Kia Telluride 2020 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls issued for the Kia Telluride 2020 and 776 complaints filed by owners. 3 of them carry a do-not-drive or park-outside warning until repaired. It's the model year with the most complaints for the Kia Telluride between 2020 and 2025.
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Kia Telluride 2020? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Kia Telluride 2020
Seats
NHTSA campaign 26V430000 · 2026-07-02 !
Owners are advised to park it outside and away from structures until repaired (fire risk).
What happens
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.
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 an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seats
NHTSA campaign 24V407000 · 2024-06-05 !
Owners are advised to park it outside and away from structures until repaired (fire risk).
What happens
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Powertrain and transmission
NHTSA campaign 24V214000 · 2024-03-20
What happens
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.
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Exterior lighting
NHTSA campaign 24V148000 · 2024-02-26
What happens
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.
Consequence
Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Trailer hitch
NHTSA campaign 22V626000 · 2022-08-15 !
Owners are advised to park it outside and away from structures until repaired (fire risk).
What happens
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 harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase 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 new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Electrical system
NHTSA campaign 20V436000 · 2020-07-28
What happens
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 the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence
Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Seat belts
NHTSA campaign 19V594000 · 2019-08-13
What happens
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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence
If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
776 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
8 with a crash · 9 with a fire · 11 injuries · 1 death
Most reported problems on the Kia Telluride 2020
- Exterior lighting: 185 (24% of complaints)
- Engine: 153 (20% of complaints)
- Wipers: 136 (18% of complaints)
- Powertrain and transmission: 70 (9% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 58 (7% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Kia Telluride 2020
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Test headlights, brake lights, turn signals and hazards.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- Test every wiper speed and the washer.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia TELLURIDE SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2020 Kia TELLURIDE SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Kia Telluride recalls by year
- 2020 : 7 recalls · 776 complaints
- 2021 : 5 recalls · 373 complaints
- 2022 : 7 recalls · 327 complaints
- 2023 : 6 recalls · 209 complaints
- 2024 : 5 recalls · 222 complaints
- 2025 : 3 recalls · 122 complaints
Guides for this check
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Kia Telluride 2020 have?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls issued for the Kia Telluride 2020. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Kia Telluride 2020?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: exterior lighting (185 of 776 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 22, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).