Power Train Problems of Kia Motor Telluride - part 1

Hello, I've contacted customer service for kia America and also, customer service in puerto rico since I'm a resident in puerto rico, so that I can address the safety recall with number sc303 and also a technical service bulletin with number bod319. However, customer service advised that they can't pull up my SUV vehicle information with the VIN provided. I'm unable to address the safety recall and the technical service bulletin since kia can't pull up the vehicle information. My vehicle is experiencing technical failure with the intermediate shaft as described on the safety recall. Also, the sunroof is experiencing technical difficulties compatible with the information included on the TSB. I ask for your support to address the described issues, accordingly. Thank you!.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

Catastrophic rear differential failure at highway speed following recent warranty repair. Vehicle previously brought to kia dealership for rear differential knocking noise. Warranty repair performed and vehicle returned. Within one week, original noise returned with additional whirling/ grinding sound. While traveling approximately 70 mph on the highway, vehicle experienced a sudden loud bang and immediate abrupt stop in traffic. At the time of failure, wife and two children were in the vehicle. Incident posed a severe and life-threatening safety risk. Visual inspection indicates complete rear differential mechanical failure, with fluid and component debris present underneath vehicle. Vehicle is currently unsafe to operate. Failure occurred immediately following manufacturer-authorized warranty repair.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

My 2020 kia Telluride ex experienced a sudden engine shutoff / loss of motive power while driving in traffic. The vehicle stopped in the roadway, would not immediately restart, and restarted later after sitting. This was not normal stop/start operation, the car shut down. No low-oil warning appeared before the event. I am also aware of multiple similar owner reports online describing high oil consumption, stalling, and lack of warning in 2020 Tellurides, but this complaint is based on my own direct experience and concern. It was scary and life threatening!.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

The check engine light is on and reading code p07104. The vehicle has been diagnosed and it was found the torque converter is slipping and the technician recommends replacing the transmission. The anti-freeze has been low over the past 30 days and must be leaking internally. I have had to add anti-freeze twice during that time.

I am the original owner of a 2020 kia Telluride with 48,409 miles. My wife purchased it new. It has never been sold or transferred. It is fully covered under kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. What component failed and is it available for inspection? the engine is consuming excessive oil due to failed internal components—likely the piston rings. This has fouled the spark plugs and caused active misfires on cylinders 1,3,4,5. Codes: p0300, p0301, p0303, p0304, p0305. Kia acknowledges this defect in TSB eng222, which defines consumption over 1 quart per 1,000 miles as abnormal. The failed components remain in the vehicle and are available for inspection. Has the problem been confirmed by a dealer? yes. [dealer name] confirmed the misfire codes and excessive oil consumption. Despite being original owners with an active warranty, they refused to cover the repair. The advisor said they "only cover internal engine parts"—which is exactly what is broken. We were sent home with a flashing check engine light. Has it been inspected by manufacturer or others? no. Only the dealership. Kia corporate has not inspected it. How was safety put at risk? a solid check engine light means active misfire and risk of sudden engine stall or seizure. Other Telluride owners report complete power loss on highways and intersections—no acceleration, no power steering, no power brakes. My wife and children drive this car. I fear for their safety every time they start the engine. Were there warning symptoms? yes. Two weeks before the check engine light appeared, I noticed a slight shudder during acceleration that gradually worsened. The light came on solid, then began flashing within days. No oil light appeared. No other warnings. Kia advertised a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. At 48,409 miles, they denied coverage for a known, documented defect. That is not a warranty. Not true. I request an investigation into the 2020 Telluride 3. 8l engine. Thank you.

My transmission failed at 95k miles and was available for inspection at a fee. My safety was at risk since my car was jerking on the highway and I had to quickly pull over while the car slowed down in a fast and high trafficked area. The problem has been an ongoing issue especially in 2020 models from social media and the dealership. The vehicle was inspected by the kia dealership. The engine light did not come on until the car showed immediate signs of issues.

Oil filter housing assembly- resulted in very low engine oil with no warning lights or engine lights potentially leading to engine damage. Yes the component was inspected and replaced by dealership. This was after getting the oil plan repaired for leaking oil as well.

