KIA / Telluride / 2021

2021 KIA Telluride problems

Owners have filed 480 complaints about the 2021 KIA Telluride with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 14% of them, narrowly the most common, ahead of visibility/wiper at 13.3%. A further 21.3% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints480

Crashes13

Fires4

Injuries15

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Unknown or other 21.3% · 102

Engine 14.0% · 67

Visibility/wiper 13.3% · 64

Electrical system 8.8% · 42

Structure 6.9% · 33

Power train 5.8% · 28

Forward collision avoidance 5.6% · 27

Visibility 4.8% · 23

Severity

Of those complaints, 13 describe a crash, 4 describe a fire and 15 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 6 model years of the KIA Telluride in this data, 2021 ranks 2nd by complaint volume; 2020 draws the most.

Filings are rising, 311 in the last three years against 150 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 3,100 miles.

In owners' own words

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

Was low on oil and check oil light don't go on have to put oil very 2 week because it get low and I don't have no oil leak at all I found out because the motor start shaking and making noise tow it home and mechanical came to check it out and didn't have oil he say I was lurking I was not in the highway because it could lock the mortar and cause a accident Engine

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

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other KIA Telluride years

2020 964 complaints · 19.2% exterior lighting 2022 433 complaints · 17.6% electrical system 2023 316 complaints · 16.1% electrical system 2024 331 complaints · 15.1% electrical system 2025 172 complaints · 26.2% engine

Compare all 6 model years →