Model year
2021 Kia Telluride
NHTSA lists 5 recalls and 373 complaints for the 2021 Kia Telluride (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). 3 recalls marked park outside. The components listed on the most complaints are UNKNOWN OR OTHER (105), ENGINE (68), VISIBILITY/WIPER (64). NHTSA rated 2 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 21–23 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,900–$3,200, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2020 776 complaints
- 2021 373 complaints
- 2022 327 complaints
- 2023 209 complaints
- 2024 223 complaints
- 2025 122 complaints
- 2027 27 complaints
Recalls
26V430000 · Jul 2, 2026
Park outsideSEATS: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.
24V407000 · Jun 5, 2024
Park outsideSEATS: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.
24V214000 · Mar 20, 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.
22V626000 · Aug 15, 2022
Park outsideTRAILER 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…
21V164000 · Mar 11, 2021
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER; 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…
Complaints
373 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 7, fire flag on 4, injury field 9, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.143 | NHTSA photo |
| SUV FWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.155 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telluride FWD · 3.8L · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 | 26 | 23 | — | — | $2,900 |
| Telluride AWD · 3.8L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 | 24 | 21 | — | — | $3,200 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2021 Kia Telluride at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.