2020 KIA TELLURIDE Engine Problems

97 complaints about Engine

97
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Engine Complaints (97)

Jan 11, 2026

We have had multiple issues with this car. First the pearl white peeling off on hood and above the windshield. Second CV3 axles boots leaking on our vehicle and multiple others at the Kia dealership. Third burnin oil even with good maintenance records. 3rd sunroof won’t open or close now for no reason at all. 4th back seat now attempts to fold at random times. Even with our kids in the seat. 5th oil housing leak. 6th CEL comes on and off randomly causing it to run rough. 7th screen is now to have issues of not working right. We’ve had to pay out of pocket for multiple things. Including the paint. We’ve spoken to service department and common issue they don’t see why it’s not a recall by now. Dealership is no help. Beware

Jan 9, 2026

My vehicle was consuming what I thought was a good bit of oil, I had an oils consumption test done, at 1000 miles it was 1 qt low, they said that is normal. So I drove away, another 1000 miles later my engine blew while I was driving, blowing metal everywhere! Left me sitting on the side of the road and Kia is saying it is not a known issue!! No lights car on indicating low oil or engine light.

Jan 7, 2026

My 2020 Kia Telluride has been serviced repeatedly for what has been described as an oil pan leak. My car has stalled out on multiple occasions and at one point wouldn't go above 60 on the highway. This is a know issue with 2020 Kia Tellurides, but the repair solutions are not solving the problem. My car stalled again and is idling rough and will now be serviced again for the same problem.

Jan 5, 2026

Vehicle manufacturers have certain basic rules and procedures that must be followed. When a vehicle manufacturer sells a vehicle, it has a duty to ensure that the vehicle functions properly and safely for its advertised use and is free from defects. When a vehicle manufacturer discovers a defect, it must explicitly disclose the defect and make it right or cease selling the vehicle. When a vehicle manufacturer provides a warranty, it must stand by that warranty. I believe Kia has breached its duties and rules as follows. Specifically, these Class Vehicles (Tellurides and Others) have malfunctions regarding their incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which can result in engine damage and failure, and even potentially cause a fire known internally and secularly as an ("Oil Ring Defect”). Now, I purchased this car in January of 2023. Based on Kia’s active and persistent promotions touting the quality of its vehicles and my partners admiration of Kia vehicles, we considered Kia a quality company with a strong reputation for producing reliable vehicles. In addition to Kia's reputation through its marketing and promotion. We decided on the 2020 Kia Telluride because we believed it was a high-quality vehicle, after a salesman convinced us that the vehicle was highly reliable and came with great technological features. Since purchasing this vehicle it has only taken the vehicle to the certified dealership for its routine maintenance as recommended by both the vehicle alert system and the Service Department at Courtesy Kia. However, through all our consistent visits to dealerships, we had never been told of any recalls or defects related to his vehicle’s oil ring system. Since 2015, KIA has designed, manufactured, distributed, sold, and leased the Class Vehicles with this problem. As discussed earlier and in more detail below, the Class Vehicles contain a defect that causes a serious safety concern. The unresolved defect with the Telluride engine is an attack on owners.

Jan 5, 2026

The argument for the warranty claim to be honored and the work to be completed is as follows. Kia Inc may not want to take responsibility for the engine. They may want to shy away from their duty by claim negligence on the part of the owner. Kia will ask the car owner to produce every receipt and service record you can scrape together just to prove that one was not done at an “authorized” center of some sort. Or they will argue the distance between intervals of oil change down to the smallest of detail to claim you abused the engine. An engine they know has a flaw. An engine with a ring flaw across multiple lines, years and models. That in multiple lawsuits they have in fact taken responsibility for and lost in cases so they are aware of the issue. But my argument is not necessarily these things. My argument is the oil warning light. That light is the real danger when combined with this fatal engine flaw. For a **3.8L V6 gasoline engine** (like that of the 2020 Kia Telluride) using **SAE 5W-30 motor oil**, you can theoretically determine the oil loss level that would trigger a warning indicator based on the overall oil capacity and typical safety standards. Oil Capacity and Warning Indicator Calculation Specifications of My 2020 Kia Telluride according to Anthropic AI. - **Oil Capacity**: 6.9 quarts - **Typical Safe Operating Level**: Generally, engines are designed to alert drivers when oil levels drop to about **1 quart** below the full capacity, which is critical to maintain proper lubrication. Oil Loss Threshold- - **Full Capacity**: 6.9 quarts - *Warning Threshold*: -*Safe Level*: 5.9 quarts (6.9 quarts - 1 quart)Safe Oil Level - The warning indicator would typically come on when the oil level falls to approximately **5.5 to 5.9 quarts.This range ensures the engine continues to operate safely without risking damage due to inadequate lubrication.Key Aspects of FMVSS 101 Regarding Oil Pressure Warning Lights. S5.2.3. (The light must alert the driver...

Dec 21, 2025

Around Dec 13 the cooling fan started running by itself while the vehicle was in the garage for a few hours with the engine shut off, so, engine is cold.. What we do in this circumstance is starting and shutting the engine, that takes car of the situation until it happens again, sometimes right away or a few hours later or next day. I can't identify a relay that controls the fan. So, at this point we don't know how to resolve this problem.

Dec 9, 2025

Plastic oil filter housing cracked causing all oil to leak out. If not noticed would have blown engine while driving. Brought to dealership and not covered under warranty

Dec 8, 2025

Engine oil consumption issue. Engine is run dry due to overconsumption of oil, increasing likelihood of cracked engine block or engine fire. Secondary issue includes increased fuel consumption/ decreased MPG. First oil consumption test reflected 60% of oil used 1,000 miles after oil change.

Dec 6, 2025

Several oil housing changes. I’m not the first owner, the oil housing has been changed once already and I’m going to have to do it a second time, the car is only 5 years old. I’ve only owned the vehicle 2 years. The dealership did no diligence to check it, I went to the dealership for years and due to negligence with my oil changes and recalls I stopped going, now I’m having to pay out of pocket for issues they’ve caused. I thought I messed up my car and had a part dragging at the bottom, when I took it in to the dealership they said it was previously not bolted down properly. I had a recall, I was told 3 times my lights were connected and I was “good to go” each time I got in and the car said my lights were not connected. After this I never came back! Not sure if it’s the dealership issue or on the car for my oil housing leak.

Dec 5, 2025

Engine light continues to come on and the vehicle sputters a lot while driving, it seems like it doesn't want to go. I have to give it more gas like I'm pushing it and when breaking the left front wheel wobbles when I'm trying to come to a stop I have to hold the wheel extra firm

Dec 5, 2025

I just recently purchased this vehicle used. I live in northwest Indiana and as soon as the temperature went below 40 degrees I developed an oil leak. In searching this topic this is a known issue with these vehicles but a widespread recall has not been issued. All owners of these vehicles as well as the Hyundai Pallisades have this issue due to having a plastic oil filter housing. This has been diagnosed by a non dealer certified repair facility already. The part is only around $60.00 but the labor to install is very high. Upon contacting Kia they informed me that I would have to bring it in to the dealership for diagnosis at a cost of $180.00 and then go from there for them to determine if they will "goodwill" the repair. I feel that in a situation like this either a recall should be issued, a class action should be created to reimburse all owners that have had these repairs done. It will not affect owners in states with warm climates. Can someone please research this and discover the amount of complaints online associated with this and get back with me? am already $5000.00 into repairs for known issues on these vehicle including rear suspension that is also a known issue but no recalls have been issued.

