2021 Kia Telluride Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2021 Kia Telluride, and owners have filed 366 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2021 Kia Telluride
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Power adjust (seats) Park outside
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Power adjust (seats) Park outside
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.
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.…
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Driveshaft (power train)
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.
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…
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Trailer hitches Park outside
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…
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…
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Air bags: front passenger and air bag/restraint control module (air bags)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
366 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Kia Telluride have filed 366 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 17,163 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 93 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“On September 4, 2026, my son was driving our 2021 Kia Telluride on the highway at approximately 70 mph with cruise control engaged when the vehicle suddenly began making a clicking noise, followed by”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Engine
“Unfortunately, beginning in June 2025, I experienced a serious engine problem. While driving, the vehicle began sputtering and stalled twice in traffic. I immediately brought it to the dealer, where I”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 24, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Kia Telluride (Telluride AWD, Telluride FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–20 / 24–26 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
Compare Kia Telluride model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Telluride model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Telluride | 7 | 769 |
| 2021 Kia Telluride | 5 | 366 |
| 2022 Kia Telluride | 7 | 324 |
| 2023 Kia Telluride | 6 | 207 |
| 2024 Kia Telluride | 5 | 219 |
| 2025 Kia Telluride | 3 | 116 |
| 2027 Kia Telluride | 2 | 25 |
Checking a specific 2021 Kia Telluride
How do I know if my 2021 Kia Telluride has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2021 Kia Telluride; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V164000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.