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Home›Kia›Kia Telluride› transmission and drivetrain problems
Owner complaints · Power Train · every model year

Kia Telluride transmission and drivetrain problems, 2020–2027

178 of the 2,028 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Telluride 2020–2027 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2020 (70), 2021 (28), 2022 (26). Filed under the same heading across these years: 6 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.

178 complaints, 7 model years 9% of everything filed about the Telluride typically at 10k miles

Kia Telluride transmission and drivetrain problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One 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 yearComplaints naming the transmission and drivetrainShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
2027823%—3 TSBsthe year →
202587%—2 TSBsthe year →
2024146%—5 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20232412%—6 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
2022268%—12 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
2021288%—11 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
2020 in depth709%10k15 TSBs · 1 recallthe 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 transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
178complaints name the transmission and drivetrain, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2019: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 31 · 2025: 45 · 2026: 60

10kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 25 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 2,000 and 46,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, 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.

Vibration/humming noise at highway speeds (most noticeable btwn. 65-75 MPH). Confirmed by 2 different Kia dealerships, suspected to be an issue with drive shaft or rear differential
Power Train Feb 8, 2021 NHTSA owner report
My transmission is randomly and frequently slipping into neutral, mostly at lower speeds while shifting after a turn and increasing speed. The result is that I have no power while navigating in traffic and must shut off the vehicle and restart to regain power to the transmission. Almost like a reboot of the system.
Power Train at 12,000 miles Aug 24, 2020 NHTSA owner report
There is an ongoing problem with the AWD coupler on every model year of this vehicle and other KIA/Hyundai AWD vehicles. The problem occurs at lower speeds (35mph or less) while turning, and/or when starting from a stop turning either left or right.
Power Train Sep 9, 2024 NHTSA owner report
Vehicle has a vibration at 60-75 miles per hour. It's a rhythmic vibration that you can feel in the gas pedal and sense in the front of the vehicles drivetrain. Kia has a TSB about this issue. Kia TSB 099. But our vehicle is past the 60k mile warranty period that would protect it.
Power Train Apr 23, 2024 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that after his wife had parked the vehicle and left the front driver's side door opened while there were two passengers in the rear seats. The contact stated that his wife unloaded the vehicle and walked towards the front door.
Power Train at 36,000 miles Jan 28, 2025 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaign filed under this heading, any model year

6 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

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 files

Every system, every model year: Kia Telluride problems by year →

From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Kia Telluride years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?

2020, 70; 2021, 28; 2022, 26. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2027 (23%).

Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Kia Telluride?

Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 24V214000 (2024). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Kia Telluride?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 10,100 miles across the model years; half of them between 2,000 and 46,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?

The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.