Dec 4, 2025

I purchased this vehicle with 109,000 miles on it. After driving for about a month, I noticed a noise and took it in for an inspection. I was told there was no oil in the vehicle and to take it to Kia. Kia told me that was a known issue the the oil consumption and wanted to start testing. I have an extended warranty but I am having to come out of pocket $5000 before a claim can even be started and I have only owned it for 5 months.

Dec 2, 2025

I was driving down the road and the engine started suddenly making a loud knocking noise. The car was immediately pulled over and put in park and towed to mechanic shop. Mechanic shop stated there was no oil on the engine dipstick and the engine was ruined due to lack of oil. No oil leaks were found. The car is kept in the garage and there is no oil on garage floor that would indicate a leak. The car was maintained with full synthetic oil changes every 6,000 miles. There was no indicator light on dash to alert to an oil problem. I called Kia to report concern, as there is a class action lawsuit for this engine issue in other models, but was told there was no lawsuit or recall with the specific model of engine in my car.

Nov 12, 2025

After 8 months of trips to the shop telling them the engine was bad, and spending thousands to do things it didn’t need trying to get warranty to cover engine, kia finally agreed it had issues. Tore it down and piston rings are bad. There was carbon build up despite regular maintenance and they are telling me warranty won’t replace

Nov 8, 2025

Oil consumption, I use full synthetic restore and protect . I change oil every 3500 miles .. after every 500 I have to check it and it’s been low have to add 2-3 quarts . Today started acting sluggish checked oil and my oil was low yet again low this is ridiculous. I’ll never own another kia telluride

Nov 8, 2025

My 2020 Telluride started burning excessive oil at 65,000 miles. When the car runs out of oil, it stalls electrical systems such as the ABS and power steering. My car has run out of oil, including during dealer initiated oil consumption tests, 4 times. One of these times I was stopped on a hill. I rolled into traffic, unable to brake or steer! Kia will not admit to this defect in their engines in spite of the thousands of people who have had issues. The Telluride has the same engine as the Hyundai Palisade. Hyundai produced a service bulletin related to oil consumption issues with this engine. Kia has not. My personal car, most recently, burned through 7 quarts of oil in 2,800 miles!

Nov 6, 2025

My 2020 Kia Telluride has undergone three separate oil consumption tests through an authorized Kia dealership. Each test confirmed abnormal oil consumption, yet Kia declined to take corrective action beyond temporary monitoring. The issue has continued to worsen. The engine is now burning oil on the piston, and I am required to check my oil level daily and add oil weekly, even after a fresh oil change. This is not routine maintenance — it is a direct result of a defective engine design that is unable to properly retain or burn oil within acceptable limits. Because the oil burns so quickly, the oil light can appear unexpectedly while driving, creating a dangerous situation if the oil level drops too low. This poses a serious risk of engine seizure or power loss, which could lead to a crash or leave the driver stranded on the road. Manufacturer Response: Kia has acknowledged that the vehicle has a confirmed oil consumption issue but has refused to replace the engine because it is outside of warranty coverage. Instead, the dealership advised me to trade in the vehicle and purchase a new Kia, which is not an acceptable solution. When I questioned this suggestion, I was told that Kia could not guarantee the new vehicle would be free of oil consumption problems because the issue is related to the engine design itself. In other words, Kia is aware of a recurring engine defect but is not providing a remedy for affected vehicles. This is a manufacturer defect that should not be dismissed due to warranty expiration. The repeated documentation of abnormal oil use demonstrates that this problem began long before the warranty period ended. This defect represents a serious safety issue for the following reasons: 1.Risk of engine failure: The Telluride can lose oil rapidly, causing the engine to seize or stall while in motion. 2.Fire hazard: Burning oil within the pistons increases the risk of internal engine fire or smoke. 3.Environmental impact: Constantly burning oil .

Nov 2, 2025

Excessive oil consumption causing monthly oil changes. No low oil indicator causing engine to rattle.

Oct 30, 2025

High oil consumption

Oct 28, 2025

I am consuming excessive oil consumption and the oil consumption tests have failed twice. This usually leads to driving and hearing noises and the car shaking which could lock up the engine and or cause a safety concern if locks up while driving and sudden stop.

Oct 22, 2025

The vehicle began burning oil around 61,000 miles, shortly after the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty period ended. The issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic, who identified leaking lower engine seals and excessive oil consumption. The mechanic advised that the engine will likely need replacement due to internal seal failure. This condition presents a potential safety risk if oil levels drop unexpectedly, leading to engine seizure or loss of power while driving. There were no dashboard warning lights or messages prior to discovering the problem; the only symptom was an oil smell and the dipstick reading consistently below normal levels between changes. The problem has been confirmed by an independent mechanic. The vehicle has been regularly maintained according to the manufacturer’s service schedule. The manufacturer has declined to offer assistance, citing warranty expiration and second-owner status, despite the failure occurring only 1,000 miles past coverage and appearing consistent with a latent manufacturing defect. The vehicle and documentation remain available for inspection upon request.

Oct 21, 2025

For a while now i have had to add extra oil about a quart every so often (didnt chart mileage )between oil changes and I thought its just burning some oil. Last few months it went up to adding 2 quarts and recently I had to add 3 quarts of oil and I had just checked it 2 weeks ago. There is never a light or any kind of notice on dash panel about low oil. I have a epiletic daughter that requires a safe vehicle to get her to the hospital. So this is a real safety concern. I have been reading this is problem with Tellurides. Because of the oil consumption problem tellurides have been stalling while driving. This could be a life threatening situation with my daughter not to mention for anyone driving the vehicle. The dealer will not do an oil consumption test since I'm at 113,000 miles. I paid $40,000.00 for a quailty vehicle. It should not have these kind of problems. KIA manufacurer said call the local dealer, so its just a run around Please help us figure this out.

Oct 14, 2025

Subject: Ongoing Issue with Excessive Oil Consumption – 2020 Kia S V6 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern and frustration regarding a recurring issue with my 2020 Kia S V6 related to excessive oil consumption. Despite multiple visits to the dealership and attempted repairs, the issue remains unresolved and continues to affect the safety and reliability of my vehicle. Vehicle Information: Year: 2020 Make: Kia Model: S V6 VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: Approximately 85,808 miles Timeline of Events: September 6, 2024 – Oil change completed at Kia dealership in Easton. No prior issues reported at this time. [XXX] – After about a week of shaking and stuttering during acceleration, the vehicle shut off completely at a stoplight. Upon checking, the oil level was found to be empty. I added 6–7 quarts of oil. No oil warning light appeared on the dashboard at any time. January 14, 2025 – Brought the vehicle to the Easton Kia dealership. Diagnosed with a broken and leaking oil filter housing, which was replaced. Another oil change was completed. [XXX] – After the engine light came on, I checked the oil at 77,021 miles and found it to be low again. I added 1 quart of oil. The engine light was later determined to be due to a loose gas cap. Once again, no oil warning light appeared. [XXX] – At 78,000 miles, I checked the oil, as advised by Kia, to monitor consumption. The oil level was completely empty. I added another 6–7 quarts of oil. No warning light appeared on the dashboard. [XXX] -- Kia for oil change and consumption test at 82,177 miles. Consumption was read after 1,000 miles and I was advised it was good. I was told to come back at 86,075 miles as per Kia recommendation. [XXX] -- A few hundred miles before the deadline, at approx 85,790 miles I checked oil before a trip, it was empty. Again, no warning light came on the dashboard to warn me of low/no oil. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Oct 13, 2025

Oil consumption, consuming too much oil , need it recalled please it’s too much already

Oct 13, 2025

Oil consumption- I have had to keep oil in the car to top off my oil in between oil changes. It will get low before I can make to another appointment and start shaking or making a loud noise when driving or braking. Oil consumption test says I’m burning 2 qt /1000 miles. Checking online and different forums this is a know issue for these models of vehicles

Oct 10, 2025

Kia replaced oil filter adapter and now it burns through excessive amounts of oil. 3qts over 1000 miles. KIA wanted to do an oil consumption test but by the end it would have been out of warranty. Engine replacement would then not be covered.

