2022 Kia Telluride: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 280 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the wipers and visibility, electrical, and transmission. The 11 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022- Owner complaints
- 280
- Recalls
- 6
- 2 urgent
- Crashes reported
- 10
- 7 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
2022 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 hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
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 2022 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.
Transmission slipping or failure
14–4,177 miles
Windshield cracking
100–11,000 miles
Blank instrument cluster
100–5,500 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Kia Telluride, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Wipers and visibility79No crashes
The windshield cracks from small pebbles, and sometimes with no visible impact at all, including while parked or after a cold night. Cracks often spread quickly across the driver's line of sight, so the glass has to be replaced instead of repaired. Many failures come in the first few thousand miles, some under 100 miles. Several owners describe replacing the windshield two or three times, with one reporting over $2000 for two. Dealers frequently decline warranty coverage.
Windshield cracks dominate. A tiny pebble, or no visible impact, starts a crack that can spread across the glass within hours, sometimes while the car sits parked. Several happen within days or weeks of purchase. Dealers and add-on glass protection plans often refuse to cover replacement. Other glass also fails: the sunroof, the rear window, and a rear side window shatter on their own while driving, sometimes at interstate speed. One report describes the heater blowing only lukewarm air at idle.
Electrical52No crashes
The center instrument cluster goes blank at startup or while driving, hiding speed, fuel level, and warnings. Some owners see a "Data error" message. Most cases start very early, often within the first few thousand miles. Dealers often cannot reproduce it, and firmware updates do not always help. Owners tie it to recall 22V344000, even on vehicles it does not cover. Other reports cover backup camera dropouts, a failed infotainment head unit quoted at about $7,500, and a broken sunroof track. One fire started under the passenger seat after a seat recall repair.
Transmission152 crashes
The main hazard is rollaway. After being parked in Park, the vehicle rolls backward on its own and strikes cars, houses, and trees. One person was knocked down and injured. Owners cite recall 24V214000. Another crash report describes the SUV lurching forward in Park into a garage door. Transmission complaints include a complete failure with the replacement part back-ordered, intermittent loss of acceleration despite repeated repairs, and the engine racing to 6000 rpm at stops. AWD models show vibration at 65 mph and above that drive shaft and differential replacement did not fix.
Engine13No crashes
Excessive oil consumption leads to engine failure. Owners report losing a quart or more between changes, blue smoke from the exhaust, and no low-oil warning before stalling or seizing in traffic. Several need a new engine, and some say Kia denied warranty coverage over missing service records. One fire report describes a piston breaking through the block and flames from under the hood. The plastic oil filter housing cracks and leaks oil, one around 100k miles. A shredded drive belt caused overheating and loss of power on the freeway.
Body and structure12No crashes
Sunroof glass explodes while driving at interstate speed, and once at a car wash, showering occupants with glass. A snapped wind deflector can knock the sunroof off its track so it will not open or close. Windshields crack with or without debris, sometimes within the first week or while the car sits in a garage. Paint chips and peels early on white vehicles, and trim around the windshield oxidizes. Rear child locks engage and disengage on their own.
Brakes92 crashes
The brakes fail or ABS engages hard at low speed, and two reports involve collisions. Several complaints describe the HECU problem: EPB, Auto Hold, and ABS warning lights, then a brake fluid leak, even after a recall inspection passed. Automatic emergency braking slams on the brakes with nothing ahead, sometimes with adaptive cruise on, around 30k miles. A failing wheel speed sensor at 10K miles caused a long stopping distance. Owners also object to the rollaway recall software that sets the parking brake automatically and cannot be released with the car off.
Airbags54 crashes
Airbags fail to deploy in significant crashes, including a high-speed rear-end collision, a side impact from a red-light runner, a deer strike at 55 mph, and a side hit at 30 mph. Two reports include injuries, one a concussion. In one side crash, the impact broke the airbag sensor itself. The passenger occupancy sensor also fails to detect an adult sitting on a cushion, which turns off the passenger airbag and seat belt reminder with no override.
