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

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.

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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!!!!.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

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.

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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.

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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.

I was driving down the interstate when all of a sudden, I hear a bang, and my power went crazy, couldn't push the gas at all, my car was suddenly shut off. We coasted to the side of the interstate and got out to see a pile of oil underneath my car. Called a tow truck to help us and he found a massive hole in the engine block / oil pan - catastrophic engine failure. I have 117k miles on my car but I have kept up with maintenance on this vehicle. There should be no reason for this to happen. This put my family in immediate danger.

While driving the car the engine lost all rpm, as in it went to zero rpms. The electrical system did not lose power. The console flashed a red warning light and had a message that I should shift to park or neutral, and restart the engine. You must apply the brake to restart the engine. When you shift to park/neutral and restart the engine, everything works fine. There was absolutely no warning that this was going to happen. No noises, no console warning lights, nothing. I believe it is a matter of time before this causes an accident. The engine just quits without warning. It has happened mostly at lower speeds while decelerating or braking, but has occurred once on a highway. Should this issue happen in high traffic, or high speed, it could absolutely cause an accident. The car has been at a dealership since 21may over this issue. They have driven it, but have not found anything wrong. They found no stored error codes. We have had a loaner vehicle since then. I'm fearful they will force us to take the car back.

While driving on the [xxx] in [xxx] on xxx a connecting rod punctured the engine block of no fault of my own kia has stated it was a manufacturing defect. This caused a vehicle fire under the vehicle and I had to get my family out of the vehicle 4 children and wife from the vehicle children ages ranging from age [xxx]. This completely has destroyed my confidence in the safety of this vehicle. I do not want to put my children back in this vehicle due to the traumatic experience of the fire. The car only had 60k miles on it and I just bought it as a second owner from staten island kia back in October 31st of 2025 with just a little over 55k miles on the car. The staten island kia dealership has replaced the engine but confirmed that they have not done any other safety checks of hoses or wiring or anything else that may have been damaged by the fire. Kia corporate has given us a loaner vehicle until they review our case. Case number is xxx. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Ev shut down.

I was driving the vehicle and came to a stop sign. When I accelerated to turn and drive what was a steep windy downhill road my car jerked some and the check engine light battery light and oil light came on the dash when I went to push the brakes they went all the way to the floor and the car did not stop. I continued to try the brakes and had to use the emergency break to pull up and down to stop and drive up on a hill to not crash into other vehicles I have my vehicle at kia and they are claiming there is absolutely nothing wrong with the vehicle and I am to pick it up and leave the lot. They have not offered a loaner car or shown any concerns of my safety leaving the lot. I have asked for it to be in writing, but my car is safe to leave and they are not doing so this has caused major anxiety and ptsd to even begin to drive myself and my children are very shook up over this.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

While operating my kia vehicle, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of braking capability and loss of acceleration/power while traveling downhill. Multiple warning lights reportedly illuminated during the event, including the battery light, oil light, and check engine light. The incident created a serious safety concern due to inability to properly control vehicle speed and operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized kia dealership for inspection. However, the dealership has refused to provide written confirmation that the vehicle is safe to drive and stated they would not assume liability regarding operation of the vehicle. The dealership further recommended towing the vehicle if I feel unsafe operating it. I am requesting investigation into the safety-related condition involving braking/drivability failure and related warning systems.

On 5 different occasions over the last month, I have had the car go into an engine shut off and said put it into p or n and restart while I am driving on the road!! 05/10-was going to a stop sign and going 5-20 mph. 05/17-happened twice that day, both driving around town 10-30 mph. 05/26- happened driving around town going around a curve 5-20 mph. 05/27 getting off the interstate and getting ready to stop and it happened again. This last time I had 20 cars around me and my car was going into this with all my lights flashing and that popping up. It is such a hazard to be driving this vehicle. The dealership could not find an issue last time I took it in. I just bought this car a little over a month ago. So disappointing and scary.