Oct 10, 2025

Vehicle engine is using 1-2 quarts of oil every month or so. Vehicle only has 85k miles. Engine also has a rattle/tick when accelerating. I believe this is due to the excessive oil usage.

Oct 9, 2025

Oil consumption- I have had to keep oil in the car to top off my oil in between oil changes. It will get low before I can make to another appointment and start shaking or making a loud noise when driving or braking. Oil consumption test says I’m burning 2 qt /1000 miles. Checking online and different forums this is a know issue for these models of vehicles

Oct 9, 2025

My 2020 Kia Telluride consumes oil.at an alarming rate. About 2 quarts for every 1000 - 1500 miles. It currently has 125,000 miles.

Oct 9, 2025

High oil consumption. Oil needs added frequently or it gets low and car doesn’t run correctly. Transmission slips daily at low speed first thing in the morning. When making slow turns tires tires don’t seem to remain steady/grip. The car is hoppy like there is a traction problem. Tires have been replaced and issue remains.

Oct 8, 2025

Engine burns over a quart of oil every week. Kia states it's normal.

Oct 8, 2025

Right at 100k miles both our engine began burning oil at an extremely high rate with no clear resolution for the issue. We are adding 1-2 quarts ever week. Simultaneously, we received transmission solenoid codes from a check engine light. The sealed factory transmission had burn looking transmission fluid and after replacement the light continue to show and now the transmission is slipping and hesitating and we are being told it needs replaced.

Oct 8, 2025

This car is burning oil at an outrageous amount. 2 to 3 quarts in 1000 miles. This is a hazard to drive myself and my two young children in

Oct 7, 2025

My 2020 Kia Telluride, the oil housing unit started leaking earlier this year and was replaced it was low on oil. The oil light never came on.after that it started consuming oil. It consumes a quart of oil about every 100 to 200 miles. I’ve spoken to Kia about this and they said it’s common. They can do a consumption test, and if it fails, it’ll need a new engine but kIA will not replace it because the car is out of warranty. This has been an ongoing issue since the oil housing unit started leaking, which is also a common problem.

Oct 2, 2025

Oven taken my car to jiffy line for more than regular oil changes and they always end up kinda jokingly saying man he’s always low on oil. I just blew a rod thru my block due to lack of oil and how fast it was burning. I feel so cheated out of my money. I’m stuck with a vehicle that I cannot drive and Kia refuses to replace it.

Sep 28, 2025

Windshield cracked from minor item being thrown up by car in front of me. Engine burns out no oil on dipstick with regular maintenance engine tick transmission slips axle boot ripped oil pan cracked due to it being faulty

Sep 24, 2025

My vehicle has an oil consumption problem that the dealership and every other Kia dealership knows about. They are Facebook groups about the Kia Telluride oil consumption problems. I’ve had my vehicle in the shop countless times and it’s cost a lot of money. It now needs a new engine along with every other Kia Telluride on the social media groups, complaining about the oil consumption and their engines going bad and needing replaced. The dealership refuses to replace my engine because there’s no recall.

Sep 14, 2025

For the past year to year ½ I have brought my car in for concerns with idle, hesitation when accelerating, stalling out, etc. This has put me in compromised situations when in traffic, at stop lights and when trying to accelerate to get on the highway. I was told it was fine, until it was not. Now my engine needs to be replaced. What I discovered in my car was their worksheet on issues that they never shared with me. Identified issues on this report: Fault Code 6, PO300400 - history, cylinder misfire, PO30500 - history, cylinder misfire PO34100 When going back for a 'simple' 1000 mile oil check, I was told there was not enough oil loss to identify concern. When I checked my own oil after another 1000 miles, KIA then pursued. In researching, there is a history of these engine problems and engines needing to be replaced with KIA. This is unacceptable and has compromised safety and any value I hoped to have with my car.

Aug 27, 2025

History of engine randomly lurching/ hesitation when shifting. Have brought car in when it stalled out while driving, or at light. Largest problem now is oil leaking excessively. KIA has not been forthcoming on their history with this issue on 2020 Tellurides. Have been dealing with this the past couple of months and needed to bring it in for 'checks'. Service tech said that ½ Quart of low oil after 1000 miles was not enough for KIA to flag; told me to come in at oil change time. He said I did not need to worry as it was still covered under 100,000 warrantee. After checking it myself after driving another 1000 miles, I found that it was low. I brought this in for immediate concerns. I was told to 'wait' as my Service Tech was not there that day. He called me the next day to tell me I should bring in when I can so they can write up an 'approval ticket' for KIA. I brought in the following week. Again he was off. I spoke with another tech who told me it was low 2 ½ Q of oil - this was a week later. I now have to wait for KIA to 'approve'. I was told this could take a week or longer.. I need my car. I asked for a rental and was told I may have to pay for it. This is frustrating and disturbing. I am told by other tech that I will probably need a new engine and I should not drive my car until it is addressed. This car is 4 ½ years old and has less than 70k miles.

Aug 22, 2025

Vehicle burns oil, current mileage at 169k. User manual indicates 7500-10000 miles between changes, I am original owner. Dealership service set for 5k intervals since purchase and done on time. At 99k noticed noises from engine, light rattling but couldn't replicate and couldn't pinpoint at dealership service. At 112k noticed burning oil and rattling noises when accelerating from stop. Changed to 3k oil change intervals, began using premium fuel. 1quart of oil at 0-1000 miles from oil change (had a consumption test at dealership and confirmed "normal" at 112k), sub sequential mileage burns more than 1quart between 1k intervals, can easily burn through 4-5quarts between 3k oil changes. Oil smells slightly like gasoline closer to oil change time. Outside mechanic confirmed rattling as detonation. Concerns of oil not "burning" but mixing with fuel either through oil vapors getting through PCV valve and diluting fuel octane causing rattling. Knock sensor suppresses from causing engine damage, but still happens. Fuel may be getting into the oil, not sure how, but wouldn't explain detonation. No codes, no other issues. Only check engine light since rattling noticed at 99k was failing O2 bank 2 sensor which was replaced by licensed mechanic with OEM parts. The amount of additional oil maintenance and changes were not disclosed on expected maintenance costs sheet posted on vehicles, nor is it communicated in the users manual. Personal opinion is the additional maintenance between changes is unreasonable, and oil isn't "burning" but leaking into the combustion chamber.

Jul 21, 2025

The engine; I took my vehicle to be serviced at the dealership on Feb 18,2025 due to it making a weird whining noise when accelerating and/or turning causing the check engine light to appear. I was told then that my vehicle had no oil in it due to a leak in the oil housing filter. I paid $1900 to have it repaired. Then on May 20th I had to take my vehicle back to the dealership to be serviced for the same issue but this time was told that the cylinder 3 fuel injector needed to be replaced. I then paid $1200 for it to be repaired. Here it is July 21st and the same issue has happened with the diagnostic code reading Cylinder 3 fuel injector and the vehicle will cut off at any time while driving. I took my vehicle back to the dealership and was told that my vehicle was 4.5 quarts low on oil and this was due to my vehicle burning oil and I need to replace the engine or trade the vehicle in. My vehicle has only 124,000 miles on it and should not be needing a new engine or repairs. I purchased this vehicle used with 106,000 miles on it and has had it for a year. I have researched the issue and found that 40plus others has had the same issue with the same vehicle. This issue needs to be looked into. I'm unable to upload my invoices as proof of defect. I can email them if you would like me too.