Bought my 2021 kia Telluride sx with a cpo warranty with a little over 69,000 miles. At about 73,000 my car began to smoke and the dealership that I bought the vehicle from kept it for the day and sent me on my way with no diagnosis just simply stating they couldnt duplicate the issue and confirming they did no testing on the vehicle. They stated that they topped the coolant and checked the oil in which my oil was in good level. 2 days later I checked the oil trying to figure out why my car was smoking and my dipstick had no reading and no signs of oil. I topped the oil and immediately took the car to a different dealership where we began doing 1,000 mile testing on oil consumption and losing 1. 5 quarts -- cpo warranty will not cover the issue because they stated it is a kia wide issue and recall and even though I dont have specific recall they still refuse to cover. My car has been deemed as needing a motor replacement at 78,000 miles. Kia America does not stand behind their issues and refuse to help and they have denied the claims that have been made even after being escalated, they also refused to give a denial letter in writting or a reason why it was denied!.

The oil filter housing cracked on the car, causing all the oil to leak out. In researching this, I have found that this is a common problem with the kia Telluride and kia sorrento. The problem is that the oil filter housing is made of cheap plastic and not durable material such as aluminum or steel. This allows the oil filter housing to easily crack under stress. In speaking with the dealership, this is not an uncommon problem. I feel that this should be covered under the powertrain warranty or through a recall. A quick google search will show that the problem is widespread in the sorrento and Telluride models. This repair cost me a total of $425. If I had not replaced or repaired oil filter housing, the engine would have locked up as all the oil at escaped onto the pavement.

I purchased this vehicle new in September 2025. At approximately 3,903 miles, the vehicle exhibited a failure of the transmission system affecting its ability to remain stationary when placed in park. When the vehicle was placed in “park” on an incline, the park mechanism failed to hold the vehicle, and the vehicle rolled despite being in park. This condition presents a clear risk of unintended vehicle movement. The issue was verified by the dealership during a test drive. Diagnostic inspection confirmed that the gear selector and transmission position indicators were functioning correctly; however, the vehicle continued to roll freely in park. The parking pawl was audibly engaging but failed to mechanically secure the vehicle. No diagnostic trouble codes were present, and no evidence of external damage, improper use, or installation issues was identified. The failure appears to be internal to the transmission system. This defect occurred at very low mileage and involves a core safety function intended to prevent unintended vehicle movement. Based on these facts, this issue is being reported as a potential safety-related defect. The dealer had the vehicle for over 30 days and installed a completely new transmission.

See all problems of the 2025 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

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.

While driving on a highway at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration without warning and was unable to exceed approximately 10–15 mph. This created a dangerous situation requiring immediate maneuvering across multiple lanes of traffic to reach safety. At the time of the incident, the check engine light was illuminated. Diagnostic trouble codes p0191, p2177, and p2179 were later identified, indicating fuel pressure irregularities and air/fuel imbalance. The vehicle was inspected by a dealership, which diagnosed a purge valve vacuum leak and faulty high-pressure fuel system components. The repair required replacement of the purge valve and high-pressure fuel system components. The failure involved components within the fuel/propulsion system and engine systems, which are controlled in part by the electronic control module (ecm). This resulted in a sudden and unexpected loss of propulsion while driving at highway speed. Prior to the incident, there were issues with refueling, including difficulty filling the fuel tank when near empty, indicating a potential developing issue within the fuel system. This condition created a significant safety risk due to the sudden and unexpected loss of vehicle speed in active highway traffic, increasing the risk of collision.

Kia equips their 2020 Tellurides with a plastic oil filter housing unit. Over time, the heat from metal and pressure causes the plastic component to crack, become warped and this leads to oil leaks.

The oil filter housing is made of plastic and it cracked causing a major oil leak. There were no warning lights on the dash. Our family had just gotten into the car to visit family for thanksgiving. I ran back into the house to get something and when I came back I first saw a large puddle of oil where the car was parked then I looked at the car and could see oil streaming out. At first I thought the filter or the oil drain plug had come loose. We had our local mechanic look at it and he said it was a common problem they see with plastic housings instead of metal. We called the closet kia dealership and they said it was a known problem but kia has not issued a recall. I searched online and found many complaints. If I had not noticed the leak we could have either had a fire or major damage to the engine.