Seats3No crashes
All three reports involve injuries or a recall. The rear seat cushion folds forward with strong force when the release handle is pulled, pinning a knee against the floor. The gap between the console and the driver's seat traps arms, and in one case EMTs had to free a driver. A power seat slide knob fails and leaves the seat inoperable, a problem tied to recall 24V407000. Repairs were delayed because parts were not available.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Telluride owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The windshield is fragile. A small rock hit the windshield at highway speed and started to crack. This is the 2nd time this has happened. 11,000 miles on the vehicle and getting the windshield replaced for a seconded time. KIA needs to make the glass alot stronger to hold up to a minor rock chip.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2023
Windshield easily cracked with a small small kick up in snow. Several small chips in the windshield for low visibility in a car with less than 1500miles on it. Several groups of telluride owners report the same problem on 2020-2022 models
Filed with NHTSA, December 2021
On 12/09/22, the center lcd instrument cluster went blank 2 different times while my wife was driving. Vehicle has 2200 miles on it. Kia issued a recall in May 2022 for this exact issue but only covered roughly 2700 vehicles. This vehicle does not have an active recall and was produced after the issue was supposedly fixed at the kia factory. Obvious safety issue and clearly affects more than the 2700 vehicles already recalled.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2022
Day 1 of ownership of brand new vehicle. At less than 100 miles on odometer, the center part of the instrument panel goes completely black and does not display pertinent driving information, potentially information necessary for safety purposes. Problem is intermittent. Dealer is unable to fix and unable to determine cause of problem.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
I brought my 2022 Kia Telluride with only 12 miles on it in February 12, 2022. Less than 4 months old and only 4177 miles and my transmission has gone out. The dealership I bought has had it for 20 days now. I am told my vehicle is not safe to drive so it has to at the dealership. I have contacted Kia Customer Service they are advising me that the transmission is on back order and not ETA for it.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2022
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.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
Engine has been knocking since I purchased the vehicle new. Brought it into the dealership and they couldn't hear the noise. Based on the keoporum it could either be a bad fan motor or blend door accurator. Scheduling another appointment for them to figure out why it's still doing this when the vehicle only has 24k miles on it.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
vehicle has been exhausting small amounts of smoke since 20,000 miles. between recommended oil changes, car will lose a quart or more of oil in its reservoir. there is every indication that the vehicle is burning oil. painted trim around windows is fading, failing. some areas are completely without paint.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
How the 2022 compares with other Telluride years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 ranks joint second for owner complaints among 6 Telluride years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Wipers and visibility7952
- Electrical5228
- Transmission1520
- Engine1323
- Body and structure1220
- Brakes93
Where the 2022 fits in the Telluride's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2022 is the third model year of the Telluride's first generation (2020 on).
Kia updated the Telluride for 2023, so a 2022 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2023 (not on a 2022)
- 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
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.
22V509000Wheels and tiresJul 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Sorento and Telluride vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: Impaired anti-lock braking or traction control systems can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spare tire, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC244.
22V344000ElectricalMay 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Telluride vehicles. Excess adhesive in a circuit board within the instrument cluster may cause the instrument cluster display screen to be blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays.".
Risk: A blank instrument cluster display screen will not show critical information, such as the odometer, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the instrument cluster assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC237.
21V577000ElectricalJul 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Telluride vehicles. The LCD display screen may remain blank after startup. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays.".
Risk: A blank LCD display may be missing information, such as the digital speedometer, gear selection indicator, and odometer, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster's software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 3, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC215.
Also looking at these instead of a Telluride?
Cars shoppers compare with the Kia Telluride, with their own 2022 checklists.
2022 owner complaints, side by side
- Mazda CX-99
- Honda Pilot105
- Nissan Pathfinder119
- Toyota Highlander186
- Volkswagen Atlas217
- Hyundai Palisade241
- 2022 Kia Telluride280