Jul 14, 2025

The engine failed catastrophically on a highway bridge putting four [XXX] boys in grave danger. They managed to get the vehicle to the other side of the bridge but it was not safe. Not a single warning light came on prior, and the engine temperatur gauge didn't show anything out of the ordinary. Oil levels were checked and topped off prior to the trip. Oil was changed 9 months prior. A local Kia dealer has confirmed total engine failure. Kia has denied the claim despite being under the warranty period because I cannot supply complete oil change records. Who keeps those? I only keep the most recent one which shows 9 months prior. A quick search shows the 2020 Kia Telluride engine is failing at an alarming rate and Kia corporate offices are practing the deny and delay strategy to dodge responsibility. I will now have to hire attorneys and pay $10,000 to replace their faulty engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jul 7, 2025

Our Kia Telluride had engine failure and a leaking oil pan. There were no warning messages or lamps at all.We noticed a blue smoke coming from the engine upon acceleration and a knocking noise from engine. We took it to a local repair shop and they said the engine was shot. We needed a new engine and a new oil pan as well as an oil change.

Jul 7, 2025

In May 2025, I brought my 2022 Kia Telluride to the dealership for an oil leak. They kept my vehicle for a week. Then in June, while driving with my [XXX] son, the engine completely stalled — a terrifying and dangerous situation. I returned the car to the dealership, and they tried to point out a bunch of unrelated issues. But once I got home, the car shut off again. I took it back and was finally told that the engine had blown — and that this kind of failure "happens all the time" with Tellurides, according to their own words. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jul 3, 2025

Another Kia Telluride reporting the known defect in 2020 Kia Tellurides related to severe and excessive oil consumption that poses a potential safety risk and financial loss. I have recently experienced repeated and worsening oil loss between routine oil changes with no visible leaks or warning lights. The rate of consumption exceed 1 quart per 1,000 miles which Kia defines as “excessive” under Technical Service Bulletin ENG222 (Rev 5). This condition creates a risk of engine failure while driving, especially because there are no warning signs that the engine is about to seize. I am in the process of contacting my dealership but Kia of America declined to acknowledge this issue despite it being well documented and affecting a wide range of Kia engines. I believe this is a safety defect that warrants further investigation due to: 1) Sudden engine failure or stalling from low oil levels 2) Lack of adequate early warning indicators 3) Unreasonable financial exposure to consumers for a manufacturer-related defect 4) A pattern of complaints across similar models/engines. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further and ensure Kia is held accountable for this widespread and dangerous issue.

Jul 1, 2025

Had in deals hop several times was told it was on record I was there with the issue but no light on, light came on during travel on interstate and car lost all power Long block blew . Was extremely lucky I didn’t get ran over by the tractor trailers . Loaded car with kids included . Kia should be reasonable for everything and they are saying no .

Jun 30, 2025

This is a follow-up to Complaint #11666572 regarding my 2020 Kia Telluride (VIN: [XXX] ), with urgent concerns about ongoing safety violations and abusive conduct by Greenway Kia East and Kia America. On June 26, 2025, Kia America reversed its prior refusal and agreed to reimburse Uber, rental, and towing costs—but only after I filed multiple complaints. Earlier, they claimed to have no influence over the dealership, which had refused all reimbursement after I complained about Service Manager Gina. Worse, on June 27, the dealership responded via BBB telling me to contact Gina again—the very person I formally complained about for unprofessional and negligent conduct. This isn’t just mishandling; it is degrading, retaliatory, and dangerous. Key safety/legal concerns: • My vehicle was returned on May 31, 2025, with dangerously low coolant, just days after engine replacement—posing a critical safety risk. • The service manager dismissed my concerns until I insisted, then acted with open disrespect. • Repairs were withheld May 19–28 unless I paid $1,833.77, despite warranty coverage. Only after I came in person on May 28 did they reverse and offer free service. • I was charged $580.97 for a diagnostic test tied to a manufacturer defect that led to engine replacement—still not refunded. • The pattern of neglect, retaliation, and deception from both the dealer and Kia America endangers drivers and violates federal safety standards. This dealer has acted with impunity since May 19, 2025. Their behavior is abusive, unsafe, and incompatible with their licensing. I urge NHTSA to investigate whether Greenway Kia East should retain its dealership license. Their conduct undermines public safety and federal standards. A full follow-up and attachments were sent to [email protected] from [XXX] . Please contact me for documentation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jun 23, 2025

I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a known defect in my 2020 Kia Telluride, which is experiencing severe and excessive oil consumption that poses a potential safety risk and financial burden. Vehicle Information: •Make/Model: 2020 Kia Telluride Since ownership, I have experienced repeated and worsening oil loss between routine oil changes — with no visible leaks or warning lights in most cases. The rate of consumption is approaching or exceeding 1 quart per 1,000 miles, which Kia itself defines as “excessive” under Technical Service Bulletin ENG222 (Rev 5). This condition not only creates a risk of engine failure while driving, but it also puts owners like myself at risk of uncovered repair bills in excess of $12,000. I have already contacted my dealership, Kia Corporate, and Fidelity Warranty Services, and was told coverage is uncertain — despite this being a well-documented issue affecting a wide range of Kia engines. I believe this is a safety defect that warrants further investigation due to: •Sudden engine failure or stalling from low oil levels •Lack of adequate early warning indicators •Unreasonable financial exposure to consumers for a manufacturer-related defect •A potential pattern of complaints across similar models/engines As a responsible vehicle owner, I respectfully urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further and ensure Kia is held accountable for this widespread and dangerous issue. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Jun 12, 2025

On [XXX], my Kia Telluride received a warranty engine replacement at Greenway Kia East in Orlando, FL. Just two days later, on [XXX], the engine overheated while I was driving with my young child. The temperature warning light came on. I stopped immediately and opened the hood — there was no coolant in the system at all. This failure occurred immediately after a major engine replacement, suggesting that the dealer failed to fill or properly check the coolant system. I was left stranded near a daycare and had to call a third-party tow truck because Kia roadside assistance estimated a 90–120 minute wait. This put my child and me in serious danger. Despite the dealer’s clear negligence, I was sent an invoice for $1,833.77, blaming me for the damage. Upon retrieving the car on May 31, 2025, I personally checked under the hood — the coolant level was still below the MIN line. When I pointed this out, the service manager said, “We’re not required to top it off, but if that satisfies you, we’ll put some in.” This is extremely unsafe and irresponsible, especially after a critical repair like an engine replacement. Later, the dealership even claimed to Kia America that the engine was not replaced under warranty, contradicting their earlier confirmation. This kind of conflicting information, combined with unsafe practices and disregard for basic safety protocols, raises serious concerns about consumer safety and the dealership’s integrity. To make matters worse, Kia America closed my case ([XXX]) on June 10 without notifying me or giving me a chance to respond. I received only one dropped call from an unknown number, and no voicemail or follow-up communication. A formal complaint was mailed to Kia America on June 11, 2025, and I am currently waiting for their response. On June 12, 2025, I also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

May 15, 2025

I have a 2020 Kia Telluride that I bought brand new from Kia. I have performed regular maintenance on the vehicle and performed the repairs required by any recalls. When my vehicle surpassed 75k miles, the vehicle started having issues with excessive oil consumption. I had my vehicle serviced at 75k miles with the oil changed. When my vehicle was passed 79k miles, the vehicle started stalling, piston misfiring, and engine started vibrating. I took it into the dealer, and they performed diagnostic tests. The determined pistons were working fine but my oil level was very low. This was around 4k miles after my oil change. Kia requires oil changes every 7500 miles. I had the dealer change the oil. Once again, when my vehicle was approaching 4500 miles, the vehicle started to vibrate, piston was not filing properly. I checked my oil level, and it showed very minimal oil on the dip stick. The oil level was well below that was needed for the engine to properly operate. I put closed to 5 quarts of oil to get the engine to the oil level it needed. I am concerned that the excessive oil consumption can lead to the vehicle stalling on the road resulting in collision with other vehicles resulting in bodily injury or harm. According to Kia the oil consumption is fine. How is consuming 5 quarts of oil in 4500 miles fine when the manufacturer states oil changes are required every 7500 miles? The engine itself has a capacity of 6.9 quarts. At the rate my engine is burning oil, I would need over 7.2 quarts of oil to drive 7500 miles. Additionally, having an engine continuously operating with low oil would result in engine damage and thousands of dollars in repairs. The problem I am having in my vehicle is experienced by thousands of Kia Telluride owners. It's the same problem Kia has had in the past with other models. Kia is trying to avoid repairing their defective vehicle and placing the burden on the consumer.

