Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Kia Motor Telluride - part 2

My engine failed from burning oil, even though the car has been maintained its whole life, 14 documented oil changes, roughly every 5,000 miles. • jiffy-lube shop found the crankcase completely bone dry, only 4,344 miles after the last oil change. No reading on the dipstick. They added 6 quarts. Engine was knocking before and after. • no oil warning light ever came on, and no low-oil warning, just a check engine light and the knocking. • towed same day to an independent shop. They found code p0524 (engine oil pressure too low) and say the internal noise is probably a rod bearing. Engine needs to be replaced. • the car goes into limp mode while driving. On the highway it dropped from 60 mph to 20 mph in live traffic with no warning. I couldn't safely get to an exit. • that's about 1. 4 quarts per 1,000 miles, kia's own bulletin eng222 calls 1 quart per 1,000 excessive. • the car is not drivable, hasn't been repaired. This happened around 3 months after purchasing it second hand. Lots of other 2020 Telluride owners are reporting the same oil consumption problem.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

Aug 1 2026 while going to the store, we were waiting at the traffic light to make a left turn, as we were making the left turn and entering the store parking lot an audible alarm sounded which surprised us and then a message appeared that stated "engine off! shift to p or n, then start engine". Fortunately, there were no cars behind us and I was able to shift into park and restart my car. With engine off, we had no power steering or power brakes, again a surprise. Had there been traffic, the surprise loss of these features makes driving difficult. The mere fact that the engine turned off alone in the middle of a parking lot driveway poses risk for traffic accidents . . . I had to take my eyes off the road to see what the alarm was. Not to mention had there been traffic and having to stop in a somewhat sudden manner could pose risk for accidents from other drivers.

See all problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

Apparently, they don't have a mesh screen protecting the radiator. They said a rock hit it but while driving I did not hear a rock hit it. They said the rock punctured the radiator causing it to leak radiator fluid and making vehicle undrivable. The vehicle left me stranded in the road. They took pictures of it but at a birthday party this weekend I have learned of several people having this same issue and the dealership claiming not their responsibility and we have to file insurance. Seems to me they need to put a mesh guard on the radiator to protect this from happening. Yes the engine light came one.

Twice I was making a right hand turn through a green light and an alarm sounded and the dash displayed an ”engine off” message. I was able to pull over and restart the car. I took it to the dealership but they were not able to replicate the incident. They told me that they tightened a few connections and sent me on my way. About three weeks later, I was driving straight at about 45mph and it shut off again. Fortunately I was again able to safely pull over and restart the car. This time I recorded it. I will return it to the dealership ASAP. I am afraid this will happen again while I am on the freeway or in heavy traffic and I won’t be as lucky as I have been.

I am the original owner of a 2022 kia Telluride. Since approximately late September/early October 2025, the vehicle has experienced an intermittent engine stalling condition while stopped and idling. I first reported the issue to my kia dealership on October 8, 2025, when the vehicle had approximately 59,761 miles. At that time, I advised the dealership the engine had already stalled twice within two weeks. I also sent a photo of the warning lights and suggested they allow the vehicle to idle to recreate the condition. The dealership stated they could not duplicate the problem and returned the vehicle without repairs. The same issue continued over the following months. The check engine light appeared multiple times, including in February and April 2026. My kia access app repeatedly reported diagnostic code p21a100 (cylinder 6 air/fuel ratio imbalance). The dealership advised they could not repair the vehicle because they could not duplicate the concern. During one visit they repaired two engine oil leaks but stated those were unrelated. On July 8, 2026, the defect escalated. While driving through downtown cincinnati, the engine stalled at three separate traffic lights. When the engine shut off, the battery, oil, check engine, and seatbelt warning lights illuminated. I had to shift into park, turn the vehicle completely off, and restart it before it would drive again. This created a significant safety hazard in active traffic. The dealership’s current diagnosis is contaminated fuel, but I am reporting this because the same intermittent stalling condition has been documented with the dealership since October 2025 and has never been resolved. An engine that unexpectedly shuts off in traffic presents a serious safety risk to the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

About 3 months after I bought a brand new 2025 Telluride the vehicle started to randomly accelerate rapidly without increasing the gas while driving and stall when idling at lights, stop signs, or slowing down and would not turn back on for several minutes. When it does start back it misfires causing a rumbling before the check engine light comes on. It would show code p006800 and p017100 saying “critical engine error”. Despite bringing it into the dealership multiple times we were told they couldn’t replicate the problem and sent home with no solutions just to wait for it to happen again. This became a extremely dangerous situation when recently at a red light on a busy highway in the rain my Telluride stalled leaving me and my young children trapped inside unable to restart the car while other vehicles flew past narrowly missing us. I’m extremely concerned for the safely of my children if we continue to drive this car. We went back to the dealership just to be told that kia may not honor our warranty despite this being a documented problem with the 2025 kia Telluride.

