Kia · Known Issues
2021 Kia Telluride Problems: 19 Known Issues
2021 model year · 456+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2021 model year · 456+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 456+ owner reports, the 2021 Kia Telluride has 19 documented known issues, with 6 rated critical. The most serious are Tow Hitch Wiring Harness Module Fire Risk, Piston Oil-Control Ring Coking Causing Excessive Oil Consumption (3.8L Lambda II GDI) ($600-$9,000 repair), Panoramic Sunroof Glass Spontaneously Shattering ($900-$2,500 repair), Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk, Occupant Classification System Fails to Detect Child Restraint in Front Passenger Seat (Recall 21V164) ($0-$0 repair) and Intermediate Shaft / Driveshaft Disengagement (Rollaway). The most commonly reported issue is Premature Windshield Cracking with 456 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $9,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 Telluride vehicles. The engine valve springs may break while driving, which can result in a loss of drive power and possibly create a hole in the engine block.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 456+ owner reports, the 2021 Kia Telluride has 19 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Tow Hitch Wiring Harness Module Fire Risk, Piston Oil-Control Ring Coking Causing Excessive Oil Consumption (3.8L Lambda II GDI), Panoramic Sunroof Glass Spontaneously Shattering. Of these, 6 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2021 Kia Telluride has 19 known issues documented across 456+ owner reports. 6 issues are rated critical: Tow Hitch Wiring Harness Module Fire Risk and Piston Oil-Control Ring Coking Causing Excessive Oil Consumption (3.8L Lambda II GDI) and Panoramic Sunroof Glass Spontaneously Shattering and Front Power Seat Motor Overheating / Fire Risk and Occupant Classification System Fails to Detect Child Restraint in Front Passenger Seat (Recall 21V164) and Intermediate Shaft / Driveshaft Disengagement (Rollaway). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Kia Telluride issues range from $0 to $9,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
NHTSA recall 22V626000 (Kia SC247) covers certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia four-pin tow-hitch harness. Debris and moisture on the harness-module circuit board can cause an electrical short and a fire while parked or driving. Severity: high.
Owners of early-build 3.8L Lambda II GDI Tellurides report consuming roughly one quart of oil per 1,000 miles or worse, with several forum cases of the engine running effectively dry between scheduled changes. The root cause discussed repeatedly in the owner community is the low-… Repairs typically run $600-$9,000. Severity: high.
Telluride owners report the fixed or sliding panoramic sunroof glass exploding without any impact — typically while driving, described consistently as sounding like a gunshot followed by glass raining into the cabin. The failure mode is characteristic of tempered panoramic panels… Repairs typically run $900-$2,500. Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 26V430000 (Kia SC374) covers certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. A front power-seat motor may overheat because of a stuck slide knob or an improper earlier 24V407 repair, causing a fire while parked or driving. This recall replaces 24V407. Severity: high.
Certain 2021 Tellurides have an air bag control module / occupant classification system calibration that does not correctly classify a child restraint system installed in the front passenger seat. Instead of suppressing the passenger air bag as FMVSS 208 requires, the system can… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 24V214000 (Kia SC303) covers certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can allow the vehicle to roll away while in Park. Severity: high.
The 3.8L Lambda II V6 in the Telluride experiences fuel dilution of the engine oil when driven primarily on short trips (under 10 miles). Fuel washes past the piston rings during cold starts and does not fully evaporate because the oil never reaches full operating temperature. Th… Repairs typically run $50-$500. Severity: medium.
The 8-speed automatic exhibits torque-converter (damper clutch) shudder felt as a vibration around 45 mph and during uphill gear changes, plus hesitation and weak pickup on re-acceleration and merges. Early 2020 units could log P0741 damper-clutch faults; some required full trans… Severity: medium.
Tellurides fitted with the rear self-leveling (load-leveling) shock absorbers — standard on tow-package and higher trims — develop a distinct knock, thump or pop from the rear of the vehicle over bumps and expansion joints, often accompanied by a harsh, stiff ride. Kia first addr… Repairs typically run $0-$1,400. Severity: medium.
Tellurides repeatedly go dead overnight or after a few days parked, with owners jump-starting and replacing perfectly good batteries only to have the problem return. The Telluride's always-on cellular telematics modem (Kia Access / UVO remote start and remote climate) never fully… Repairs typically run $200-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The Smart Power Liftgate on EX and above fails in two related but distinct ways. The gas struts on either side of the gate weaken — often within the first year or two, and much faster in cold climates — so the gate stops closing fully, reverses partway, or drops. Separately, the… Repairs typically run $180-$1,500. Severity: medium.
AWD-only defect on 2020-2021 Tellurides built from start of production through 28 February 2021. Owners report a vibration that builds between roughly 60 and 75 mph and — the diagnostic tell — appears specifically when the powertrain is applying steady throttle, such as with crui… Repairs typically run $1,200-$2,200. Severity: medium.
Telluride owners report the air conditioning blowing warm air due to A/C compressor failure, with some vehicles having the compressor replaced more than once (often with a remanufactured unit). Common root causes are internal compressor mechanical/electrical failure or refrigeran… Severity: medium.
Telluride owners report unusually high rates of windshield cracking from minor road debris that would not crack windshields on other vehicles. Over 46% of NHTSA visibility complaints for the Telluride relate to windshield cracking. Cracks typically originate from the lower passen… Repairs typically run $250-$1,000. Severity: low.
A large share of Telluride owners report that Idle Stop & Go essentially never works, or works for a while and then stops. The system requires a state-of-charge threshold at the 12V battery (dealers commonly quote roughly 68 percent or better), adequate brake vacuum, and settled… Repairs typically run $200-$400. Severity: low.
Tellurides develop paint bubbling and peeling at body panel seams, particularly the hood leading edge, roof rail joints, and rear liftgate seams. The issue is caused by insufficient e-coat coverage at spot-welded seams, allowing moisture to penetrate under the paint. The bubbling… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: low.
The third-row seat fold-down mechanism in the Telluride jams, preventing the seats from folding flat or locking back into the upright position. The latch mechanism uses a cable-actuated release that stretches and binds over time. When the latch jams in the released position, the… Repairs typically run $50-$500. Severity: low.
Owners across multiple model years report the center infotainment (UVO) screen freezing, going black, showing a blue 'reset' screen, or rebooting on a loop while driving, sometimes accompanied by phantom-touch behavior and loss of the backup camera. The unit often becomes unrespo… Severity: low.
Tellurides equipped with the panoramic sunroof develop headliner sagging and separation around the sunroof opening. The headliner adhesive fails due to heat cycling from the large glass panel above, causing the fabric to detach from the backing board. The sagging starts at the ed… Repairs typically run $50-$1,200. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.