Mar 21, 2025

Vehicle went on accessory mode while driving on the freeway. No codes were read at dealership and now they're claiming its a seized engine. They will not help me out and are claiming my extended warranty will not cover the cost due to the lack of maintenance on the vehicle. Mind you, I did my oil changes as expected using the recommended synthetic oil. Why hasn't there been a recall on this vehicle yet for the danger this creates as this is my family vehicle where I drive my newborn to and from his daycare and appointments. We are very lucky we were able to pull the vehicle to safety and to the shoulder of the freeway before an accident occurred.

Mar 21, 2025

My 2020 Kia Telluride completely stalled on me on my way to work. The vehicle was not smoking and it seemed like it went on accessory mode. I had the vehicle towed to Kia Dealership in Perris to get it checked out and was told by Olivia that no codes were read when doing a diagnostic and that my engine seized. I had purchased an extended warranty through AGWS. AGWS reached out to me to request the vehicle service records which I emailed over as Subject: [XXX] to [XXX] Today March 21, 2024 we receive a call from Olivia stating that my warranty will not cover the cost as they're claiming that we failed to service the car. Our vehicle was services as advised and stated using the appropriate Synthetic oil. I was informed that they would be breaking down my engine to see where it went wrong as there were no codes read. They also stated I had to pay for the engine breakdown $200 per hour and it would most likely take 8 hours (According to Kia). Now, I've gone on many online forum and many people have experienced this problem with their 2020 Kia Tellurides all under 75,000.00 miles. I contacted Kia Corporate as well but that got me nowhere. I don't understand how these vehicles don't have a recall as of yet for these seized engines. I also don't understand how following the oil recommendations for oil changes is suddenly considered "Lack of service". No one is willing to work with me and suddenly it's my fault that I bought a faulty vehicle. Thank [XXX] I was able to putt to the shoulder of the freeway safely as this is my family vehicle where I drive with my [XXX] and [XXX] . Please investigate as it could be a possible recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Feb 20, 2025

The car is a 2020 Kia Telluride. It was purchased in August 2023 at the time it was leaking oil took it back to the dealer and they replaced the housing put in a new filter and said all was good .For a year. it constantly needed oil took it back to the dealer, said that everything was fine. I would be driving and the car would stop. The oil lamp would come on and I would have to drive and put more oil in it every week. I was putting a quart of oil into the vehicle just about weekly because it seemed to be leaking oil and just a dying out. just a few days ago after putting a quart of oil in I’m driving my vehicle and all of a sudden Smoke comes out of the back a little bit out of the hood. It just stopped all the lights went on the car went dead. Had to call the police get the vehicle towed to the dealer at that point was told the engine had died. They want to put a new engine in the car Which it’s a five year-old car. It should not need a new engine what is causing it to need a newengine. Ever since I purchased the car, it had oil problems so did the oil lead to engine failure. I know I’m not the only one that this has happened to every time I would take it back to the Kia dealer. I was told everything‘s fine everything was not fine never got any warning lights or signals, except for when I was driving the car would literally sputter and stop at a light. I would have to restart it and then go get oil.

Feb 11, 2025

On [XXX] , my wife heard a rattling noise while driving. I verified the rattling noise on [XXX]. On [XXX], I researched online and there are a lot of 2020 Telluride owners that experienced the same issue. They mentioned they had no oil in their cars. I checked the oil that morning and confirmed my wife's car had no oil. I reviewed the manual and checked the oil again according to the instructions in the manual. The car still registered no oil in the dip stick. The car did not report any warning lights. There was no engine light or oil pressure light that came on at any point in time to indicate there was no oil in the engine. Per the instructions in the manual, I drove the vehicle carefully to the auto part store. I purchased and added 6 quarts of synthetic blend 5W 30 oil. After that, the rattling in the engine seized. I sent a text message to Kia in Alpharetta, GA. I spoke with Izzy and explained the situation and requested an appointment to have an oil consumption test performed. She advised that the oil consumption test had a $440 cost and consisted of performing a series of oil changes over the course of a specified time to determine how much oil the vehicle was burning/consuming. She said I could call consumer affairs and I asked her if she was referring to Kia consumer affairs or the national/federal consumer affairs. She verified it was the national/federal consumer affairs and provided me with this number to call 1-888-327-4236 which actually belongs to Kia's consumer affairs hotline. Izzy advised that I had pending recalls in my car and asked why I have not brought the car in. I mentioned that I live in Ball Ground, GA and the nearest Kia dealership to me is the one in Woodstock, GA. However, I stopped taking my car there because I previously took the car there to get the oil changes done and each time I did the car would have a nail in one of the tires a couple days after the service. I lost confidence in the dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Jan 31, 2025

Our vehicle is 4 years old and has been experiencing excessive oil consumption (a quart every ~600 miles) and extreme shaking at speeds between 20-50mph. After months of trying to diagnose the issue we have been quoted a total engine and transmission replacement. After calling dealerships across the East coast for second opinions, this is a common diagnosis for our vehicle year and model and even within our small local dealership they are seeing other 2019 and 2020 Kia models experiencing failed piston rings. Kia declined our request for corporate intervention to address the issue.

Jan 31, 2025

My vehicle is using excessive amounts of oil. Every time I drive it, I can smell burnt oil. I took the vehicle to the dealership on 1/24/25 where they found a leak in the oil filter housing. This was repaired (same day) and the oil was topped off per the service report. After smelling the oil smell again, I checked my oil on 1/31/25 and found that the oil was marked between the min and max line on the dipstick. I have reported this to KIA and waiting to hear back. I am reading hundreds of 2020+ Telluride owners complaining of the same issue. I have had no indicator lights.

Jan 26, 2025

Telluride is burning a quart of oil a week… very dangerous

Jan 18, 2025

The truck was purchased in 2021, with no known issues. In early 2024, it was observed that the truck would struggle to accelerate and started making weird noises like it was about to stop working. The truck received its normal oil changes and no issues were identified by the dealership. In mid-2024, around June, the truck continued to act up after having the oil change completed. The truck was taken to a second mechanic who noticed that the truck was missing a lot of oil after completion of a recent oil change. I paid for another oil change and by September 2024, the truck was now leaking oil. My family's safety was jeopardized because there were no warning lights for me to check the oil or anything else. It was taken to a kia dealership who replaced the timing cannister in October 2024. By December 2024, same issues again. An oil consumption test was conducted in January 2025, and result is the need for a new engine, $10,000. I am unable to receive assistance from any other repair shop because of the known issues with kia engines. I need my truck to be fixed by Kia because this is a known issue from other owners as well.