I was operating a 2024 kia Telluride and was fully stopped in traffic when my vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. Immediately after the impact, my vehicle experienced apparent unintended forward propulsion/movement despite my braking attempts. Following the collision, the vehicle continued moving/driving forward for approximately 20 seconds and did not respond normally to brake input. The behavior created a loss-of-control situation and significantly increased the risk of secondary collisions, injury to vehicle occupants, nearby motorists, and pedestrians. I was unable to immediately stop the vehicle despite attempting to do so. The exact failed component has not yet been definitively identified; however, the incident appears potentially related to malfunction or unintended operation of one or more of the following systems: * drivetrain/transmission engagement, * electronic throttle control, * braking system, * powertrain control module, * or advanced driver assistance systems (adas). The vehicle should be inspected for: * event data recorder (edr) data, * diagnostic trouble codes, * throttle/brake command activity, * drivetrain engagement data, * and post-collision electronic system behavior. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. At this time, the issue has not yet been reproduced intentionally. The vehicle has not yet been fully evaluated or confirmed by a kia dealer or independent repair facility for the specific unintended movement condition. The vehicle is expected to undergo inspection and diagnostic review as soon as the progressive adjuster issues the acceptance/approval letter. The vehicle will then be observed by insurance representatives, and collision repair personnel, as part of the accident and claim process. Prior to the collision and unintended movement event, there were no known warning lamps, dashboard alerts, or noticeable drivability symptoms indicating.

I was driving home from work my 2020 Telluride shut off at stop light. I was able to turn the car back on and continue my drive after about 30 minutes into my continued drive I started hearing extreme banging noise coming from the front of the car. I then drove to kia dealership where they had inspected and diagnosed as the engine had failed and I would need a whole new engine.

I had my most recent oil change on 2/20/26, and on 5/2/26 , the check engine light came on and I heard a knocking sound. I checked the dipstick and it was below the “low” mark. I hadn’t driven 3k miles yet!! I had to purchase 2 quarts of sae 5w 30 oil to put into it. My vehicle is consuming more than 1 quart per 1000 miles.

I was just driving down the block and stop at the stop light when I went to pull off and make a left turn the car completely shut off with no warning or anything. Just stopped completely went off in the middle of the road and all of the dash lights came on. It started right back up thankfully but it stopped and locked up.

I bought my car in April, it is now July. My SUV has been in the shop twice for engine failures. My car will die while I’m driving, and will not restart. The check engine light, oil light and battery light come on. The brake locks up and I am unable to restart until after anywhere from 5-20 minutes. It has happened a total of 7 times, the first time being one week after purchase. I have been trapped in moving traffic unable to move, trapped and stop lights that turn green and stop signs. I have 5 kids who have been stuck in the car with me when this has happened. There are always people driving behind me honking, cussing and yelling because the car has died and they are unable to mov also. The auto stop has been replaced by a local kia dealership and it continues to happen.

My 2023 kia Telluride (VIN [xxx]) has an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect that has occurred on four separate occasions between [xxx] and [xxx] (mileage range 49,850–51,180). In each occurrence, the dashboard and infotainment system power on normally, but the engine will not crank when the start button is pressed, with both key fobs. The fault clears itself with no consistent trigger, making it undetectable by standard diagnostic scans after the fact. The vehicle was taken to kia of cleveland (2492 south lee highway, cleveland, TN 37311) three times. On the first two visits (6/18/26 and 7/1/26) the dealer could not duplicate the fault and returned the vehicle unrepaired. On the third visit (7/17/26–7/27/26), the dealer successfully duplicated the no-start condition both on the vehicle and on a bench test after removing the starter, and replaced the starter under warranty (part #36100-3l160). Despite this confirmed and completed repair, the identical no-start condition recurred on [xxx], only 10 days and approximately 250 miles later. This is a safety issue: on [xxx], my wife was attempting to leave for work with our twin 5-year-old daughters in the vehicle when it failed to start. This is the type of defect that could strand occupants in unsafe locations or conditions (heat, cold, traffic, isolated areas) with no warning and no reliable workaround. I have video evidence of the [xxx] incident showing the vehicle's instrument cluster and infotainment fully powered with a no-crank condition, timestamped and showing the odometer reading. I am filing this complaint because the defect has now defeated a dealer-confirmed and dealer-executed repair, suggesting a root cause (such as an immobilizer/Smart-key system fault, ibu communication failure, or intermittent wiring/ground fault) that has not yet been correctly identified. I am concurrently requesting a vehicle replacement from kia America under case #[xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2025 kia Telluride. The contact stated that while idling, the vehicle stalled. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle with no issues. The contact stated that while making a left turn on another occasion, the vehicle stalled and was nearly rear-ended. The vehicle was shifted to park(p) and restarted. The contact stated that while making a left turn on a third occasion, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted. The immobilizer, oil, and check engine warning lights illuminated after the failure occurred on each occasion. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.