Description of defect: my 2020 kia Telluride experienced catastrophic engine failure and excessive oil consumption, which is a known issue for this model year (to the point that I had to sell it just 1 year after I bought it). The vehicle consumes oil at an alarming rate without any dashboard warning lights, or low oil pressure indicators, leading to sudden loss of engine power and potential stalling while in motion. This failure occurred at 93,200 miles, well before the expected service life of the powertrain. Safety risk: sudden engine stalling or power loss while driving at highway speeds creates an immediate risk of rear-end collisions and leaves the driver without power steering or braking assistance. The lack of any 'check engine' or 'low oil' light prior to the mechanical crisis meant there was zero opportunity to safely maneuver off the road before the vehicle became disabled. Furthermore, excessive oil consumption in this engine type has been linked to potential fire risks under the hood. Failure/incident details: despite following all manufacturer-recommended maintenance, the vehicle suffered a major [engine/transmission] failure. Kia America has acknowledged the failure but refuses to provide transparency or assistance, despite technical service bulletins (TSB sa428 and TSB 089) existing for these exact powertrain issues. This represents a significant safety defect that puts my family and other drivers at risk.

Oil consumption problem and oil filter housing needing replacement.

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.

After 8 months of trips to the shop telling them the engine was bad, and spending thousands to do things it didn’t need trying to get warranty to cover engine, kia finally agreed it had issues. Tore it down and piston rings are bad. There was carbon build up despite regular maintenance and they are telling me warranty won’t replace.

The engine is consuming oil.

Awd coupler locking and wobbling jerks vehicle.

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

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

This vehicle only has 31,000 miles on it and I've already had one door trim molding replaced. (now the rest of the trim doesn't match so that's great for aesthetics) the interior door panel replaced because it was loose. This car developed a "thumping" noise around 25k miles when turning at low speeds. Took it to the dealer, told them it is probably the awd coupler, and they said the self-leveling rear shocks were leaking. So those got replaced. Thumping was still there. I mentioned to the dealer that it is probably still the awd coupler. Dealer decides to replace the rear differential because they found metal shavings in the diff fluid. Sound is still there but now not as loud. Car is currently back at the dealer for diagnostics to remedy the situation. I don't understand how a car with only 30k miles on it should be having these kinds of major issues. Kia seems to know about these issues because they do not argue about replacing anything. The car looks great, and the size is great. But I cannot imagine the nightmares I'm going to have for the next 30k. Or how bad the nightmare will be once I am out of factory warranty.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

I had the awd coupler replaced at 66000 under warranty due to a TSB and hesitation when turning at slow speeds. I'm at 110000 and the awd coupler is failing again and needs replacement but kia warranty won't cover it again. Very frustrated.

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.

Borescope inspection of the engine shows multiple signs of internal mechanical failure involving oil control, piston ring integrity, coolant intrusion, and cylinder wall damage. Excessive oil buildup is visible above the oil control ring, far beyond what is expected at 59k miles. Cylinder walls show heavy polishing where cross-hatching should be visible, indicating loss of lubrication and abnormal wear. Carbon deposits are extremely thick; in several areas carbon has flaked off and been pulled downward into the cylinder, creating scoring. Straight vertical scoring marks cut through the normal diagonal honing pattern, confirming blow-by and damage to the cylinder sleeves. Evidence of coolant intrusion is present, including orange discoloration consistent with rust/coolant contamination, excessive moisture, and steam-cleaned areas of the combustion chamber. The intake valve and combustion surfaces appear abnormally clean, consistent with coolant steam-washing. This suggests head-gasket failure, a block or head casting defect, or ring damage (possible cracked scraper ring). Coolant in the cylinders can wash away oil from the bore, leading to rusted pistons and accelerated scoring. Multiple pictures show severe scoring and loss of lubrication. This compromises the ability of new pistons or rings to seal, meaning the cylinder walls would continue to allow blow-by, oil burning, coolant intrusion, and friction. Even attempting to polish or recondition these bores would enlarge them, causing piston flutter, noise, and long-term failure. Based on the level of damage, the engine is no longer safe or reliable. A seized piston could cause sudden loss of power at highway speeds, creating a safety risk. The observed defects indicate a potential manufacturing or casting issue that may affect other engines. The dealership and kia consumer affairs have been notified but there has been no replacement or resolution after 3 months of ongoing issues, and 8 weeks of holding my vehicle.

The vehicle decelerated in the highway, from about 70mph to 40mhp with no warning, no check engine light, and no previous symptoms, sounds or other indicators. The vehicle was brought to the dealer who advised the high pressure fuel pump went bad as well as the solenoid and ocv harness, causing oil to be forced through the harness. Kia refused to cover the repairs at 74k miles and it was fixed at the owner expense, even after kias long history of failed high pressure fuel pumps in many other models. We were in the fast lane and were almost hit by a semi, who was thankfully able to move over at the last minute, narrowly averting the deaths of both my children, myself, my nephew and brother at aprox 4am.