Jan 17, 2025

While traveling at highway speeds between 65-75MPH the vehicle with violently shake while shifting and then lunge forward. However, during the shaking the vehicle is hard to control and feels like it is going to just shut off. This scenario primarily happens on flat roads at the above mentioned speed. However, we have noticed an issue with the vehicle while turning corners and accelerating, as well as, when going up hills or steep highway sections. The vehicle has a V6 but seems to struggle shifting when trying to accelerate even to 40-50MPH. In some instances the vehicle has labored up a hill and seemingly doesn't want to downshift and pick go faster. It seems that this issue has triggered a TSB from Kia, but the issue has potential for elevated risks for other drivers on the road. If the vehicle is unable to maintain freeway speeds or climbing speed, then it poses a risk to traffic on either side of the road and the potential need to pull over. It seems that the vehicle loses power or momentum and would make it very dangerous to get off the road or onto the shoulder. The violent shaking could cause a driver to panic and lose control of the vehicle while at highway speeds and needs to be investigated.

Jan 6, 2025

Upon braking the vehicle would run rough and the engine would shut off completely. This was first noticed when my wife was turning into our driveway and turning across traffic. She was heading westbound and slowed down to take a left(northbound) into our driveway. Upon braking the engine started to run rough & as she accelerated to turn into the drive, the engine shut off completely. This left her stranded turned perpendicular to oncoming traffic. The oncoming traffic narrowly avoided an accident and left my wife shaken from the incident. I brought it into the dealer where after multiple days of investigating found the vehicle was 4.9l of oil low. There was no indication of low oil in the engine; no indicator light or sounding of low oil, prior to complete engine shut down. The dealership stated when the vehicle shut off, the low oil light would then turn on. This is possible as when it had shut off on me while bringing it to the dealer, there were 4-5 lights that would turn on when the vehicle shut off. The dealership performed an oil change, which it was near to the mileage for needing an oil change anyways. Since this was completed we have not had any issues since. I am working with the dealership currently on why the vehicle is consuming so much oil, but my main concern is there was no warning or indication before the vehicle shut off while in normal driving conditions. I called Kia service and the dealership today and they stated the light should come on when there is less than .5 qrts of oil left in the engine. They believe I did not reach the threshold for the light to come on, but again my concern is the only first indication of low oil should not be my vehicle shutting off in an unsafe condition.

Dec 5, 2024

Oil pressure light failed to engage even though engine started to tick.. resuling in Valves not lubricating effectively. It took until next day for Engine to hesitate. When the Auto start feature engaged( the battery light also showed) This left me at the Lights on green, and i had to put vehicle in park to start the vehicle again. The main issue here is that the low oil sensor isnt coming on fast enough for how low the oil is ( 4 quarts low)

Dec 1, 2024

The engine is burning oil at a rate of a 1 quart and a half every 1000 miles if this engine locks up with my wife and kid driving this could cause an accident Kia is not standing behide this and it needs to be replaced please look into this

Nov 11, 2024

This 2020 Kia telluride has paint peeling in between the windshield and sun roof. I have seen tons of post of this happening to people. Kia should be held responsible for this.

Nov 7, 2024

Oil filter housing started leaking and had to be replaced. Although the part is part of the engine, it is not included in Kia's powertrain warranty. This is unacceptable/unreasonable and should last longer than a couple years from new. This part should be recalled and I should be reimbursed for it's replacement.

Nov 1, 2024

For the past year at least I've had check engine light come on and turn off before being able to get in for a diagnostic. Along with the entire engine shutting down while idling, parking, turning. Whole electrical system failure. Can't move the steering wheel. Have to restart the car and it takes a few tries. Sometimes the car will be off and will not start back up for a while.

Oct 18, 2024

Engine is burning oil deal ship says noting is wrong with the car so then where is the oil going if it does not have any leaks at all

Oct 8, 2024 Fire

We contacted Kia US after taking the Kia Telluride to a Kia service station for an oil change.The service tech told us that they were not going to do an oil change because,”the Telluride was a ticking time bomb.” This was said in front of the Kia service Mgr.We were very nervous driving the vehicle because no one explained what that meant.Shortly after the service appointment, the Telluride’s engine caught on fire.We call Kia US that same day to open up a case.We explained all the issues we had with the Telluride (windshield issues, headlight issues, main display screen issues, luggage rack issues, sunroof, drive shaft, wiper fluid filter issues), to include the engine. After paying an attorney to provide all documents that Kia US requested from us, including every oil change receipt for the Telluride, Kia US only offered to only pay for the parts for the driveshaft/engine fire issues. To make matters worse, the Kia service department said that the 100+ parts needed to repair the engine, were on back order. Our Telluride’s engine caught fire in April and Kia US has done nothing for us, even though the issues are under 2 recalls. This is unacceptable for a manufacturer to ignore recalls, especially when it comes to the safety of people, families and children. We contacted Kia US for 6 months with no help from them. We sent registered/certified letters to Kia US executives, legal Dept, Kia Finance and the last communication from Kia US was that they are not doing anything for us- no repairs for the recalls, even though we mentioned the recalls associated with our Vin/Telluride. They are completely disregarding the entire situation. Since then, we have had to find another option for transportation since we have been without the Telluride for 6 months. Kia US needs to take back the Telluride and either provide us with a safe/working vehicle or reimburse us for what we have spent on the Telluride. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (

Oct 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,335.

Mileage: 95,335

Oct 2, 2024

We purchased a new 2020 Kia telluride in late 2019. We purchased this vehicle because of its 100,000 mile warranty. We went the extra step and added the best extended warranty possible so we were covered for many miles and years. I have always done my own oil changes as I am a journeyman fitter and understand the mechanics of a vehicle. I kept every receipt from every oil and oil filter purchase for the last 5 years as well as a detailed log book. Around 75,000 miles we started noticing major oil consumption. Approximately 1 quart every months and then up to about a quart every 2 weeks. We also notice a huge loss in engine power and take off. My wife said she was having trouble pulling out onto hills and was very dangerous at intersections, because of the lack of power. We then took the Kia telluride to my main mechanic, he replaced all 6 spark plugs and said we should immediately take it to a dealer as it sounds like the timing chain maybe going bad. This was early August 2024. I made an appointment with Diehl Kia in hermitage the next day for [XXX]. After a few days the dealer called and said that they could not get the car to replicate the noise they heard when they brought it in. It sat for 2 weeks before they decided to open a claim with Kia customer service. Kia recommended they do an internal investigation at the customer cost which we approved. They said they had found some build up and Kia was requesting the oil change records which I promptly provided. Kia then recommended to do a compression test on the cylinders. Again at customer cost. Even though the vehicle has less than 100,000 miles and the warranty is still valid. We agreed to pay for the compression test as well. After a few more days the service associate called me and said that the compression test had passed to my surprise. A few more days went by and we really had no answers. After pressing the dealer for answer they finally told me that Kia was not accepting our service records.

Sep 9, 2024 Fire

Vehicle started on fire and burned up while parked. Fire came from the engine compartment. Unknown from exact location in engine compartment.

