2020 Kia Telluride: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 737 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 7 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
737
Complaints
7
Recalls
8
Crash reports
8
Fire reports
11
Injuries
28.2
Severity index
Severity index 28.2 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 103 2020 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2020 Kia Telluride ranks 82 of 103 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 20% of its model-year peers. See the full 2020 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 182 | 24.7% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 139 | 18.9% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 135 | 18.3% |
| ENGINE | 133 | 18.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 70 | 9.5% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 56 | 7.6% |
| STRUCTURE | 51 | 6.9% |
| SUSPENSION | 31 | 4.2% |
The single most-reported system is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, cited in 182 of 737 complaints (24.7%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 73 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 151 |
| 2024 | 122 |
| 2025 | 126 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 92 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.3x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V594000 | 13/08/2019 | SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 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 requir |
| 20V436000 | 28/07/2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 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 |
| 22V626000 | 15/08/2022 | TRAILER HITCHES | 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 har |
| 24V148000 | 26/02/2024 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail. |
| 24V214000 | 20/03/2024 | POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 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. |
| 24V407000 | 05/06/2024 | SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 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. |
| 26V430000 | 02/07/2026 | SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 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 or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.