2023 Kia Telluride: What to check before buying

The digital instrument cluster goes black, removing speed, fuel level, turn-signal sounds, and warning lights. It happens in the first few hundred miles and also near 30,000 and 82,000 miles. Some cars light up every driver-assist warning at once, then lose power steering or shut down in traffic. Fuel gauges zero out or show fuel when the tank is empty. Dealers often cannot reproduce the faults. Door trim detaching at speed with water getting inside, and a tow hitch harness module fire recall with no remedy at the time, are also reported. Two complaints involve crashes and one involves fire.

Windshields crack with no clear impact, often within the first few thousand miles. Small chips spread across the glass within hours, even while the car sits parked, which rules out a repair. Several cars have needed two windshield replacements in under 18 months. Less common reports include the rear panoramic sunroof shattering while parked, side glass cracking, the passenger wiper stopping in heavy rain, weak washer spray, and a dark shadow across the windshield when the low beams are on.

With Snow mode selected, the accelerator stops responding when pulling away from a stop, most often during a left turn. RPMs may rise while the car only creeps forward. Switching modes or restarting brings power back. Many cases occur under 1,000 miles with no warning lights, and dealers cannot duplicate them. AWD couplers fail repeatedly, and some replacements fail too. Other reports cover rear differential noise, a missing driveshaft bolt causing vibration above 40 mph, rough 1-2 shifts, and the roll-away recall. One crash followed a car rolling backward after being put in Park.

Door belt molding and body trim loosen and detach, sometimes nearly flying off at highway speed. A recall exists, but remedy parts are not yet available, and one owner reports dealers refusing the car on trade while recalls stay open. Glass sunroofs burst while driving, scattering tempered glass inside and outside the cabin. Windshields crack without any impact. One injury came from a lane sensor on the mirror that burst at 30 mph. Peeling clear coat on pearl white paint is also reported.

Power steering cuts out suddenly while driving, usually with a flood of warnings for the collision sensor, AWD, blind spot, and parking sensors. Some cars then shut down completely, lose power brakes, or lock the steering wheel, stranding drivers in traffic. Repeat tows and dealer stays of several weeks are common. Attempted fixes include a new battery and a loose connection, and neither held. Other reports describe the wheel jerking hard to one side across the centerline and a clicking column when turning.

Rear self-leveling shocks fail, causing clunking, thumping, and constant creaking over small bumps. Failures show up as early as 9,000 miles and before 20K miles. Warranty replacements do not always last, and some dealers refuse to replace the shocks a second time. Kia service staff have told owners this is a known issue on the 2023 model. Owners worry about losing control if the shocks fail completely.

A fire broke out near the rear of one car around 20,000 miles and went out on its own, with no warning lights. Another engine developed a ticking noise and metal shavings near 7500 miles and was replaced after a national backorder. Other complaints describe failed engine mounting bolts, a serpentine belt screaming on cold starts before 40,000 miles, and an A/C condenser failure that dealers blame on rock damage and refuse to cover, with a reported repair cost of $1800.

The accelerator stops responding or hesitates when pulling away from a stop. This happens mostly in Snow mode and sometimes during turns. Moving the dial to another drive mode brings power back. One owner says the hesitation later appeared in other traction modes too. Failures appear as early as 500 miles. Dealers cannot duplicate the problem, and one technician linked it to deep snow. The main risk is a near rear-end collision while merging or crossing traffic.