Aug 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds, the contact had driven over the tire tread from a tractor trailer. Due to the failure, several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was serviced; however, the warning lights appeared back on the instrument panel soon after return of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where it remained for over two weeks. The contact reached out to the mechanic and was informed that an abnormal knocking sound was coming from the engine. The mechanic then towed the vehicle to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was later informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

Jul 10, 2024

In November of 2023 my our Kia Telluride began giving us issues. It would act as though it wanted to die/shut off while idling at stops or even during acceleration. We took it to a local mechanic that we always go to. They told us the car was 4 quarts low on oil, even though it had only been about 3,000 miles since the last oil change. Since it was under warranty called the dealer to get an appointment. They told us it would be several weeks, however, it finally did die on my wife while driving on the interstate to work one morning. She immediately called the dealer, who agreed to look at the car that week. Thus began the 5 months of back and forth to the dealer for continuous "testing". Finally, at the beginning of April 2024 we got the ok from Kia to move on the next round of testing. We had an appointment to drop it it off on 4/29/2024. I am filing this complaint on July 10, 2024, and our car has been sitting in their parking lot inoperable since. Initially we were told it would be 2-3 weeks to get a new engine under warranty and each time we have called the dealer or Kia, no one can give us an ETA on the new engine. We now have a vehicle that has been sitting in hot sun getting weather damage for the past 3 months.

Jul 9, 2024

Engine is burning oil now has a rod knock. It’s been sitting at the dealership for two weeks, so haven’t heard anything back

Apr 24, 2024

*Unknown high engine oil consumption which can cause the motor to lock up (because owners aren't aware that this is a known issue with the Kia Telluride *Since Kia has not disclosed this engine issue, the can can stall while driving. *I had a Kia service person state this is a known issues. I was told Kia has yet to do a recall on the Telluride like they've done on two other Kia vehicles with the same issue. I've also had private mechanic stating the same. He ever reported since Jan 2024, he's had 4 Kia motors lock up while people were driving. He also reports the other customers have been told that nothing will be done until the motor locks up *My vehicle is currently at the dealer *No warnings. But hind sight, I am reading this is a major issue with owners

Apr 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started jerking. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle displayed a message "Consider Taking a Break". The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission and both front and rear axles, oil pan gasket, brakes, drive train, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,826.

Mileage: 64,826

Apr 4, 2024

Valve cover gasket leak, coolant hose leaks, passenger side axel boot slinging grease, parasitic draw

Mar 28, 2024

Excessive oil consumption

Mar 18, 2024

The torque converter is malfunctioning to where I have been unable to use my vehicle for almost 2 months. It is available for inspection, but is currently at a repair shop pending inspection to get an estimate on costs to fix the issue (if it is something that can be fixed). My safety along with my family's safety were put at risk due to the inability for the vehicle to pick up speed while driving on major highways [XXX]. During this time the check engine light came on for the 1st time, the vehicle would not properly pick up speed, continuously makes a whining noise when vehicle is on whether it's being driven or not and it shakes at various speeds. A diagnostic was completed and the code listed was for the torque converter. Since that time (1st week of February), I have not been able to drive the vehicle. This is the only vehicle in my household. I am still having to make payments on it and cannot use it. KIA has had a recall in the past issued in June 2020 for a specific timeframe of vehicles produced between May 18, 2020 - May 20, 2020 for the "Automatic transmission/Torque Converter Assembly Replacement". With this recall, KIA only listed 19 VIN's to associate this major issue with. The recall also stated to complete this action prior to the sale of the vehicle to prevent customer complaints. My car was manufactured in June 2019 and I purchased it mid year 2020. If KIA has sold thousands of Tellurides since that time, how can only 19 be affected? I have attached a copy of the previous recall. Once I receive an estimate, I can also forward it. I also have copies of every/all maintenance completed since getting this vehicle to show everything has been completed on time & by a KIA dealership in my area (it doesn't let me upload this file). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mar 5, 2024

The motor was empty of oil after driving 2400 miles since the last oil change. The oil was changed on [XXX] at 102,220 miles. When the check engine light came on, I checked the oil and there was none on the dipstick on [XXX] at 104,884 miles. I had an oil consumption test run at the Kia dealership in Hickory, NC they stated I was only 1 quart low at 1,000 miles. This test was completed in September 2023. The dealership stated since I passed the first round of the oil consumption test that there was no issue with my Telluride. When the car is running, one can smell the oil burning from the exhaust. The dealership in Hickory refused to further investigate the issue. When I returned to the dealership on [XXX], they stated they would not do another oil consumption test because my 100,000 mile warranty was over. I told them I have an extended warranty and they told me most extended warranties do not cover oil consumption. In September, this dealership also failed to replace the housing for the oil filter properly, causing the oil to leak out tremendously after changing the oil. I had to take it to a different mechanic to figure out why there was an excessive leak. There is an oil consumption issue with my Telluride and the dealership in Hickory, NC is refusing to aid me in identifying the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Feb 29, 2024

2020 KIA TELLURIDE 41,000 miles: Engine overheated and ceased while on the freeway. Head Gasket blew, coolant hose had a hole the size of my fist on one side and the other clean split, along with cylinder 3 and 5 misfiring. I lost power and was able to go 25 mph on the freeway and lots of white smoke coming from the hood of the car. Semi trucks were slamming on their brakes to avoid hitting me as it was a dark foggy evening. The engine failure on the freeway could have easily caused multi vehicle collisions involving semi trucks resulting in casualties and loss of life. After 2 months in the shop the dealership has approved a new engine, however they don't know when they can get it in and no time frame when I will have my vehicle back. There was no warning and dealership confirmed there would not have been a warning until after the engine failed. I have maintained all maintenance schedules. There is a Facebook group with many similar stories of engine failures

Jan 26, 2024

With 40k miles on the car driving on the freeway the coolant hose burst without any warning, it didn’t come off, it was weak and split. This caused head gasket damage and cylinder 3 and 5 to misfire with coolant getting in the cylinders. It was dark and foggy out and the car was over heating due to the failures. I lost power and could only go 25mph on the freeway. Semi trucks were honking flashing their lights, passing me and one slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting me due to how dark it was. Even though I was driving with my hazards on. I pulled over as soon as I could, but had a panic attack during the ordeal planning out the best way to die. Sounds dramatic but with all the smoke coming from the car I thought it could blow or get hit by a semi. Looking at online groups there are issues with the Telluride engines that are creating dangerous situations. It’s a matter of time before this problem causes a serious injury or death. I know others that have made complaints to Kia and NHSTA. When is this problem going to be taken care of?? My car has been at the dealership since Dec 19 2023. I am waiting to here back from Kia if they will cover the engine under warranty. The dealership said they had another Telluride with engine failure in Oct 2023 that Kia did not cover under warranty. The dealership has confirmed all these statements. There was no warning that there were any weak spots in the hose. No leaks or warning lights until it left me stranded on a dark foggy night on the freeway. Since Kiefer Kia in Eugene, OR still has my car I have not received any paperwork yet

Jan 24, 2024

When starting the vehicle to warm up (in colder temps) it made a squealing noise and slowly faded. Returned to drive the vehicle and there was a puddle of oil underneath. Upon inspection, it appeared that the leak was coming from between the (plastic) oil filter housing and the engine (it's connected to. This causes a concern as it could cause my engine to seize while driving (especially on freeways). Causing a collision risk and destroying the cars engine at the same time. When researching I found that this is a common (cold temp) issue among Telluride's. I attempted to call Kia service at least four times with no answer/no call back. On my fifth call attempt I was routed to the parts department and found that the part is and has been on backorder for some months now. Was told that there are over 3000 on back order to the states, all accounted for. I researched the issue and found various Kia Telluride forums stating the same cold weather temp issue. This is obviously not an isolated case with no one (O'Reilly, Auto Zone, Advanced Auto & the dealership) having the part in stock and over 3,000 other cases awaiting their back-ordered part. Previous to this, I attempted to get an oil change at a local lube shop and was advised that they could not do an oil change on my vehicle because there was an issue with the oil drain plug and the oil pan seal circulating with the local live shops. They would be unable to do my oil change unless I sign a waiver stating they're not liable for anything that occurs after the oil change occurred. I am attempting to make an appointment now, however with all the parts on backorder (for months now) the only thing I can do is to not drive my vehicle until their is a stockpile of parts available to alleviate this malfunction. This issue has not been investigated by insurance or authorities as I'm uncertain that this falls within their wheelhouse. Recently my check engine light came on, I had the code checked it was the thermostat.