This 2020 Telluride, like others, burns excessively through oil. I had to add 2. 5 quarts recently and I had not hit 3,000 miles since my last oil change. I have to check the oil level constantly because of how fast it burns through it. It does not meet the manufacturers guidelines nor does it give any warnings that the oil level low at all. Even being that low.

System/component malfunction & availability: the vehicle's electronic safety and engine control systems malfunctioned while driving at speed. This issue has occurred twice under identical thermal conditions, with the first instance occurring on 5/19/26. The vehicle is fully intact and available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: during the first incident, a false dashboard warning triggered, but the physical engine remained running. However, during the most recent incident on 7/2/26, the defect escalated and the engine physically stalled while driving on the road in high 90-degree ambient temperatures. The stall caused an immediate loss of power and a complete loss of power steering assist, making the vehicle incredibly difficult to control and creating an imminent risk of a crash for my family and surrounding drivers. Dealer confirmation & inspection: following the first incident, the vehicle was brought to a certified kia dealership and left in their custody for 10 days for diagnostic troubleshooting. The service center stated they could not pull a hard diagnostic trouble code (dtc) and could not replicate the failure on a standard test drive. No other entities (police, insurance) have inspected the vehicle yet. Corporate kia was notified (case #26160914) but refused to authorize a specialized repair plan because the dealer could not replicate the issue. Warning symptoms & messages: there were no mechanical or performance warning symptoms prior to either failure. Both times, the issue began instantly with an audible cabin alarm and a prominent dashboard display message stating: "engine off! shift to p or n, then start engine. " during the first incident, the physical engine remained running despite the message, allowing us to safely pull over and reset the vehicle by cycling the ignition. During the second incident, under the same extreme outside heat (high 90s), the engine completely cut out mechanically, creating a severe stalling hazard.

The contact owns a 2020 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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact needed to add a quart of oil per week. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the piston in the engine was damaged from oil consumption, ultimately causing the engine failure. The engine was replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and denied covering the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was not contacted about the recall. The failure mileage was 60,000.

My 2025 kia Telluride has experienced seven engine overheating events across three separate incidents, all under identical conditions: air conditioning on while climbing in altitude on colorado mountain highways. Incident 1 (xxx: driving from [xxx] to [xxx]. Engine temperature gauge reached h and the "engine overheated" warning displayed. Pulled over and allowed engine to cool. Vehicle taken to kia dealership; diagnostics found no fault. Incident 2 (xxx): driving to [xxx]. Vehicle overheated twice on the same trip. Dealership kept vehicle for multiple days; reported no issues found. Incident 3 (xxx): driving to [xxx]. Vehicle overheated four times during the trip, including in an area with no cellular reception. Occupants included an infant and a [xxx]. Had the engine failed completely, we would have been stranded with no ability to call for emergency assistance. The failure is consistent and reproducible in real-world conditions (sustained grade + ac load) but has not been reproduced by dealership diagnostics performed at the shop. No fault codes were reportedly stored. The pattern is consistent with a cooling system deficiency under high load (cooling fan circuit, condenser airflow, or thermostat), and similar complaints from other Telluride owners describe the same scenario with dealers unable to replicate. Safety concern: repeated loss of propulsion capability on steep mountain grades, risk of engine failure and stranding in remote areas without cell coverage, with young children aboard. Two dealer service visits have not resolved the defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

**1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** the engine failed catastrophically and caught fire while I was driving. The vehicle was towed to the kia dealership, where it remains available for inspection upon request. **2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** the engine suddenly caught fire while I was driving, creating an immediate risk of a serious crash, injury, or death to me, my passengers, and other motorists. I had to pull over immediately, and the fire department responded to extinguish the fire and ensure everyone's safety. **3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** yes. The kia dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the engine has failed and requires replacement. However, they attributed the failure to "engine wear and tear" despite the vehicle having only approximately 111,000 miles and having been regularly maintained according to kia's recommended maintenance schedule. Two months before the failure, the same dealership repaired an engine oil leak, and they have been unable to explain why the engine failed and caught fire. **4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others?** the vehicle has been inspected by the kia dealership. The local fire department responded to the vehicle fire at the scene. At this time, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer or any other parties. **5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** approximately two months before the engine failure, the engine warning light illuminated due to an oil leak. I immediately took the vehicle to the kia dealership, where they repaired the oil leak at a cost of approximately $3,000. After the repair, there were no warning lights, messages, unusual noises, or other symptoms before.

