KIA / Telluride / 2021

2021 KIA Telluride problems

Owners have filed 453 complaints about the 2021 KIA Telluride with NHTSA. Visibility/wiper accounts for 13.7% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine at 13.2%. A further 21.4% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints453

Crashes13

Fires4

Injuries15

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Unknown or other 21.4% · 97

Visibility/wiper 13.7% · 62

Engine 13.2% · 60

Electrical system 8.6% · 39

Structure 6.8% · 31

Power train 6.0% · 27

Forward collision avoidance 5.5% · 25

Visibility 5.1% · 23

Severity

Of those complaints, 13 describe a crash, 4 describe a fire and 15 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 6 model years of the KIA Telluride in this data, 2021 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 2020 draws the most.

Filings are rising — 284 in the last three years against 150 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 3,100 miles.

In owners' own words

Windshield appeared to have 6 inch crack in windshield, even though no rock or chip were noticed. Crack grew to an 18inch crack within 1 day. Crack will likely spread across entire windshield and inhibit visibility. This was 1 year to the day of purchasing the vehicle. Brought it to the dealers attention, and they are aware of the issue with 2020 models, but didn't have guidance from KIA on 2021 models. Visibility/wiper

On my wished a small object hit my windshield on the passenger side and within an hour it spread more by the best day it was almost on the driver side of the windshield. Second, the forward collision and lane departure lights came on. I took the SUV to Kia they said it was an issue with the camera and they where going to order the part and replace it for me. It seem I was not the only one with this issue. Visibility/wiper

We were driving at about 45-50mph on a straight, smooth, road when we heard a loud pop or thud and then glass fell in on the driver and front passenger plus some on the second row, where my 2 year old daughter was seated. The front sunroof panel had exploded or shattered somehow. We were on a section of road with nothing overhead. Our Telluride only had 190 miles on the odometer when this happened. Visibility/wiper · reported at 190 miles

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other KIA Telluride years

2020 925 complaints · 19.7% exterior lighting 2022 419 complaints · 17.9% electrical system 2023 311 complaints · 16.4% electrical system 2024 315 complaints · 14.9% electrical system 2025 140 complaints · 21.4% engine

Compare all 6 model years →