Engine randomly shuts off when driving. The issues started 1 week after purchasing the vehicle. First occurrence happened when we were stopped. We pressed the gas pedal and the dash turned red, beeping, with the engine light, oil light, and battery light illuminated with a message reading “engine off. Shift to p or n then start engine”. This happened multiple times after. The dealership had the vehicle for 1 week and couldn’t reproduce the issue and the car did not have any codes stored. 3 days after picking it up from the dealership, the engine shut off again but this time while driving and actively turning through a 4 lane intersection with my child in the car. The next occurrence happened the morning I was taking it back to the dealership. I was driving 40mph on a city street in the middle lane of 3 lane road when the engine suddenly shut off showing the same error and I had to quickly move to the shoulder to be able to stop and restart the engine. I then informed the dealership that this is a dangerous and very unsafe situation and the car needed towed back to the dealership. The engine shutting off while driving, is very dangerous. If it happened to me at 40mph, there’s a good chance it can happen at highway speeds. This can put many lives at risk having a stalled vehicle in the middle of the road that has to come to a complete stop to restart. This issue is reported by many Telluride owners on reddit, and facebook threads. This needs rectifying before it results in casualties.

The contact owns a 2025 kia Telluride. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with an ems warning message displayed. The vehicle was able to restart after multiple attempts. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

I own a 2021 kia Telluride with approximately 111,000 miles. I initially brought the vehicle to a kia dealership for an oil consumption issue and engine noise. The dealership diagnosed and repaired a timing chain and tensioner issue, stating the vehicle was “working properly” upon return. After picking up the vehicle, I immediately began experiencing electrical warning lights, including the battery warning light and system alerts (blind spot and general warning indicators). I returned to the dealership, where they performed diagnostic testing and indicated a potential alternator issue, but stated it was in a “borderline” range and that the vehicle was safe to drive. Shortly after leaving the dealership, while driving with my family in the vehicle, the electrical system began to fail. Multiple warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle lost electrical function while in motion. The vehicle ultimately became completely inoperable and shut down in a parking lot, creating a serious safety concern. Prior to the dealership visit and repairs, the vehicle had no history of electrical issues, warning lights, or charging system problems. The dealership later acknowledged that the alternator issue was not present when the vehicle was initially brought in. I am submitting this complaint due to the sudden and complete electrical system failure while driving, which posed a significant safety risk. The progression from no prior symptoms to total failure immediately following dealership service and diagnosis raises concerns about vehicle reliability and potential safety defects related to the charging system.

This is supplemental evidence for NHTSA safety complaint #11739200 unified supplemental evidence packet see uploaded file.

