2020 Kia Telluride transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 24V214000Mar 20, 2024427,407 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

What owners say

1. Filed Jun 30, 2026100,000 miMOTowedElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shut off and the battery warning light was flickering and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to coast the vehicle into a parking lot off the highway where the vehicle remained. The contact replaced the battery; however, approximately one hour later while driving 50-55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost power and shut off. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11747463 · source
2. Filed Jun 26, 2026TXEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   I am filing this complaint regarding my 2020 Kia Telluride because of excessive oil consumption that Kia has refused to address. My vehicle currently has approximately 138,000 miles and consumes about one quart of engine oil every 500 miles. This level of oil consumption is excessive and creates an ongoing risk of engine damage if the oil level is not constantly monitored and replenished. After researching this issue, I discovered that many Kia owners have reported similar…

   NHTSA complaint #11746829 · source
3. Filed Jun 18, 202684,000 miINTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving with the AWD activated in the rain, the vehicle ran off the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact spoke to the seller, who confirmed a previous failure with the AWD coupler. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Another local dealer, Kia Service - Southlake Kia (4191 E Lincoln Hwy,…

   NHTSA complaint #11744967 · source
4. Filed Jun 12, 2026CAElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain

   A continuation from my last post. I brought my car back to the dealer.The worker came out to inspect my car and he lifted the hood and he said I had a loose negative battery cable and that I had the wrong battery in my car. He said that might be the cause of the flickering lights.My car was at the dealership for three days before I was called to come pickup my car.He stated they found another service update that my car needed P0471 and that cleared my check engine light and…

   NHTSA complaint #11743764 · source
5. Filed Jun 8, 2026INTransmission & Drivetrain

   The vehicle was taken in several times for a vibration, binding coming from the rear. It has been ongoing back to the original owner. It is the all wheel drive coupler. This is a known issue with TSBs out on it. Kia has been contacted and seems unwilling to help, replace. Online thousands of these things have failed some even twice. In icy or slippery conditions this can cause loss of control due to binding.

   NHTSA complaint #11742769 · source
6. Filed May 22, 2026NYTransmission & Drivetrain

   I own a 2020 Kia Telluride currently with approximately 91409 miles. The vehicle has a repeatable transmission issue during acceleration, most noticeable around 40 mph when the transmission shifts. The vehicle shudders/hesitates/jerks and does not accelerate smoothly. This creates a safety concern because the hesitation occurs during normal acceleration and could affect merging, passing, or maintaining speed in traffic. I brought the vehicle to Vision Kia of East Rochester,…

   NHTSA complaint #11739512 · source
7. Filed May 18, 2026KSEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   I was driving down the interstate when all of a sudden, I hear a bang, and my power went crazy, couldn't push the gas at all, my car was suddenly shut off. We coasted to the side of the interstate and got out to see a pile of oil underneath my car. Called a tow truck to help us and he found a massive hole in the engine block / oil pan - catastrophic engine failure. I have 117k miles on my car BUT I have kept up with maintenance on this vehicle. There should be no reason for…

   NHTSA complaint #11738539 · source
8. Filed Apr 9, 2026NJFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   While driving on a highway at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration without warning and was unable to exceed approximately 10–15 mph. This created a dangerous situation requiring immediate maneuvering across multiple lanes of traffic to reach safety. At the time of the incident, the check engine light was illuminated. Diagnostic trouble codes P0191, P2177, and P2179 were later identified, indicating fuel pressure irregularities and air/fuel imbalance.…

   NHTSA complaint #11730157 · source
9. Filed Mar 25, 2026COTransmission & Drivetrain

   My transmission failed at 95k miles and was available for inspection at a fee. My safety was at risk since my car was jerking on the highway and I had to quickly pull over while the car slowed down in a fast and high trafficked area. The problem has been an ongoing issue especially in 2020 models from social media and the dealership. The vehicle was inspected by the Kia dealership. The engine light did not come on until the car showed immediate signs of issues.

   NHTSA complaint #11727142 · source
10. Filed Mar 16, 2026VAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

    Description of Defect: My 2020 Kia Telluride experienced catastrophic engine failure and excessive oil consumption, which is a known issue for this model year (to the point that I had to sell it just 1 year after I bought it). The vehicle consumes oil at an alarming rate without any dashboard warning lights, or low oil pressure indicators, leading to sudden loss of engine power and potential stalling while in motion. This failure occurred at 93,200 miles, well before the…

    NHTSA complaint #11724560 · source
11. Filed Mar 12, 2026KSEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    The engine is stalling, knocking and the check engine light will occasionally come on. You can smell carbon monoxide and hot oil. We are having to add a quart of oil weekly.

    NHTSA complaint #11723762 · source
12. Filed Mar 11, 2026OHEngineOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain

    My 2020 Kia Telluride EX experienced a sudden engine shutoff / loss of motive power while driving in traffic. The vehicle stopped in the roadway, would not immediately restart, and restarted later after sitting. This was not normal stop/start operation, the car shut down. No low-oil warning appeared before the event. I am also aware of multiple similar owner reports online describing high oil consumption, stalling, and lack of warning in 2020 Tellurides, but this complaint…

    NHTSA complaint #11723555 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology