2020 Kia Telluride problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 761 owner complaints on file for the 2020 Kia Telluride, filed between 2019-03-02 and 2026-09-24. The most common problem areas are the exterior lighting (183, 24%), engine (145, 19%) and visibility/wiper (135, 18%). Owners reported 8 crashes, 9 fires, 11 injuries and 1 death in these complaints. NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2020 Kia Telluride complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 183 | 24% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 145 | 19% | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 143 | 19% | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 135 | 18% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 70 | 9% | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 58 | 8% | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 55 | 7% | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 31 | 4% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 17 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 17 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 2% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Seats | 12 | 2% | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Steering | 10 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 9 | 1% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Exterior lighting: 183 complaints
- 183 complaints of 761 (24%) name the exterior lighting — headlights, tail and brake lights and turn signals.
- 8 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 2 crashes in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2020 Kia Telluride; the recall, campaign 24V148000, says: “The high beam headlights may fail.”
Engine: 145 complaints
- 145 complaints of 761 (19%) name the engine.
- 24 of them also name the power train; owners reported 5 fires in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Kia Telluride covers this system.
Visibility/wiper: 135 complaints
- 135 complaints of 761 (18%) name the visibility/wiper — the windshield, windows, mirrors, wipers and defrosters.
- 8 of them also name the exterior lighting; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Kia Telluride covers this system.
Power train: 70 complaints
- 70 complaints of 761 (9%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 24 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries and 1 death in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2020 Kia Telluride; the recall, campaign 24V214000, says: “The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.”
Electrical system: 58 complaints
- 58 complaints of 761 (8%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 11 of them also name the unknown or other; owners reported 1 crash and 3 fires in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2020 Kia Telluride; the recall, campaign 20V436000, says: “When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes.”
Structure: 55 complaints
- 55 complaints of 761 (7%) name the structure — the body and frame structure.
- 9 of them also name the unknown or other; owners reported 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 Kia Telluride covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 73 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 151 |
| 2024 | 122 |
| 2025 | 126 |
| 2026 | 116 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names TELLURIDE, model year 2020. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2020 Kia Telluride recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Kia Telluride?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2020 Kia Telluride's most common problem areas are the exterior lighting (183 of 761 complaints), engine (145 of 761 complaints) and visibility/wiper (135 of 761 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2020 Kia Telluride have?
NHTSA has 761 owner complaints on file for the 2020 Kia Telluride, including 8 reported crashes and 9 reported fires.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Kia Telluride's problems?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2020 Kia Telluride; 3 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.