NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 2023 Kia Telluride.
| Overall Rating | |
| Frontal Crash | |
| Side Crash | |
| Rollover |
| Overall Rating | |
| Frontal Crash |
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC262.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
Component: 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.
2023 Kia Telluride: black digital cluster screen will not turn on, affecting the ability to monitor vehicle status, odometer, speedometer, and safety features. We purchased this vehicle brand new in 2023. The vehicle has been in the Kia dealership service center (where it was purchased) from January 2026 to present. The dealership estimates it will be June 2026 before backordered parts can be replaced by a master mechanic. We have continued to make payments on a vehicle we are unable to use with no resolution in sight. The vehicle has also been serviced for 5 separate recalls since purchased new in 2023, and we just received our 6th recall notification for an additional issue.
My 2023 Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro is experiencing multiple powertrain and safety defects beginning at approximately 48,000 miles. The vehicle is well maintained per the manufacturer schedule. ISSUE 1 - TRANSMISSION SHUDDER: The vehicle has a pronounced shudder and stuttering through the drivetrain during normal driving, especially under acceleration and load. This began at approximately 48,000 miles and has progressively worsened. Symptoms are consistent with torque converter clutch failure documented under Kia TSB 089 (DTC P0741) and Service Action SA490. ISSUE 2 - INTERMITTENT LIMP MODE (SAFETY HAZARD): On multiple occasions the vehicle enters limp mode without any warning while being driven on public roads. When this occurs the accelerator becomes unresponsive beyond approximately 30 mph. The vehicle cannot accelerate regardless of throttle input. The only way to restore normal operation is to pull over, shut the engine off, and restart. This creates an extremely dangerous condition on highways, during merging, and in heavy traffic. My wife is the primary driver and no longer feels safe operating the vehicle. ISSUE 3 - INSTRUMENT PANEL BLACKOUT: The instrument cluster intermittently goes completely dark while driving, leaving the driver with no access to speed, fuel level, warning indicators, or turn signals. This vehicle also has multiple open safety recalls including SC296 (engine valve springs/fire risk), SC303 (intermediate shaft/loss of drive), SC316 (power seat motor/fire risk), and SC347 (door trim delamination). A recent emissions recall was also received. Problems first reported at approximately 48,000 miles. Current mileage is 86,793. A case is being opened with Kia Consumer Assistance and warranty service has been requested at the purchasing dealer. The vehicle is within the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The 2023 Kia Telluride has 5 NHTSA recalls and 170 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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| Side Crash |
| Rollover |
Consequence: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.
Component: 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.
Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.
Component: STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC347.
The sunroof on my 2023 Kia Telluride spontaneously exploded. An authorized Kia dealership inspected the sunroof and determined that the sunroof exploded outward - which is consistent with a manufacturing defect that should be covered under the vehicles bumper-to-bumper warranty. However, Kia's Consumer Affairs Department is denying warranty coverage and forcing me to file an insurance claim or pay out of pocket.
Drivers cluster screen (which include all gauges, odometer, temp gauge, gas gauge, critical safety features, etc.) has gone completely black with zero visibility to essential functions. Took to dealer. Dealer says screen is covered under warranty but is backordered from Kia. ETA for new screen is late May 2026.This happened on January 15, 2026 with no warning signs. Currently driving vehicle as it is my only means of transportation.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's rear door belt molding trim detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts were on back order. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V494000 (Structure). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
1. Instrument panel failure, can’t see speed, fuel, mileage. Blind spot warning does not work, lane assistance does not work. This issue was not solved by recall related to software update. 2. Unsafe to drive with no way to see speed, blind spot warning failure, can’t tell if blinker is on or how much gas is in car. 3. Dealer reproduced. It’s not a sporadic issue, the panel does not turn on 4. Yes Kia dealership inspected 5. No warning. Turned the car on and the panel no longer worked.