Oil burns too fast causing oil changes to be required by every 3000 miles.

After reading multiple forums, I've learned there's a known issue with the 2020 Tellurides burning excessive oil. We had noticed this before, but this time was worse. My wife drove the car to pick up my nephew from the airport without any problems, such as warning lights or engine noise. However, our kids later took the car to go to the store, and on the way, all of the warning lights lit up on the display, and the car shut off on the highway. When I checked the car, I found the oil level was completely gone from the dipstick, so I added about 2. 5 quarts of oil. I reported this to the kia dealership and customer service. The vehicle had just slightly exceeded the 100,000-mile warranty (109,805 miles). The service interval was set for 3400 miles, with 725 miles and 90 days remaining. The engine was dry because of the excessive oil consumption known to kia. The diagnostic from the dealership indicated an oil pump failure, but they did not have information about the oil addition since it wasn't relayed to them by the phone staff. There were no warning lights or engine noise indicating a low oil level before the incident. Apparently, kia repeatedly dismisses this known issue and blames the owners. The interval of 3400 miles with 725 miles remaining far exceeds the manufacturer's recommended 6000-7000 miles for regular oil changes.

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).

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

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.

Engine rapidly burning oil. Had oil changed as manufacturer's recommendation, but after exceeding the 100,000 mile warranty and having been 7,000 miles since the last oil change the engine threw a rod and the car stopped while I was driving it. Was told by the kia dealer (fitzgerald kia in annapolis) that I needed a $10,000 engine replaced. I am currently working with a lawyer to address this concern.

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 June 5, 2025 and again on August 4, 2025, 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 August 28, 2025 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).

Vehicle experienced catastrophic engine failure while traveling approximately 70 mph on a highway. I heard a loud popping noise and immediately lost power. The vehicle would no longer accelerate normally and I was forced to pull over. White smoke was visible from the engine compartment, and a large amount of engine oil leaked from the vehicle. This failure created a safety risk because it occurred at highway speed, resulting in sudden loss of power while traveling with surrounding traffic. The vehicle required towing and could not be driven from the scene. Prior to the failure, the vehicle had exhibited symptoms beginning around may 11, 2026. A check engine light illuminated and an independent mechanic diagnosed a cylinder 3 misfire and replaced the ignition coil. Following that repair, the check engine light returned. Additional symptoms included stalling at idle, knocking noises from the engine, and intermittent oil pressure warning lights. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by an independent mechanic who diagnosed a thrown connecting rod with damage to the engine block, including a hole in the engine near the transmission area. The mechanic advised that the engine requires replacement. The damaged engine is currently available for inspection. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. No injuries or crash occurred, but the sudden engine failure and loss of power at highway speed created a significant safety concern.

I had my vehicle checked for oil consumption for it failed the test. After kia approved an engine swap an engine light came up with faulty O2 sensor. Not just one but both O2 sensors. Replaced both sensors but the problem persist. Kia changed the engine harness with the assumption that the technician damaged the harness while installing the engine. My vehicle has been at the dealership for four months and I honestly don’t know what to do.

In the past 2 days, my vehicle engine has shut off 11 times while driving. This is happening while I am moving so it is a huge safety issue for myself and other drivers. Over the course of 3 months, the vehicle has done this over 20 times. It happens when coasting, slowing down at a stop light and people in the other lane start moving, going through roundabouts, turning when there is oncoming traffic, and moving through congestion. The engine kills, lights flash and beeping starts. It says to put the engine in p or n and restart the engine. I have no power so I try to do this quickly or have the ability to pull over but most times that is not the case. This is a severe safety issue. The dealership says they cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle.

