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Your vehicleHome›Kia›Telluride› 2020
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Kia · Large SUV

2020 Kia Telluride

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
47 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls3 critical 7
Complaints8 crash · 9 fire · 11 injured · 1 died reported 776
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
2027202520242023202220212020

The 2020 Kia Telluride is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Telluride FWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 776 complaints, most often about the exterior lighting. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Kia Telluride — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Kia Telluride · Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Telluride FWDGasFWD3.8L 6-cyl202623$2,900
Telluride AWDGasAWD3.8L 6-cyl192421$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41229, 41232.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Telluride AWD, Telluride FWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.8 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower291 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity8 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: EX, LX, S, SX). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length196.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)78.3 in
Height69.3 in
Wheelbase114.2 in
Track, front66.9 in
Track, rear66.9 in
Curb weight4,343 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2020 Telluride
Other years The 2027 Telluride Recalls Kia recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Kia Telluride is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (7)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Seats

SC374
Park outside 462,869 vehicles 20% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A fire increases the risk of injury. Fix 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
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDFChronology PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V430000 reported Jul 2, 2026 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Seats

SC316
Park outside 462,869 vehicles 85% reported repaired built Jan 9, 2019 – May 29, 2024
Problem 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. Risk A fire increases the risk of injury. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V407000 reported Jun 5, 2024 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

SC303
427,407 vehicles 86% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V214000 reported Mar 20, 2024 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Exterior Lighting

SC299
35,031 vehicles 66% reported repaired
Problem Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail. Risk Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V148000 reported Feb 26, 2024 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Trailer Hitches

SC247
Park outside 36,417 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V626000 reported Aug 15, 2022 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

SC194
86,921 vehicles 93% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V436000 reported Jul 28, 2020 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

SC181
30,168 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Jan 9, 2019 – Aug 5, 2019
Problem 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." Risk If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V594000 reported Aug 13, 2019 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Exterior Lighting:Headlights — Complete Loss of High Beams closed

On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23002 to investigate allegations of loss of high beams with no warning and no re-engagement resulting in reduced visibility at night in the 2020 Kia Telluride. The investigation revealed that the halogen bi-function projector beam, used in vehicles built between January 2019 and November of 2019, is composed of one halogen bulb light source that provides light for both low beam and high beam. The heat generated by the halogen bulb will inflict damage to the gear mechanism and as a result the shutter’s electric motor will no longer be able to move the shutter to the open position to reveal the high beams. A loss of high b

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Apr 17, 2024 · action PE23002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Telluride

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Kia Telluride, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Kia Telluride

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Telluride →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
776complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 9 a fire · 11 injuries · 1 deaths reported

89 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 86,920 Telluride built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 73 · 2020: 71 · 2021: 52 · 2022: 50 · 2023: 151 · 2024: 122 · 2025: 126 · 2026: 131

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting → 185
Engine → 161
Visibility/Wiper → 154
Unspecified 146
Power Train → 70
Electrical System → 60

In depth: exterior lighting problems → · engine problems → · visibility and wiper problems → · transmission and drivetrain problems → · electrical problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

While driving down the highway going maybe 45 MPH, something flew up and hit the windshield causing a large chip and spiderweb to form immediately. Whatever hit the windshield was so small I never saw it. This has happened plenty of other times in other vehicles without causing any damage
Visibility/Wiper Sep 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11255266
The headlights at night are poor. They do not illuminate traffic signs such as: speed limit, stop, street/highway info, yield, warning, etc. when you approach a the upside of a hill, visibility is limited to 30-50 feet. Side vision when turning is non-existent. This occurs at night when in motion and stopped
Exterior Lighting at 6,000 miles Sep 16, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11255716
Shortly after purchasing this AWD vehicle, there is a distinct vibration at highway speeds. The vibration starts at 67 MPH and is there until speeds exceed 75 MPH, where things start to smooth out once again. There is also an odd noise inside the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling in this speed range.
Power Train at 1,000 miles Aug 30, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11252376
Brand new 2020 Kia Telluride purchased on 3/18/19. On 4/6/19 the front passenger door would not open at 1273 miles. Took it to Kia dealership garage on 4/8/19 and they could not fix it. I filed a formal complaint with corporate Kia on 4/9/19. No one is calling me back.
Structure at 1,273 miles Apr 11, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11195709
While test driving the vehicle we accelerated the vehicle and heard a yell from my children in the back row "the seat is crushing the baby!". Our 5 month baby was strapped in the middle seat center row and the back part of the seats folded forward dislodging the rear facing car seat and tipping it upward a bit.
Seats Mar 2, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11183605
Driving on a city street, I noticed a tiny crack coming down from the top of my windshield. By the time I got home (10 minutes), it was spread across the entirety of my windshield. I'be been waiting since june for a replacement windshield
Visibility/Wiper at 700 miles Sep 10, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11254357

