Kia Telluride Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 361 of the 2,061 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020–2025 Kia Telluride (17.5%) name the engine, near the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2020 and 2021.
Engine complaints
361
Filed with NHTSA, 2020–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
17.5%
of 2,061 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Kia Telluride engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020WORST | 160 | 20.5% | 5 | — | 0 |
| 2021WORST | 70 | 18.5% | 4 | — | 12 |
| 2022 | 34 | 10.2% | 2 | — | 27 |
| 2023 | 27 | 12.6% | 2 | — | 20 |
| 2024 | 18 | 7.9% | 2 | 24V077000 | 12 |
| 2025 | 52 | 41.3% | 1 | — | 12 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Kia Telluride engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 361 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Kia Telluride years to avoid for the engine
2020 Kia Telluride
160 engine complaints (20.5% of the year's 781). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks.
2021 Kia Telluride
70 engine complaints (18.5% of the year's 378). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Kia Telluride years to avoid.
Kia Telluride engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Kia Telluride model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 24V077000 · 2024-02-07 · 2024 models
The engine valve springs may break while driving, which can result in a loss of drive power and possibly create a hole in the engine block.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 160 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Telluride, 20.5% of all 781 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (90 complaints). 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2021 Kia Telluride have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 70 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Kia Telluride, 18.5% of all 378 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (37 complaints). 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Kia Telluride years have the most engine complaints?
2020 (160), 2021 (70) and 2025 (52), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Kia Telluride engine problems?
In the 361 engine complaints, owners most often describe oil consumption or oil leaks (38.8%), engine failure, seizure or replacement (28.5%) and stalling or shutting off while driving (26.6%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Kia Telluride model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration