2021 KIA Telluride

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
ℹ️Average Safety Profile

This 2021 model shows average reliability, primarily driven by 4 recalls affecting the air bags system.

Key Factor:air bags recalls

📋Why This Matters

Understanding recall history helps predict future ownership costs. Each unaddressed issue represents potential repair expenses.

Insurance companies review vehicle reliability data when setting premiums. Models with elevated recall rates often see adjusted pricing.

Focus Area:general reliability
📊

Expert Analysis

  • 📈
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Warning
  • ⚖️
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (1.9)
    📝
    Summary:

Safety & Reliability Score

58/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-32
Complaint Impact-5
Investigation Impact-5

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2021 KIA Telluride

Model Year2021
MakeKIA
ModelTelluride
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more →
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Nov21
RECALLRecall Issued
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
May24
RECALLRecall Issued
Jul24
ISSUEFirst Report

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

21 complaints (21% of total)
➡️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 100 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟠High
16(16%)
🟡Medium
21(21%)
🟢Low
63(63%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

⚙️Engineering Insight

Based on consumer reports, issues for this vehicle tend to peak around the 20k-40k mileage range. The average reported failure mileage is 56,926 miles.

📊 Mileage data extracted from 19 of 100 complaints (19% coverage)
0-20k
3 reports (16%)
20k-40k
5 reports (26%)
40k-60k
1 reports (5%)
60k-80k
3 reports (16%)
80k-100k
4 reports (21%)
100k+
3 reports (16%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

AIR BAGSTRAILER HITCHESPOWER TRAINSEATS

Official Safety Recalls (4)

Campaign: 21V164000

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

Summary

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 (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia Motors America

Campaign: 22V626000

TRAILER HITCHES

Summary

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 electrical short, which can result in a fire.

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 letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

Campaign: 24V214000

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Summary

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, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

Campaign: 24V407000

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

Summary

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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

NHTSA Investigations

1 investigation

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2021 Telluride.

INV-2021-1000🟢 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding Telluride performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 53,977

Consumer Complaints

100 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 Telluride.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning21%
Stuck15%
Noise10%
Stall8%
Crack7%
Explode6%
Fire5%
Acceleration Issues5%
Body/Interior🔵 Low
STRUCTURE

Wind deflecters on sunroof have broken off which is making it inoperable.

Other⚠️ High
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My stationary sunroof exploded with no Impact while driving. You can tell from. Photos the hole is inside to outside. This happened May 1st, I had it repaired with OEM glass on 5/10 and from day 1 after the repair had the shade vented to alleviate hot air getting trapped as they say they could be a factor. Well then it happened again today on Dec. 17th !! Something is wrong with either frame or the glass KIA is using !

Steering/Suspension🔵 Low
SUSPENSION

Rear shocks unstable. When on rough roads or small imperfections in the road it’s hard to control vehicle and items/people get abruptly jostled. The dealership has been notified but says it’s not a recall and will look at it but can only take pictures and send it off to main office. No warning of this failure.

Engine/Powertrain⚠️ High
POWER TRAIN

The oil filter housing is made of plastic and it cracked causing a major oil leak. There were no warning lights on the dash. Our family had just gotten into the car to visit family for Thanksgiving. I ran back into the house to get something and when I came back I first saw a large puddle of oil where the car was parked then I looked at the car and could see oil streaming out. At first I thought the filter or the oil drain plug had come loose. We had our local mechanic look at it and he said it was a common problem they see with plastic housings instead of metal. We called the closet KIA dealership and they said it was a known problem but KIA has not issued a recall. I searched online and found many complaints. If I had not noticed the leak we could have either had a fire or major damage to the engine.

Body/Interior🔵 Low
STRUCTURE

The door belt molding trim detached. It is available for inspection. If not caught before it completely detached it would have caused a road hazard. Models from 2023-2025 have already been recalled but not my 2021 model which has the same issue. The vehicle was inspected by the dealership I bought it from but they were unwilling to take responsibility since the recall didn't encompass my 2021 model. Kia Corp also was unwilling to take responsibility after I brought the issue to their attention. I noticed the trim pealing off the car. It took little effort to remove it completely and I'm glad I did because it would have fallen off while we were driving.

