The Lemon Index2020 Kia Telluride.
The 2020 Kia Telluride is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 397 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 317, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about lights, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 21 to 23 mpg combined. The best Kia Telluride year is 2021.
Lemon alert. 3.2× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2021
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 775 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Telluride year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 23K miles on the car (196 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- lights complaints mostly came at 0K–64K miles
- wipers & visibility complaints mostly came at 1K–8K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 0K–51K miles
Recalls 7
- seats 2026
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.
- seats 2024
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2024
The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.
Show all 7 recalls
- lights 2024
The high beam headlights may fail.
- trailer hitches 2022
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.
- electrical 2020
When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes.
- seat belts 2019
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 152 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Technical service bulletin tsbele189: service action: rain sensor inspection and/or…
- Technical service bulletin: 3.8l gdi misfire dtc judgment logic improvement - this bulletin…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedComplete loss of high beams2023–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia TELLURIDE SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia TELLURIDE SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2800–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.8L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
High beams do not work. Had bulbs replaced but no effect. Checked all fuses, and they checked out ok.
2020 Kia Telluride owner · NHTSA complaint 11513885
More owner reports
Chip and crack in windshield. Unsure when it occurred, but I never heard something hit windshield. Most likely it happened while car was parked in parking lot.
NHTSA complaint 11242845
High beam headlights stopped working. Took to the dealer and they stated the curtain that goes from low to high is malfunctioning and must have new headlight assembly for driver and passenger sides.
NHTSA complaint 11540983
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Kia Telluride reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 3.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 317; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Telluride year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2020 Kia Telluride problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (38%), wipers & visibility (31%) and electrical (6%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Telluride have?
7 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia Telluride get?
21 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Kia Telluride safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Kia Telluride problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 1,700 and 23,600 miles. The middle report was at 6,000 miles, from 196 complaints.
Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 5% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 Kia Telluride cost in fuel a year?
About $2800 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Kia Telluride have?
3.8L 6-cyl.
What Kia Telluride year is better than the 2020?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2021, 2022 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works