The vehicle began showing serious safety related symptoms before the engine failed. These included engine knocking, repeated sensor failures, the speedometer and odometer blacking out while driving, the navigation screen going dark, and the entire instrument cluster malfunctioning. These issues caused loss of speed information, loss of vehicle status, and loss of navigation visibility, creating unsafe driving conditions. Despite these warning signs, the engine later failed suddenly at around 71,399 miles with no warning lights, no oil pressure alerts, and no overheating indicators. The sudden loss of power created a highway safety hazard due to loss of propulsion and reduced steering and braking assist. The manufacturer and dealership also provided conflicting and misleading information about warranty coverage, including a claim of “no warranty on engine,” which contradicts the official warranty coverage documents. This has delayed proper repair of a safety related defect.

Vehicle experienced significant drivability issues including shaking/clinking at speeds over 50 mph, check engine light, and reported two-cylinder misfires. Engine oil level was critically low, not registering on the dipstick, requiring approximately 2 quarts added to continue driving. An independent mechanic inspection found excessive oil in cylinder 2 and assessed that oil was likely leaking past the piston rings and burning, recommending a bottom-end rebuild or engine replacement. Kia dealership (sunset kia) inspection subsequently found a score mark in cylinder 6 and two external oil leaks (oil pan gasket and oil filter housing). Kia approved goodwill repair of the external leaks only, after which I was instructed to drive approximately 1,000 miles for a follow-up oil consumption test. After that period, the dealership confirmed the engine was still consuming oil beyond the external leaks. Kia corporate took approximately three weeks to review a goodwill request for engine replacement, ultimately denying it. During this three-week period the vehicle remained at the dealership, and I incurred over a week of out-of-pocket rental car expenses due to no loaner vehicle being available and no transportation assistance offered. The vehicle has fewer than 100,000 miles. I am concerned this reflects an internal engine defect (oil consumption/piston ring or cylinder wall issue) affecting the vehicle’s safe operation, given the drivability symptoms (shaking, misfire, near-zero oil level) that initially prompted this investigation.

While driving about 35 mph, the vehicle began to alarm and stated "the engine is off; pull over, put in park or neutral, and restart the car". I pulled over and found that the engine had indeed turned itself off in the middle of driving. When the engine turns off, both the braking vacuum system and the power steering go off, making it harder to brake and steer to safety. If I were going highway speeds, this would be a serious safety situation. I don't know exactly what caused the engine shut off, but it seems like a malfunction of the auto stop/start feature, which I had switched off during the incident (so the car should never turn off). The kia website gives instructions on what to do in this situation [xxx] ), which would imply it is a known issue. There are forums of people reporting the same issue with 2025 Tellurides. My vehicle has not been inspected since the incident, but because it is electrical and there is no engine code, there is likely no evidence a mechanic could find. There were no warnings prior to or after the event. The vehicle has only 1650 miles on it. I expect it to happen again, and I will attempt to produce a video to document. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Purchased vehicle 1/18/2025; first and only owner. Occurrence = engine shut off, alarm sounded and warning lights flashed; error: "engine off, shift to n or p, then start engine. " had to shift to neutral and push start to restart engine. -during March: occurred 2 times, both times worked after shifting to neutral. -4/1-4/3: occurred 1 time, worked after shifting to neutral. -4/occurred 1 time, had to stop and shift to park to restart engine! -kia of lagrange 4/23/could not replicate issue; no error codes found -kia of newnan 4/29/left vehicle for 2-4 days and they didn’t have time to check it, so we picked it up because we needed a vehicle. -may 5: occurred 3 times on same road; only got pics. Then occurred 1 time after stopping and different trip, got video. All occurrences worked after shifting to neutral. -may occurred 1 time and got picture only, worked after shifting to neutral. -kia of lagrange 5/15/ replaced low pressure fuel pump and provided 2026 sorrento for vehicle. -may occurred 1 time and got video, worked after shifting to neutral. -kia of lagrange 5/21-6/3: could not replicate after driving 100 miles and provided 2026 sorrento for vehicle I have video from may 5 & may 19, but could only upload pictures.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle stalled and lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with battery and starter failure. The contact was informed that the starter and the battery needed to be replaced. After the replacement of the starter and the battery, the contact was informed by the dealer that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The approximate failure mileage was 91,300.

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.