Problems · NHTSA complaints
2023 Kia Telluride problems
Owners filed 211 complaints about the 2023 Kia Telluride with NHTSA between Dec 2022 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (51).
Complaints
211
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system51
- Visibility/wiper29
- Power train25
- Engine24
- Vehicle speed control14
- Structure14
- Forward collision avoidance14
- Visibility12
- Steering10
- Lane departure9
- Seat belts8
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Suspension8
- Service brakes6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
59
49
48
53
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 59 |
| 2024 | 49 |
| 2025 | 48 |
| 2026 | 53 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
51 reports3 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“There was a low-speed collision with a deer (approximately 10-15 mph). The vehicle continued to run fine after the collision and we were able to drive it home. After the next start, the engine was shaking all over and started smoking from behind the engine. The battery was disconnected but it continued to smoke. After further inspection, we were able to find a fire and extinguished it using a fire extinguisher. We had issues with this car prior to the collision where the engine would misfire after the car would get wet, but would only produce temporary codes. This was checked out by the dealer and we were told there's nothing that they can do. A few weeks prior to the collision it happened again and the check engine light went to a confirmed/permanent code and it was related to cylinder misfires. If we would not have had a fire extinguisher or had been able to roll it away from the house, the occupants, vehicle, and house would have been in danger of the fire. The source of the ignition has been confirmed to be the ignition coils, but the root cause of this has not been determined and it has just been assumed that it is related to the collision, without an…”
Visibility/wiper
29 reports
“Three times over the past year minor debris or small rocks have hit the windshield causing major spidering affects that have run all across the windshield. Even when using the windshield repair kits.”
Power train
25 reports1 crash1 related recall
“My car just started making a knocking sound when I turn. Brought it in for diagnoses and was told it's the AWD Coupler, WHICH is a part of the powertrain component, but it's not covered under my 100,000 powertrain warranty, and is only covered up to 60,000 miles. This is a known issue according to Facebook, blogs, and reddit and many Kia users have had the same problem on their cars. It should be a recall and fixed if it's happening so frequently.”
Engine
24 reports2 fires
“This is an update to my original NHTSA complaint (ID 11755209) regarding an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect on my 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN [XXX]). Since my original filing, the identical defect has recurred twice more, on XXX — once at approximately 1:01–1:30 PM EST and again at approximately 5:03–5:17 PM EST, the same day. In both incidents, the dashboard and infotainment system powered up normally, but the vehicle would not crank, consistent with all prior occurrences dating back to XXX. This brings the total documented occurrences to six between XXX and August 8, 2026, including two in a single day. In both August 8 incidents, my wife was stranded and had to be picked up because the vehicle would not start. This follows a dealer-confirmed and dealer-executed starter replacement (Kia of Cleveland, RO dated XXX, part #36100-3L160) that was performed after the dealer duplicated the fault on the vehicle and on a bench test — and a 4th recurrence on XXX, just 10 days after that repair. I have video evidence of all four August incidents (XXX, and the two on XXX showing the instrument cluster and infotainment fully powered with a no-crank condition. I am…”
Vehicle speed control
14 reports
“Engine shuts off without warning while driving. First reported to the dealer on XXX (approximately 12,000 miles) and has continued for 2.5+ years despite repeated repair attempts. Shutoffs typically occur at low speed while decelerating, such as turning into neighborhoods or approaching stops, but have also occurred while coasting at 33 mph on a busy road with cruise control active (August 8, 2025). Frequency has varied from roughly every 1,000 miles to severe clusters: three shutoffs within one hour on [XXX] and again on [XXX], and five in a single day in mid-August 2025. The dealer reproduced the failure with diagnostic equipment connected in August 2024. Most recent events: XXX;XXX (quit while coasting at 20 mph on a busy four-lane road with cruise control engaged);XXX (quit while slowing to turn onto a neighborhood street, 87 degrees F, A/C on high). The vehicle usually restarts immediately, but on [XXX] it would not restart for 5-7 minutes. After restart, cruise control retains its previous set speed, indicating an incomplete power cycle. The dealer (Kia Store East, [XXX]) has attempted repairs since September 2023 under Kia case #XXX, including crank…”
Structure
14 reports1 crash1 related recall
“I was at a complete stop, made a right hand turn, and as I was turning, the driver side door opened/became a jar and then my car alerted me that the door was open Yes, my safety was at risk because the door was open It beeped the lights were on in the cabin, and there was a notification on my dashboard”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.