was driving today, [xxx] the oil pressure warning light came on. When I pulled over, I checked the dipstick and it was below the low level. I immediately put in 5 quarts of oil and the light remains on. I contacted kia and will be taking the car in for them to assess; however, I am urging that a recall for this issue is addressed. This is a common problem that others are having as well. This could have caused significant issues as I work in the inner city of baltimore and breaking down would not be a good thing for a [xxx] please ensure kia does the right thing and issues a recall for this issue. Thank you information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Car was being driven when it began to slow down. Pulled over and smoke was coming from under the car. Car would not start again. Once at dealership, found there was catastrophic engine failure due to a rod that put 7 holes in the engine. Also, car was low on oil despite an oil change less than 60 days prior to this incident.