Engine/Powertrain⚠️ High
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

On 11/01/2025, while traveling on the highway traveling at a speed of 80mph, my vehicle suddenly would not accelerate beyond 60 mph. I managed to exit safely, but this created a dangerous situation for both me, my daughter and other motorists . The next day, Firestone inspected the vehicle and informed me the engine contained zero oil—yet no oil light, check-engine light, temperature warning, or sensor alerts were triggered at any point. There were no visible oil leaks, suggesting internal oil consumption, which I had reported to Kia in October of 2024. On 10/21/2024, I paid $3,300 for a flywheel/ignition repair at a Kia dealership. When I dropped off the vehicle for that repair, I specifically reported abnormal oil consumption and requested it be checked. Kia did not diagnose or remedy the concern. The combination of: -Complete oil loss -No warning indicators -Sudden loss of power and inability to accelerate -Occurring at highway speed constitutes a critical safety defect. Drivers cannot take preventative action if the vehicle provides no indication of catastrophic engine failure until it is already occurring. This defect exposes drivers, passengers, and surrounding motorists to severe risk of collision or injury. Additionally, the dealership later provided a Carfax entry simple stating "car maintenance" on 10/22/2024. No record of what was repaired, indicating inaccurate or incomplete documentation. I am requesting that NHTSA: -Review this incident as a potential engine safety defect. -investigate whether other 2021 Kia Telluride owners are experiencing similar catastrophic oil -loss or lack of warning indicators. -Assess whether current recalls adequately address this failure pattern. -Determine whether an additional recall or investigation is warranted.

Other🔶 Medium
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I tried to open the sunroof and it made a loud "popping" sound then would not close. I took it to the Kia Service center in SC (Fred Anderson Kia Greenville, SC)and the tech informed me this would be a $7000 fix. They also informed me to report this incident since they have also had numerous sunroof issues with this make and model. KIA also released a technical service bulletin " This bulletin provides information to perform a partial replacement of the sunroof wind deflector and mechanism arms on some 2019-2022MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from February 15, 2019 through January 19, 2022. The affected vehicles may experience the sunroof open/close operation inoperative and/or the sunroof wind deflector function inoperative. " A this is a known defect, this should be issued recall as it could result in sunroof glass break, causing injury to drivers, passengers.

Brakes🔶 Medium
SERVICE BRAKES

After having a rear brake replacement on 10/14/25 - was driving to work on 10/28/25, hear a clunk noise that repeated at random. When pulling thru a parking lot I lost my brakes completely. When I parked the car I looked at the brake and the newly installed caliper had fallen apart. Towed to shop to have the vehicle looked and then replaced the caliper with the same brand caliper from the dealership.

Other🔵 Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The trim pieces on the outside of the doors are not properly on and are flapping.

Safety Systems🔶 Medium
SEAT BELTS

After warranty work was performed on my Kia Telluride at an authorized Kia dealership, I discovered that the rear driver-side seatbelt had not been bolted back down. It was completely loose and hanging under the seat. This means my family could have been driving with no seatbelt protection at all. This is a serious safety failure and clear negligence. A seatbelt is one of the most basic, life-saving components in any vehicle. For a dealership to return a car to a customer without confirming all seatbelts are installed correctly shows a complete breakdown in safety inspection and quality control. When I contacted the dealership, I received no apology, explanation, or acknowledgment of responsibility. No one followed up or offered to inspect the vehicle. I also contacted Kia America Customer Relations, but I have not received any response. If such a fundamental safety step can be missed, I am extremely concerned about what other oversights may occur during Kia service work nationwide. This situation should be formally investigated by the NHTSA. I’m requesting a full investigation into Kia’s service procedures, technician training, and inspection protocols to ensure that no other vehicles are returned to customers in unsafe condition. Please treat this as a formal safety complaint. A loose seatbelt is not a minor error, it’s life-threatening negligence. I want this fully investigated and documented under my VIN, with confirmation of corrective action. My family’s safety, and that of other Kia owners, depends on it. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any recalls for the 2021 KIA Telluride?

Yes, the 2021 KIA Telluride has 4 recorded recalls from NHTSA. These recalls cover various components including AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE, TRAILER HITCHES, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT.

Is the 2021 KIA Telluride safe to drive?

The 2021 KIA Telluride has 4 recalls. If you own this vehicle, check with your dealer to ensure all recall repairs have been completed. Most recalls have free remedies available.

Where can I check if my 2021 KIA Telluride has open recalls?

You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local KIA dealer.

📊Year-over-Year Context

📈Improving Trend

Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows improving reliability trends, largely due to manufacturing refinements addressing 2020 issues. Recall frequency decreased 33%.

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Air bags

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm air bags recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

🔍

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all air bags recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:21V164000
2

Trailer hitches

Issue: presents fire risk under certain conditions

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm trailer hitches recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

🔍

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all trailer hitches recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:22V626000
3

Power train

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm power train recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

🔍

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all power train recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:24V214000
💡Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your KIA dealer to verify recall completion status.

🧭What This Means for You

Families with young passengers, pregnant drivers, or those with frequent highway commutes should prioritize this information.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

🔑

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Verify all 4 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your KIA dealer.
  • If any recalls are open, schedule service immediately—recall repairs are always free.
  • Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
🛒

If You're Buying Used

  • Request documentation proving all recalls were addressed before finalizing purchase.
  • Factor potential recall-related service time into your ownership cost estimates.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: January 10, 2026.