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 13 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 13 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 15 per 100,000 built. Every Telluride model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 7k

miles, typically

Half the 186 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 26,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 110
10k–20k 24
20k–30k 7
30k–40k 6
40k–50k 6
50k–60k 1
60k–70k 8
70k–80k 6
80k–90k 5
90k–100k 4
100k–150k 7
150k + 2

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Visibility/Wiper955,0000.71×
Exterior Lighting3312,0001.41×
Unspecified224,000—
Engine2078,0001.56×
Power Train139,5000.23×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2020-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: power train (0.23×); later: engine (1.56×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2020–2021 model years the Kia Telluride ranks 9 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.39× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 6,398 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Kia warranty extension (28) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 152
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-25
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 122 service bulletins, 18 warranty extensions, 6 emissionss

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Visibility/Wiper, Exterior Lighting.

  • TSB_ENG270 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Engine
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION: This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing a 2020-2025MY Telluride (ON) vehicle's engine, which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption. Follow the flowchart on page 2 in this procedure to repair a vehicle exhibiting excessive oil consumption.
  • WTY049_OWNR Warranty extension
    2026-09-25 · Visibility/Wiper
  • WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY049) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to owners for specific repairs related to the front sunroof wind deflector on certain 2020-2022 MY Telluride vehicles manufactured from January 9, 2019 through July 27, 2022. For these specific model & model years, Kia will exte
  • TSB_CHA129_R1 Service bulletin
    2026-09-23 · Power Train
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (Revision 1) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the 4-Wheel Drive ‘4WD’ system software on some 2020-2025MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 08, 20
  • WTY045_TSB Warranty extension
    2026-06-04 · Engine
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET REPLACEMENT (WTY045) - This bulletin provides information regarding the ‘Warranty Extension Program (WTY045)’ for the inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the oil filter housing gasket on certain 2020–2025 MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 9, 2019, through June 12, 2025. Under this program, th
  • TSB_CHA128_CLSD Service bulletin
    2026-05-23 · Power Train
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT) - CLOSED & SUPERSEDED BY CHA129 - This bulletin is now closed and superseded by CHA129. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the 4-Wheel Drive ‘4WD’ system software on certain 2020-2022MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 09, 2019 through September 01, 2022. The affected vehicles may exhibit a noise an
  • TSB_CHA129 Service bulletin
    2026-05-23 · Power Train
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the 4-Wheel Drive ‘4WD’ system software on some 2020-2025MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 08, 2019 through December 17, 2025. The affected vehicles may exhibit a noise and/or a vibration, shudder, jerking, binding, or chattering sensation while turning at low sp
  • SC357_OWNR Emissions
    2026-02-21 · Electrical System
  • VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC357) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) for 2020-2025 MY Telluride vehicles to ensure compliance with emissions regulations.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0741
P0741 on Kia →		The torque converter clutch is not locking up when commanded.Power Train1 bulletin · 1 owner report

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Kia Telluride failed the emissions check on 2.6% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).

New York inspections 2.6%

failed emissions

2,635 initial inspections of 2,597 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 TellurideEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.6%2.2%2,630
Failed the safety inspection1.9%1.6%2,635
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.30%0.19%2,635
Miles driven a year12,4699,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer78,41362,630odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Telluride by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 C 3 43 35 mpg2025 C 3 122 22 mpg2024 F 5 223 Park outside2023 F 6 209 Park outside2022 F 7 327 Park outside2021 F 5 373 Park outside2020 this page F 7 776 Park outside

Common questions about the 2020 Telluride

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 7 recall campaigns for the 2020 Kia Telluride, 3 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V430000, covering Seats. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Kia Telluride?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Kia Telluride 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (47/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Kia Telluride, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Transport Canada measured it at 196.9 in long, 78.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 69.3 in tall, on a 114.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,343 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Owners have filed 776 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Telluride, most often about exterior lighting, engine, visibility/wiper. Of those, 8 involved a crash, 9 a fire, 11 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Kia Telluride?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Kia Telluride is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Kia Telluride?

The manufacturer has filed 152 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Telluride, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Kia Telluride do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Kia Telluride failed the emissions check on 2.6% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls7NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints776NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins152NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Telluride The Telluride model year with the cleanest record on file — grade C, 3 recalls.Recalls Every Kia recall on file All campaigns filed against Kia vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Telluride by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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