2020 Kia Telluride engine problems
155 of the 764 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Telluride name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 20 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 155 reports a crash · 5 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 27 · 2025: 58 · 2026: 58
Half of the 20 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 65,000 and 95,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
764 complaints in all about the 2020 Kia Telluride, 58 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Telluride engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
All of my oil changes have been done religiously at the same Kia dealer where I bought my 2020 Telluride but ever since my 1/14/23 oil change, I have experienced oil leaking from my car on and off. Was told by the dealer that the issue was faulty oem oil filters and that the o-rings weren't sitting properly.
Over the past 2 weeks my Telluride has stalled when restarting at a turn or sign sign 3x. I didn't take it to the mechanic yet because it restarts fine and there are no lights on the dashboard or codes so I know the mechanic would send me away.
We experienced an issue of the engine stalling while my wife was stopping at a stop light on multiple occasions. I did not think to check the oil as the vehicle only had about 60k miles at the time.
I am writing to report a safety defect within the 2020 telluride. Yesterday I started my vehicle to let it warm up as it was cold outside. I came back inside changed into my work clothes.
One day with approximately 58,000 miles on the car it would not start. No warning lights had appeared prior to not starting. The car was towed to a Kia dealership. They claimed there was no oil in the car. Kia refused any warranty work and the dealer filled with oil and said everything was fine.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications20 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- WTY045_TSB Warranty extensionJun 4, 2026
- 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
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0300 P0301 P0303 P0304 P0305 P0524
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Kia Telluride names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Kia Telluride
Source: the same files- exterior lighting problems 184 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 70 complaints
- electrical problems 59 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2020 Kia Telluride?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 155 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (20% of everything owners filed about it), and 20 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2020 Kia Telluride?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 7 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2020 Kia Telluride?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 78,000 miles; half of them between 65,000 and 95,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.