2020 Kia Telluride: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 667 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the exterior lights, wipers and visibility, and engine. The 11 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020- Owner complaints
- 667
- Recalls
- 6
- 2 urgent
- Crashes reported
- 8
- 10 injuries
Two recalls on this model year told owners to park outside until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing they were completed for this VIN.
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/11 checked
2020 Kia Telluride: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/5
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Telluride is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Kia Telluride. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | AWD, FWD | 21–23 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Telluride that averages well under the EPA 21 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Windshield chips and cracks
250–17,000 miles
Rear suspension stiff or failing
24,000–30,000 miles
Pearl white paint peeling
33,000–80,000 miles
High beams stop working
45,000–75,000 miles
Sunroof off track
45,000–70,000 miles
Excessive engine oil consumption
61,000–94,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Kia Telluride, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Exterior lights1701 crash
High beams stop working, usually on both sides at once, while the low beams keep working. The blue dash indicator comes on but the road gets no brighter. New bulbs, fuses, and relays do not fix it. Dealers typically quote a full headlamp assembly replacement, with quotes near $1,700. Failures cluster between 45,000 and 75,000 miles. One crash report involves hitting a deer on a dark road. Some owners mention a Kia letter extending headlight warranty coverage. They say the problem comes and goes, which makes claims hard to get approved.
Wipers and visibility134No crashes
Windshields chip and crack easily, often within the first few thousand miles. A small pebble can leave a crack that spreads across the glass within minutes or hours. Some cracks start under the molding with no visible impact. Replacement glass often fails again. Owners mention a Kia replacement program and a class action, but dealers turn away cars outside the covered date range. Other reports describe a driver-side washer jet that pools fluid low on the glass, and snow packing into the cowl until the wiper linkage jams.
Sunroofs and windshields make up most of this small group. Sunroofs pop, jam open, or come off their tracks after cables or support arms break, sometimes after fewer than 10 uses. Two reports describe the sunroof glass shattering while driving with nothing hitting it. Windshields crack without impact, and replacement glass cracks again. Sunroof repair quotes run into the thousands. The one injury came from a rear seat that slid forward on its own and hit an occupant.
Engine74No crashes
The V6 burns oil, often a quart or more every 1,000 miles and sometimes 2 to 3 quarts between checks. No low-oil or check-engine warning appears before the engine runs dry. Owners find out through loud knocking, stalling, or a seized engine. Running out of oil can also cut power steering and brakes. Inspections cite stuck piston oil control rings, heavy carbon buildup, fouled spark plugs, and misfires. Consumption usually begins between 61,000 and 94,000 miles. Several reports end with a full engine replacement.
Transmission501 crash
Most reports repeat the oil consumption pattern: misfire codes, shaking, stalling at intersections, and hesitation from a stop, ending in quotes for a new engine. A second group describes vibration and humming between 60 and 80 mph, which owners link to the AWD driveline. Torque converter slipping and shudder between 2nd and 3rd gear appear around 100,000 miles. One crash with two injuries involves a parked car rolling away while the owner waited for recall parts. One fire follows engine trouble. Plastic oil filter housings also crack and leak.
Electrical411 crash
Electrical faults vary widely. Common threads include no-starts with a clicking sound and a Check ESC message, stalling with no stored codes, and a driver window that drops open on startup and will not stay closed. Three reports describe fires, including one that destroyed the vehicle and a home and one that followed a wiring harness replacement. Other complaints cover a failed side mirror motor, false blind-spot alerts in rain, and inaccurate gauges. Several owners describe long waits for headlight recall parts.
Body and structure39No crashes
Snow White Pearl paint chips and peels in sheets. It usually starts above the windshield, on the roof, or on the hood, then keeps spreading. It shows up between about 33,000 and 80,000 miles. Dealers usually refuse to cover it, and one repair quote reached $3,500. Other reports cover metal window trim that loosens and falls off, sunroof glass that pops out of alignment, a door that will not open, and repeated oil filter housing replacements.