I am the owner of a 2025 kia Telluride. The engine shuts completely off with a warming stating "engine off! shift to p or n, then restart engine". Car has no power and creates a dangerous situation in traffic. You are on a highway and you have to stop the car to restart. The traffic flow is dangerously interrupted. This issue happens randomly on it's own time and the reason is still unknown. The dealership usually cannot duplicate this warning and several 2025 Tellurides are experiencing this dangerous condition.

My 2020 kia Telluride experienced progressive and severe engine oil consumption that ultimately required a full engine replacement. Beginning well before the failure, the vehicle required frequent manual oil top-offs between scheduled changes, including on longer trips. No low-oil warning light, check-engine light, or oil-pressure warning ever illuminated to alert of critically low oil levels. In late March 2026 an independent service center replaced the engine oil filter housing and related gasket after an oil leak was observed; an axle damaged by oil spray was also replaced at that time. Shortly afterward the manufacturer issued a warranty extension covering oil-filter-housing gasket leaks on 2020–2025 Tellurides, extending coverage to 15 years/180,000 miles for that specific condition. Despite the housing/gasket repair, the excessive oil consumption continued. Several weeks later the vehicle lost power and broke down while being driven. It was towed to an authorized kia dealership. Technicians inspected the vehicle, confirmed heavy oil consumption (noting the engine had been requiring large amounts of oil nearly weekly with no external ground leaks observed), and diagnosed catastrophic internal engine damage. They recommended complete engine replacement at a quoted cost exceeding $13,000. The dealership also inspected the oil-filter housing area under the recent warranty extension but determined the engine damage itself fell outside that limited coverage. The oil-consumption problem and resulting engine failure create a clear safety risk: sudden loss of power or stalling can occur without any dashboard warning, potentially while the vehicle is in motion on public roads. The failed engine and related components remain available for inspection. The condition has been confirmed by both an independent service center and an authorized kia dealership. Similar oil-consumption and engine-damage reports have been widely noted among other owners of the same model.

I always turn off the engine auto stop while driving and am sure this feature was turned off at the time of the incident. I was stopped at a drive thru idling in drive when my rpm sounded like it lowered and the the vehicle started shaking. Since it sounded like it was going to stall, I instinctively put the vehicle in park and that naturally bumped up the rpm avoiding a stall. I tried to replicate it and could not in the 15 minutes I sat in idle afterwards. I would like to note that we did the software emissions recall update at the dealership recently and ever since then the vehicle is consistently idling 100-200 rpm lower than it used to, usually around 500 rpm in drive and 700 rpm in park. I'm grateful this has only happened at a drive thru so far but I'm afraid to stall in traffic as we drive in busy and dangerous areas and it could be deadly to stall in traffic. Since so far I cannot get this to replicate we have not set an appointment at the dealership as all the other complaints on this matter show the dealership is unable to replicate the problem. Please require kia to fix this as it is incredibly scary to fear stalling in dangerous location due to traffic speeds and/or getting stuck in a crime riddled area. Thank you for your help.

On four different occasions the car starts flashing red saying to immediately put in park. We lose all control of the car, have to slowly coast to the side of the highway and turn the car off. When we turn it back on, drive again, it will happen shortly after. It has happened two different days about a month apart, two times each day. Our car has been at the dealership for two months and since they can’t duplicate it kia consumer affairs says we have to go get the car and deal with it.

The contact owns a 2024 kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated and the message “engine failure – shift to park or neutral” was displayed. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure was a recurring failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

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!!!!.

About every 7-9 days I will get a day or two where the engine shuts off while driving. Most recently it happened on 5/26, once at lunch time, once about 5pm, and again while driving about 8pm. All of these instances where at lower speeds, 2 while braking, another after taking a turn at a lower speed. Each time, the dash lights up, an alert sound plays and it says engine off, shift into nuetral or park to start engine. I have had some days where it has happened multiple times in a couple of miles of driving, and then it goes hours without it happening. I recently had the vehicle into the shop and they mentioned there was an ecu software update that they did, prior to that I had only had the vehicle for 14 days and hadn't had an issue.

While driving, alarm bells go off and the display reads “engine is off. Pull over and put in p/n”. Car maintains radio but engine is off until able to be restarted. Has happened twice and been brought to dealership twice. They say there is no code showing and send us home without repairs. Extreme safety concerns for car to turn off mid driving.

