Kia Telluride Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 175 of the 2,061 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020–2025 Kia Telluride (8.5%) name the transmission, near the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst year is 2020.
Transmission complaints
175
Filed with NHTSA, 2020–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
8.5%
of 2,061 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Kia Telluride transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020WORST | 71 | 9.1% | 3 | 24V214000 | 15 |
| 2021 | 29 | 7.7% | 0 | 24V214000 | 11 |
| 2022 | 26 | 7.8% | 3 | 24V214000 | 12 |
| 2023 | 25 | 11.7% | 1 | 24V214000 | 6 |
| 2024 | 15 | 6.6% | 1 | 24V214000 | 5 |
| 2025 | 9 | 7.1% | 0 | — | 2 |
- 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 transmission.
Common Kia Telluride transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 175 transmission 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 transmission
2020 Kia Telluride
71 transmission complaints (9.1% of the year's 781). Most often described: shudder or vibration. Covered by transmission recall 24V214000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission 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 transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Kia Telluride model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 24V214000 · 2024-03-21 · 2020–2024 models
The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 71 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Telluride, 9.1% of all 781 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (16 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 24V214000. 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Kia Telluride years have the most transmission complaints?
2020 (71), 2021 (29) and 2022 (26), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Kia Telluride transmission problems?
In the 175 transmission complaints, owners most often describe shudder or vibration (16%), jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (12.6%) and slipping or revving without accelerating (9.1%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission 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 transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
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 transmission 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