Suspension26No crashes
Rear self-leveling shocks, which come with the tow package, fail early. They either leak or turn very stiff, so the SUV jolts over bumps and rear passengers get bounced around. Clunking from the rear is another common sign. Trouble can start as early as 24,000 to 30,000 miles, and some owners go through several sets. Owners point to a Kia technical bulletin on rear shock noise. Several complaints filed here actually describe the transmission slipping and shaking between 2nd and 3rd gear.
Acceleration and cruise control52 crashes
Few reports, but two involve crashes. Complaints describe sudden unintended acceleration, once with adaptive cruise control set and once while idling with the brake pressed. Another report says cruise control closed fast on a slower car ahead. Other owners describe the opposite problem: the accelerator going dead in traffic, or the SUV failing to pick up speed because of a torque converter fault. One crash left the driver with a minor concussion.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Telluride owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
High beams stopped working. When I called with issue the dealership stated that it was a safety issue. Took car to dealership and they stated that the actuator lighting system more than likely has a short. They recommended that it would be $1700 for them to replace the system and then retest to see if that was the issue. Upon further research it was found that other owners with the 2020 model were experiencing the same issue after 60,000 miles.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2023
Started to notice the high beams where not working. The dash light shows the high beams were on but the lights never changed. I purchased 2 new low/high beams bulbs. That did not fix the issue. My telluride has over 60k miles on it. Doing teacher everyone who has a 2020 kia telluride has this issue just after vehicle hits just over 60k miles. Never noticed before as we never drove at night time before november.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
This is the 2nd chip and 2nd crack in my windshield. My vehicle had 16500 miles on it. and is my 11th Kia. I have never had an issue with windshields before this car.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2021
While driving my wife had a small stone hit the windshield which caused a small pit and about an inch crack. When she got home, I inspected it and called and made an appointment for it to be repaired the next day. The suv was parked in the garage overnight and not driven. The next morning when I went to go to the repair place, I opened the door to the garage and found the one inch crack had grown to about 2 feet overnight. Not sure how that even happens
Filed with NHTSA, October 2021
Issue: Oil consumption/ low oil pressure indicator or check engine light did not go on. Was driving kids to school and on my way home I heard a loud rattling sound. Pulled over and had it towed. Shop said it didn't have oil, it was dry as a bone. We do regular oil changes every 5k miles and there are no oil leak spots on driveway or in garage. No oil light came on, no check engine light. Hoping this didn't damage my engine as I am at 110,000 miles.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
I purchased this vehicle with 109,000 miles on it. After driving for about a month, I noticed a noise and took it in for an inspection. I was told there was no oil in the vehicle and to take it to Kia. Kia told me that was a known issue the the oil consumption and wanted to start testing. I have an extended warranty but I am having to come out of pocket $5000 before a claim can even be started and I have only owned it for 5 months.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
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.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
P0741 Error Codes - Torque Converter issue around 100k miles. Shuttering at low rpm between 2nd and 3rd gears. This is a known issue for owners of the 2020 model year. TCM software update and transmission oil change did not fix.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
How the 2020 compares with other Telluride years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 has the most owner complaints of the 6 Telluride years we cover, about 3.6 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Exterior lights1700
- Wipers and visibility13441
- Engine7411
- Transmission5013
- Electrical4130
- Body and structure3914
Where the 2020 fits in the Telluride's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the first model year of the Telluride's first generation (2020 on). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Kia fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Kia updated the Telluride for 2023, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2023 (not on a 2020)
- New 12.3-inch instrument panel
- Smart power liftgate with auto-close
- Redesigned grille, headlights, and front bumper
- New X-Line and X-Pro trims
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
24V407000SeatsPark outsideJun 2024
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.
22V626000Trailer HitchesPark outsideAug 2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.
24V214000TransmissionMar 2024
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.
Risk: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.
24V148000Exterior lightsFeb 2024
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.
Risk: Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.
20V436000ElectricalJul 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.".
Risk: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.
19V594000Seat beltsAug 2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.
Also looking at these instead of a Telluride?
Cars shoppers compare with the Kia Telluride, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
- Mazda CX-919
- Nissan Pathfinder43
- Volkswagen Atlas116
- Toyota Highlander269
- Honda Pilot431
- Hyundai Palisade521
- 2020 Kia Telluride667