The Telluride has developed a shimmy. At first, the shimmy was noted at lower speeds, around 35 to 45 mph while under minimal load such as going uphill and slightly accelerating. The car was taken to the dealership. The tires were balanced. We were told no other problems. A month later, same thing, same result. We just took a 2700 mile trip. The shimmy is apparent at higher speeds and in all transmission modes of operation.

My torque converter is failing on my 2020 kia Telluride. This is a known issue among other owners of this model year, and I believe kia knows about it and is refusing to acknowledge because of how expensive it is.

The awd couplers continue to fail. We are waiting for the dealer to get parts in so they can be replaced again. The tech stated kia continues to install defective parts.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Telluride 🔎.

The contact's spouse owns a 2020 kia Telluride. The contact's spouse stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle inadvertently rolled backwards and struck the contact’s aunt as she was exiting the vehicle. The contact’s aunt was taken to the emergency room by ambulance/helicopter, where she later succumbed to the injuries and was pronounced dead. The contact stated that the vehicle remained at the scene. In addition, before the incident, there was grinding coming from the gears. The contact was unsure what specific injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 24v214000 (power train); which the contact related to the failure. The contact had previously received the recall notification. The dealer was not contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Car erratically shifts and provides more power to vehicle when it is not necessary. It often shakes in between shifting.

Summary of defect and repair history my 2024 kia Telluride ex awd has experienced repeated and ongoing transmission failures. The failures include the vehicle becoming stuck in 5th gear, unsafe acceleration characteristics, and loss of normal drivability. Two transmissions have been replaced, and the same defect continues to occur. The vehicle remains at the dealership today with the defect unresolved. Repair attempts and days out of service 1 transmission replacement 30 days returned but defect recurred. A warning lamp (check engine) did illumiinate after the first transmission failure, however did not for the second nor third failure. Failure was confirmed by kia dealership. 2 transmission replacement 47 days. Returned but defect recurred. Failure was confirmed by kia dealership. 3 current repair attempt 24+ not repaired. The vehicle has incurred three repair attempts and 101+ days out of service for the same defect. Failure was confirmed by kia dealership. Substantial impairment: use, value, and safety 1. Impairment of use ? the vehicle has been in the dealership’s possession for more than three months in 2025, making it unavailable for normal use ? driving attempts prior to service demonstrated lack of shifting, hesitation, clunking, and unsafe behavior ? the defect continues to occur despite repeated major repairs 2. Impairment of value ? a newer model vehicle requiring two full transmission replacement in one year and still malfunctioning has demonstrably reduced value ? transmission replacement history is discoverable and materially reduces market value 3. Impairment of safety ? transmission failure compromises safe acceleration, speed regulation, and predictable power delivery ? the failures occurred at low mileage, indicating a systemic nonconformity rather than normal wear, presenting an ongoing risk as a engineer with 20+ years of experience, I do believe the root cause is a wiring issue (e. G. Shorted wiring harness), not a transmission failure.

The check engine and oil pressure light will start to flash when starting to brake. While this is happening the car starts to shake, stall, and you struggle to accelerate. This has happened multiple times and the last time was in the middle of an intersection. Kia dealership did not fix the issue the two times I took it to the shop. The third time in they did some test and said it was an oil consumption issue and the piston rings in the SUV have failed and the car needed a new engine. This car is a 2020 Telluride with 78,759 miles on it. This issued started well before the 78,759 miles. Oil consumption has been a major issue with other kia models and they have not seemed to fix this issue with the Telluride. I believe they have replaced engines at an extremely high rate and now they are denying engine replacement under their warranty and stating piston ring damage is not covered under the warranty due to high oil consumption. You guys have issued a recall on 2021-2023 seltos and soul models for piston ring failure and now they do not want to start replacing Tellurides. There is a facebook page out there labeled kia Telluride issues with oil consumption being a big issue in the comments. Kia stating they will not cover the engine replacement is not only wrong is it a safety issue. I truly believe they know this is a serious issue and have not done anything to correct it. This vehicle is still under warranty and I am still in contact with the dealership to fix this issue.

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