The Lemon Index2023 Kia Telluride.
The 2023 Kia Telluride is so far worse than average by owner complaints: 208 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 158, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 21 to 23 mpg combined. The best Kia Telluride year is 2021.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 208 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Telluride year. 2023 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 35K miles on the car (15 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 6
- 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.
- body structure 2025
The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
- 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.
Show all 6 recalls
- 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.
- electrical 2023
The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
- airbags 2023
Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy 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 73 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- AWD SYSTEM CONCERN DUE TO TIRE CIRCUMFERENCE - This Pitstop provides information regarding…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
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
Second time in a week, less than 300 miles, instrument cluster screen went black, no power.
2023 Kia Telluride owner · NHTSA complaint 11509732
More owner reports
Windshield seemed to crack spontaneously with only 4000 miles. I donât see an obvious impact area from where something hit the windshield.
NHTSA complaint 11533932
While parked windshield started cracking from front left corner every few hours I go out to check it and the crack has spread halfway across windshield
NHTSA complaint 11661223
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Kia Telluride reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.6× the average car's complaints per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 158; 100 is average).
What are the most common 2023 Kia Telluride problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (25%), wipers & visibility (14%) and transmission & drivetrain (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Telluride have?
6 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 2023 Kia Telluride get?
21 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 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.
Does the 2023 Kia Telluride have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2023 Kia Telluride cost in fuel a year?
About $2800 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Kia Telluride have?
3.8L 6-cyl.
What Kia Telluride year is better than the 2023?
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