Component/system failed: engine — excessive oil consumption and oil leaks leading to complete engine failure requiring full engine replacement. Vehicle is currently at my home and available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: my vehicle became completely inoperable while in use as my primary family transportation. As a parent of three children this has left my family without safe reliable transportation. An inoperable vehicle also creates safety risks related to emergency situations where transportation is critical. Confirmed by dealer: yes. An authorized kia dealership confirmed the engine defect and approved a full engine replacement. The repair has not yet been performed. Inspections: vehicle has been inspected exclusively at an authorized kia dealership where all service and maintenance has been performed. Warning symptoms: this is the third time this vehicle has become inoperable due to what was previously identified as an oil issue but is now confirmed to be an engine defect. Prior to complete failure the vehicle exhibited ongoing oil leaks and excessive oil consumption over an extended period. Aaa roadside assistance was contacted and identified possible starter and battery failure believed to be connected to the engine condition. Additional note: I have identified NHTSA complaints from other 2020 kia Telluride owners reporting identical engine oil consumption and failure issues suggesting a pattern defect.

Following a recent $9,000 engine replacement performed by an authorized kia dealership, my vehicle suffered a catastrophic, simultaneous mechanical and electronic systems failure while in operation. Without warning, the vehicle triggered the knock sensor detection system (ksds) and entered "limp home mode," severely restricting vehicle power. Immediately following this, the vehicle experienced a total loss of essential safety and driving controls: steering failure: the power steering completely locked up, creating an imminent crash hazard. Dashboard & gauge failure: all dashboard warning lights illuminated simultaneously, and the speedometer completely stopped functioning, leaving me unable to monitor vehicle speed. Powertrain & shifting malfunction: when brought to a stop and placed into "park," the vehicle's electronic systems failed to recognize the gear change, indicating on the dashboard that the vehicle was still in "drive. " this created a severe vehicle roll-away risk. Ignition failure: the vehicle completely refused to shut off or power down when the ignition button was pressed. This event represents an extreme safety hazard involving sudden loss of vehicle control, steering immobilization, roll-away risk, and primary electronic communication failure immediately following a major manufacturer warranty/recall repair. The vehicle is currently un-driveable.

See attached document for complaint.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

This vehicle (VIN: [xxx] ) has suffered repeated catastrophic engine shutdowns and complete loss of propulsion power while in motion. The dashboard displayed "engine off! shift to p or n, then start engine. " this has occurred so many times the owner lost count, requiring multiple tows to kia of beavercreek. Following one incident, service manager brad personally assured the owner's wife, looking her directly in the eye, that the repair was successful and the vehicle was safe. Within 48 hours of pickup, the identical shutdown recurred. The vehicle was towed back a second time. The dealership now states they cannot duplicate the condition, leaving this life-threatening defect unresolved. Delivery has been officially refused due to imminent risk of collision or serious injury. Kia America case open: no. [xxx]. Ohio attorney general case open: no. [xxx]. This vehicle is an active, unaddressed public safety hazard requiring immediate federal investigation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On 5/19, while driving over 60 mph on the highway, I started applying the brakes as traffic started to back up. While braking, the entire car turned off, and experience an unexpected engine stall. The electrical almost immediately turned back on with all dash lights flashing and safety warnings beeping. My car was still moving but I was unable to accelerate and was getting the message “engine off! shit to p or n, then start engine. ” this has happened to my vehicle twice in the last month, and I brought it into the kia dealership where I purchased it and they were unable to recreate the issue.

I was driving my brand new 2025 kia Telluride that was purchased from the dealership 3 weeks before the incident. The engine died while driving approximately 40 mph on a flat road. The engine died and then there was a loud beeping and a flashing alert on the dashboard in the circle where the righthand indicator camera view appears that said, “engine off-shift to p or n then start engine. ” this occurred at about 7:30 pm on may 19, 2026 with about 40% full tank of gas. The automatic engine auto-stop feature was on at the time. The car had been running for about 3 minutes before the engine died. The power steering was also affected. Once I pulled over and put the car in park the engine started again as normal and there were no alerts on the dash or when I checked the kia app. I dropped the car at the dealership the following morning, they have had it for 6 days so far and let me know that their diagnostics and test drives did not reveal any issues or defects with the vehicle.

This has happened multiple times. When driving the engine shuts off and an error message appears to shift into neutral or park and restart the engine. Brought the car to liberty kia in ramsey NJ and they said found no errors in the computer and test drove and could not recreate. My odometer did not change from drop off to pick up so I can tell it was not test driven.