Kia Telluride engine problems, 2020–2027
346 of the 2,028 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Telluride 2020–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2020 (155), 2021 (66), 2025 (44). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall campaign. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Kia Telluride engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 5 | 14% | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2025 | 44 | 38% | — | 13 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 18 | 8% | — | 14 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 | 26 | 13% | — | 21 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 32 | 10% | — | 28 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 in depth | 66 | 18% | — | 17 TSBs | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 155 | 20% | 78k | 20 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 51 · 2025: 102 · 2026: 162
Across the model years, half of the 42 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 10,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. 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.
I am the original owner of our 2021 Kia Telluride and we follow the manufacturers recommendations and ensure our oil is changed every ~10K miles. Our Kia was recently serviced at Nationwide Kia in Timonium Maryland in April 2024 and had the oil changed. As I was driving today, the Oil Pressure Warning Light came on.
Car was being driven when it began to slow down. Pulled over and smoke was coming from under the car. Car would not start again. Once at dealership, found there was catastrophic engine failure due to a rod that put 7 holes in the engine. Also, car was low on oil despite an oil change less than 60 days prior to this incident
I always turn off the engine auto stop while driving and am sure this feature was turned off at the time of the incident. I was stopped at a drive thru idling in drive when my RPM sounded like it lowered and the the vehicle started shaking.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 24V077000 CriticalFeb 7, 2024 · 2,872 vehicles
- 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.
3 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Jul 31, 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CRANKCASE EJECTOR INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (SA650) - This bulletin provides instructions to inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV ejector on certain 2027MY Telluride Hybrid (LQ2AH) vehicles produced from December 4, 2025, through March 20, 2026. Affected vehicles may display an illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P04DB00
- Jun 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
- Feb 21, 2026
- 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.
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Kia Telluride
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Kia Telluride problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Kia Telluride years have the most engine complaints?
2020, 155; 2021, 66; 2025, 44. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2025 (38%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Kia Telluride?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 24V077000 (2024). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Kia Telluride?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 50,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 10,000 and 90,000. 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.