The 2020 Kia Telluride has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,078,813 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 909 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS24V4070002024-06-05462,869 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy
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…
POWER TRAIN24V2140002024-03-20427,407 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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,…
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.
Consequence
Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 HITCHES22V6260002022-08-1536,417 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
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…
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…
Consequence
Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 BELTS19V5940002019-08-1330,168 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.
Remedy
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…
Complaints by component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
174
2crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
138
1crashes3fires3injuries
VISIBILITY/WIPER
135
1crashes
ENGINE
131
4fires
POWER TRAIN
70
1crashes1fires2injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
53
1crashes3fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
48
1injuries
SUSPENSION
31
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
16
SERVICE BRAKES
12
Total complaints909
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Oil burns too fast causing oil changes to be required by every 3000 miles”
“Oil burns too fast causing oil changes to be required by every 3000 miles”
“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…”
“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…”
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The factory paint on my 2020 white kia telluride has failed. The paint is peeling and flaking from the hood and the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request, and I…”
“Sc299 (high‑beam headlight failure) is actually a safety defect tied to visibility and part of a recall which my telluride falls just outside of”
“The paint on my white 2020 kia telluride is peeling/delaminating from the hood and the area directly above the windshield (a-pillar/roof edge). Peeling began as small chips and has progressed to larger sections coming off down to bare primer/metal, with no impact or collision involved. This…”
“I have a 2020 kia telluride. On 6/14/2026 I opened my sun roof and was unable to close it. I called my local dealership and was advised that they were unable to look at my car for at least 2 weeks. I am currently having it repaired by a licensed auto shop which will cost me $3800.00”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE23002 Opened 2023-01-27 · closed 2024-04-17
Complete Loss of High Beams
On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23002 to investigate allegations of loss of high beams with no warning and no re-engagement resulting in reduced visibility at night in the 2020 Kia Telluride. The investigation revealed that the halogen bi-function projector beam, used in…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2020 Kia Telluride as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.