I am reporting a safety concern with the seatbelt system in my 2023 Kia Telluride related to fit and adjustability, not a mechanical failure. The vehicle is available for inspection. As a [XXX] driver, the shoulder belt consistently rubs my neck rather than resting across the center of my shoulder, even when the height adjuster is set to its lowest position. Because I must raise the seat and sit closer to the steering wheel, the belt angle pulls inward toward my neck every time I drive. As a [XXX] occupant ([XXX]), rear seatbelts must be fully extended into locking mode to buckle, resulting in discomfort and concerns about proper belt tension. There have been no warning lights, prior symptoms, dealer confirmations, or inspections by the manufacturer; this condition has been present since initial use and appears to be a design limitation. Improper belt positioning and limited adjustability may increase the risk of neck or upper-body injury in a crash and may discourage proper seatbelt positioning. I request that NHTSA track and evaluate this as a vehicle safety concern in the 2023 Kia Telluride and assess whether current seatbelt adjuster range, belt length, and geometry adequately accommodate shorter and plus-size occupants. I have experienced similar seatbelt fit and adjustability issues in multiple other passenger vehicles, suggesting this may represent a broader cross-vehicle design concern rather than an isolated model-specific condition. Videos showing seatbelt discomfort can be found here: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am reporting a recurring safety concern with seatbelt fit and adjustability that I have experienced in multiple passenger vehicles. As a [XXX] driver, the shoulder belt in many vehicles consistently rubs my neck rather than resting across the center of my shoulder, even when height adjusters are set to their lowest positions. Additionally, as a [XXX] occupant ([XXX]), rear seatbelts in many vehicles must be fully extended into locking mode to buckle, preventing a snug fit and raising concerns about proper tension during a crash. There have been no warning lights, prior symptoms, or dealer inspections confirming these conditions; they have been present since initial use. Improper belt positioning and limited adjustability may increase the risk of neck or upper-body injury and may encourage unsafe seatbelt adjustments. I request that NHTSA track and evaluate this as a broader, cross-vehicle safety concern regarding seatbelt design, adjuster range, belt length, and geometry for [XXX] and [XXX] size occupants. Videos showing seatbelt discomfort can be found here: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
KIA/HYUNDAI INSPECTED AND FOUND CYLINDER 2 TO NOT FIRE ALONG WITH OIL LEAKING FROM LOWER 02 SENSOR. ENGINE BLOCK HAS HOLE, CYL 2 PISTON AND ROD ARE NO LONGER WITH/IN ENGINE. THIS OCCURED WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING THEN LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE IT WAS VERY SCARY BEING STUCK ON THE FREEWAY WAS ALMOST HIT MULTIPLE TIMES.
I’m writing to report an ongoing issue with my vehicle’s windshield washer system. The washer fluid is not dispensing properly, and as a result, the windshield is not being cleared effectively while driving. This creates a safety concern, especially in poor weather conditions or when road debris accumulates on the windshield. The reduced visibility makes it difficult to drive safely and confidently. I have already taken the vehicle in for service regarding this issue. However, I was informed that nothing is wrong with the system and that it is performing the same as a new vehicle. Despite this, the washer fluid output still appears insufficient and continues to create visibility concerns while driving.
The engine’s serpentine belt started to fail prematurely. In cold weather, the engine’s belt would scream for 1 to 5 minutes when warming up the engine (under no load and not moving). The belt had less than 40,000 miles on it (when Kia expects it to go 80,000 miles).
Upon starting suv, the instrument panel / cluster did not display. There is now no way to know speed, safety warnings such as malfunctioning sensors or safety features . No odometer or any driving feedback of any kind. Have scheduled appointment with dealer tomorrow.
The contact owns a 2023 KIA Telluride. The contact stated the vehicle was experiencing heating system failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer on three occasions for heating and cooling failures. The dealer replaced an unknown sensor and the thermostat; however, the heat became inoperable. The contact stated that the heat was only operable while driving, and the vehicle would blow cool air while idling. The contact stated that the heat was barely warming up the vehicle while driving. The contact stated that the failure had caused the windows to be foggy, which reduced the road's visibility while driving. The vehicle was taken to a Kia Dealer, where an unknown sensor and the thermostat were replaced, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Upon starting the vehicle, the gauge cluster screen was and remained completely blank. No indication as to an error, no visual indicator was available as to my speed or the vehicle's status, and no problem lights were visible. The vehicle appeared otherwise operable, and the media control screen was fully functional
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the instrument cluster went blank. The speedometer and fuel gauge failed to display as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V298000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
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