2020 Kia Telluride recalls, problems & safety ratings
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2020 Kia Telluride and 776 owner complaints. The most-reported problem areas are exterior lighting (185), engine (153), unknown or other (146). It earned a 5-star overall NHTSA safety rating. EPA-rated fuel economy is 21–23 mpg combined, depending on engine. 3 recalls carry a Park It or Park Outside warning.
The 2020 has the most owner complaints of any Telluride model year from 2020 to 2025. It has 7 recalls vs. an average of 5.5 per model year.
Recalls 7
Every recall NHTSA lists for the 2020 Kia Telluride. Not every recall applies to every vehicle, so check your VIN. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.
Seats · front assembly · power adjust
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.
Seats · front assembly · power adjust
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.
Power train · driveline · driveshaft
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Exterior lighting · headlights
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.
Risk: Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.
Trailer hitches
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.
Electrical system · wiring
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.
Seat belts · rear/other
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.
Common problems
From complaints owners filed with NHTSA. Complaints aren't verified, but patterns across hundreds of owners point to known weak spots.
Most-reported problem areas
By the numbers
Recent owner reports
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2020 Kia Telluride SX with approximately 129,000 miles. The vehicle began experiencing delayed starting followed by a very strong gasoline odor. I also heard a hissing sound that continued after the engine was turned off. Due to safety concerns, I had the vehicle towed to a repair facility rather than continuing to drive it…
1. Incident & Vehicle Identification •Vehicle: 2020 Kia Telluride •Owner Name: [XXX] •Contact Phone: [XXX] •Kia Customer Care Case Number: XXX •NHTSA Safety Recall Number: 26V430 2. Description of Safety Hazard & Manufacturer Reimbursement Refusal Plaintext COMPLAINT REGARDING MANUFACTURER NON-COMPLIANCE WITH 49 CFR § 573.13 (REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRE-NOTIFICATION REMEDIES) STATE…
hi- I bought a used Kia Telluride (2020) and after 2 months it stalled out and after 2 different mechanics and a Kia dealership telling me it was fixed- it was not. The car basically had no oil left with zero light or warning. after doing some research, there are tons of people complaining of the same issue. the engine is essentially ruined and needs to be replaced and Kia is n…
Safety ratings
2020 Kia TELLURIDE SUV AWD
2020 Kia TELLURIDE SUV FWD
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for common configurations of the 2020 Kia Telluride.
Telluride AWD
Auto (S8) · 6 cyl · 3.8 L
Regular
Telluride FWD
Auto (S8) · 6 cyl · 3.8 L
Regular
Other model years
Questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Telluride have?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2020 Kia Telluride, most recently for seats · front assembly · power adjust (07/02/2026). Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer. Enter your VIN to check whether a recall applies to your vehicle.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Kia Telluride?
Based on 776 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported areas are exterior lighting (185), engine (153), unknown or other (146).
Is the 2020 Kia Telluride safe?
The 2020 Kia Telluride earned a 5-star overall rating in NHTSA's 5-star safety ratings. It has 3 recalls with a Park It or Park Outside warning, so check your VIN.
Is the 2020 a good year for the Kia Telluride?
The 2020 has the most owner complaints of any Telluride model year from 2020 to 2025. It has 7 recalls vs. an average of 5.5 per model year.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia Telluride get?
EPA ratings for the 2020 Kia Telluride range from 21 to 23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain.
Own a 2020 Kia Telluride in South Carolina?
Our mobile mechanics diagnose and fix the problems above at your home, office or fleet lot in Lexington, Columbia and the Midlands, with dealer-grade scan tools.
Related vehicles
Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings APIs; EPA fueleconomy.gov. Data retrieved October 21, 2026. NHTSA model names used: TELLURIDE, Telluride.