2021 Kia Telluride: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 337 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 5 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
337
Complaints
5
Recalls
7
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
9
Injuries
36.8
Severity index
Severity index 36.8 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Kia Telluride ranks 68 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 24% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 91 | 27.0% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 62 | 18.4% |
| ENGINE | 56 | 16.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 36 | 10.7% |
| STRUCTURE | 30 | 8.9% |
| POWER TRAIN | 25 | 7.4% |
| VISIBILITY | 23 | 6.8% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 19 | 5.6% |
The single most-reported system is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, cited in 91 of 337 complaints (27.0%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 36 |
| 2024 | 72 |
| 2025 | 61 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 64 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.6x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V164000 | 11/03/2021 | AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. 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 |
| 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.