Kia Telluride: best & worst years

No Kia Telluride model year rates as one to avoid in CarVitals data. The strongest years are 2022. Below is every year (2020–2024) ranked best to worst, with the owner-reported problems behind each verdict.

Every Kia Telluride year, ranked

YearVerdictScoreTop owner-reported problems
2024 Caution 7 The digital instrument cluster can go blank or dark while driving, hiding speed, fuel level and warning lights.; Window belt-line and door trim molding can detach while the vehicle is moving (subject of recall 25V494).; Forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking can activate without an obstacle present. Full report ↗
2023 Caution 7 The digital instrument cluster can go blank or dark while driving, hiding speed, fuel level and warning lights.; Window belt-line and door trim molding can detach while the vehicle is moving (subject of recall 25V494).; Forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking can activate without an obstacle present. Full report ↗
2022 Recommended 7 The 3.8L V6 can consume engine oil at an elevated rate, sometimes with no low-oil warning; a smaller number of owners report power loss or engine failure after oil runs low.; The panoramic sunroof can shatter spontaneously and the wind-deflector arms can break, jamming the assembly; repairs are costly.; Paint delamination and peeling, especially on early 2020 Snow White Pearl cars, can expose bare metal. Full report ↗
2021 Caution 7 The 3.8L V6 can consume engine oil at an elevated rate, sometimes with no low-oil warning; a smaller number of owners report power loss or engine failure after oil runs low.; The panoramic sunroof can shatter spontaneously and the wind-deflector arms can break, jamming the assembly; repairs are costly.; Paint delamination and peeling, especially on early 2020 Snow White Pearl cars, can expose bare metal. Full report ↗
2020 Caution 6 The 3.8L V6 can consume engine oil at an elevated rate, sometimes with no low-oil warning; a smaller number of owners report power loss or engine failure after oil runs low.; The panoramic sunroof can shatter spontaneously and the wind-deflector arms can break, jamming the assembly; repairs are costly.; Paint delamination and peeling, especially on early 2020 Snow White Pearl cars, can expose bare metal. Full report ↗

Kia Telluride problems by year

2024 Kia Telluride Caution

Excellent-value three-row with a proven V6 and Top Safety Pick+ rating, but active recalls for door-molding detachment and a generation-wide rollaway/seat-fire campaign, plus instrument-cluster glitches, warrant a careful pre-buy check.

  • The digital instrument cluster can go blank or dark while driving, hiding speed, fuel level and warning lights.
  • Window belt-line and door trim molding can detach while the vehicle is moving (subject of recall 25V494).
  • Forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking can activate without an obstacle present.

2023 Kia Telluride Caution

First refreshed year adds trims and tech but brings instrument-cluster blackouts and glass/molding complaints on top of the generation-wide rollaway and seat-motor recalls; a strong family SUV if the campaigns are closed.

  • The digital instrument cluster can go blank or dark while driving, hiding speed, fuel level and warning lights.
  • Window belt-line and door trim molding can detach while the vehicle is moving (subject of recall 25V494).
  • Forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking can activate without an obstacle present.

2022 Kia Telluride Recommended

The most settled pre-refresh year: complaint volume well down from launch while keeping the roomy, quiet, high-value package; still watch 3.8L oil consumption and confirm the rollaway/sunroof items.

  • The 3.8L V6 can consume engine oil at an elevated rate, sometimes with no low-oil warning; a smaller number of owners report power loss or engine failure after oil runs low.
  • The panoramic sunroof can shatter spontaneously and the wind-deflector arms can break, jamming the assembly; repairs are costly.
  • Paint delamination and peeling, especially on early 2020 Snow White Pearl cars, can expose bare metal.

2021 Kia Telluride Caution

Much improved over the 2020 launch but still in the oil-consumption and sunroof-shatter era; a comfortable, high-value three-row that rewards a careful inspection and recall check.

  • The 3.8L V6 can consume engine oil at an elevated rate, sometimes with no low-oil warning; a smaller number of owners report power loss or engine failure after oil runs low.
  • The panoramic sunroof can shatter spontaneously and the wind-deflector arms can break, jamming the assembly; repairs are costly.
  • Paint delamination and peeling, especially on early 2020 Snow White Pearl cars, can expose bare metal.

2020 Kia Telluride Caution

The breakout launch year carries by far the highest complaint volume, engine oil consumption, paint delamination and sunroof failures, so buy only a well-documented, recall-complete example.

  • The 3.8L V6 can consume engine oil at an elevated rate, sometimes with no low-oil warning; a smaller number of owners report power loss or engine failure after oil runs low.
  • The panoramic sunroof can shatter spontaneously and the wind-deflector arms can break, jamming the assembly; repairs are costly.
  • Paint delamination and peeling, especially on early 2020 Snow White Pearl cars, can expose bare metal.

Rankings come from CarVitals reliability verdicts, built on public NHTSA complaint and recall data. See how we build these reports, the most reliable used cars overall, browse all Kia models, or check any listing free with the CarVitals extension.