Jan 23, 2024

The vehicle has been losing oil, the dealership checked with no issues along eleith a coolant leak in the rear of the vehicle.

Mileage: 104,271

Jan 9, 2024

This vehicle only has 77,000 miles and it is burning oil like crazy. I have already had a Hyundai engine replaced on a Sonata and it was showing the same signs as this Telluride. When the Hyundai engine blew we were on the freeway and it just slowed down to a crawl as cars where flying past. Clearly if the same thing happens again it is yet another safety issue that could be avoided.

Jan 2, 2024

Motor was completely empty of oil 2000 miles before oil change was due. There were no warning lights. The engine continues to have oil consumption issues, requiring 2-4 quarts per week to be added. The Kia dealership in Hickory NC ran an oil consumption test and said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and refused further investigation into the issue. They also failed to replace the housing for the oil filter properly, causing the oil to leak out. One can smell the oil burning from the exhaust when the car is running.

Dec 4, 2023

My mother noticed a fluid stain on the driveway and said it looked like oil. We didn't notice it at first because we parked over it. I had my husband take a look; it was oil, and our oil was low but not low enough that the check engine light came on. It started after our first freeze in Dallas, Texas, on October 31st. My husband took it up to a local guy because he thought maybe the dealership people did something when I took it up to get an estimate for the headlight high beam issue and frozen spare tire hoist. Both were covered under warranty BTW. The guy said it was the gasket to the oil pan. I took it to the dealership when the parts came in to fix the other issues, and they said the oil filter housing was cracked. It is made of plastic, which is really dumb. I went online and discovered this happens quite a bit right after a freeze, and it is often blamed on the customer or whoever did the last oil change. Our last oil change was on 9/21/23, over a month before the first freeze, and we had no oil leak before that. From what I have read, this usually occurs with less mileage the farther north you are. We bought our Telluride in Houston which is why I believe it has not occurred yet. I feel KIA should do a recall for Tellurides that are having this issue.

Oct 18, 2023

All of my oil changes have been done religiously at the same Kia dealer where I bought my 2020 Telluride but ever since my 1/14/23 oil change, I have experienced oil leaking from my car on and off. Was told by the dealer that the issue was faulty oem oil filters and that the o-rings weren't sitting properly. I have had a total of 8 oil changes between 1/14/23 & 10/9/23. I explained on 3/25/23, during one of my return trips to the dealer, that I didn't want my car back until they could guarantee it wasn't leaking. They had it up on the lift, ran it for a while, gave it back to me, no leaks finally! My car didn't leak between 3/25/23 & 6/10/23 when I had my next routine dealer oil change done. I also didn't experience any leaks between 6/10/23 & 9/5/23 when I had another routine oil change. However, shortly after the 9/5/23 oil change, we discovered the car was leaking oil again. Brought it back to the dealer on 9/25/23 where they said it was another bad filter, changed it and sent me on my way. The following week, I noticed oil leaking, yet again, so I brought the car back to the dealer where they then diagnosed it as a cracked oil filter housing. I am out of warranty so naturally they expect me to pay out of pocket. Either way. I don't see how this is a consumer issue considering I had 8 oil changes in 10 months when I should have only had 2 or 3. So if the oil filter housing is now indeed cracked, the additional wear & tear is not a result of normal wear & tear (consumer issue) but of excessive oil changes done by the dealer due to faulty oil filters. Or maybe it's been a crack in the plastic oil filter housing all along but then why didn't it leak between 3/25/23 & 9/5/23? Either way, the problem shouldn't fall back on the consumer. The internet is full of Kia owners experiencing oil leaks after oil changes and it needs to be addressed.

Jul 24, 2023

Over the past 2 weeks my Telluride has stalled when restarting at a turn or sign sign 3x. I didn't take it to the mechanic yet because it restarts fine and there are no lights on the dashboard or codes so I know the mechanic would send me away. Tonight I was driving home on a local highway and heard horrific sounds coming from the car and smoke from under the hood. I pulled over to the side of the road, the lights all came on the dashboard, and the car turned itself off and would not come back on. I had to be towed. After my Telluride was up on the flatbed, the tow truck driver told me it was bad news. He pointed to some liquid and debris on the road and told me those were pieces from my engine. My engine blew up! He said it was a known thing with Kia engines. My car is 3 years old and had 69,500 miles on it. i have made sure it has all needed upkeep.

May 1, 2023

We experienced an issue of the engine stalling while my wife was stopping at a stop light on multiple occasions. I did not think to check the oil as the vehicle only had about 60k miles at the time. After taking it to KIA here in Jacksonville NC they told us our oil was low and adivsed us to choose the most expensive oil change, i obliged with obvious reservations. After the oil change was completed they wanted it back right at 1,000 miles later to check the oil level. When we brought it back in they said it is within normal limits. I find it hard to believe that an engine should be burning oil this soon when we have kept up with routine maintenance by the dealership since we purchased the vehicle. I am now at a spot where I am adding checking/adding oil until we can get rid of this vehicle since KIA does not want to stand behing their product.

Apr 19, 2023

I am writing to report a safety defect within the 2020 telluride. Yesterday I started my vehicle to let it warm up as it was cold outside. I came back inside changed into my work clothes. Ushered my kids into the car and headed on my way After a 2 Hour Dr., I reached my destination, exited my vehicle, and when I went to lock my doors, they would not lock. This prompted me to enter the vehicle again to double check for the keys and the key fob. At that time it was discovered that the keys were not in the vehicle , My vehicle allowed me to start it with the key fob, bring the key fob inside the house, leave my keys on the counter, but let me drive it for over two hours. There were no additional warnings given that the keys were not located in the car, or that the key fob could not be detected when re-entering the vehicle, and or putting the vehicle in reverse or drive I believe that this causes a safety issue, as if my children were in the vehicle and I had ran back inside. Someone could’ve stole my car and my kids. The dealership is aware of this issue, stating that it has happened on many other vehicles made by Kia , I feel for the safety of the Kia consumer that this issue should be looked into and corrected. The vehicle should not be able to travel with out the key fob in the car!

Feb 1, 2023

One day with approximately 58,000 miles on the car it would not start. No warning lights had appeared prior to not starting. The car was towed to a Kia dealership. They claimed there was no oil in the car. Kia refused any warranty work and the dealer filled with oil and said everything was fine. Three weeks later the car stalled at highway speed in a dangerous situation on the highway. Again no lights were present until the stall. The car would not restart and was towed back to the dealership. The dealer says Kia is refusing to cover under warranty and claiming the car was not maintained unless I can find every oil change receipt from purchase. They want to disassemble the engine and have me be responsible for the cost to prove I did not maintain the car which makes no sense. Kia does not accept any responsibility and fails to see the seriousness of the car stalling at speed on a highway three weeks after they did nothing to properly diagnose and fix the issue.

Mar 15, 2022

The 2020 Kia Telluride has a major, yet well-known design flaw regarding the heater block/heater core causing the blowing heat to drop when the car is at idle or moving at low RPMs. As someone living in Minnesota, it's absolutely absurd that a car can be considered "operating as designed" when the car literally has no heat during traffic or at idle - this has the potential to cause occupants serious injury or even death while waiting for assistance in the event of a flat tire or spinout during cold months. We noticed the issue in December 2021 but the dealer was so backed up with Kias that it couldn't get in for service until February 1st. The car was taken to the dealer on 2/1, 2/15, and 2/25 - the thermostat was replaced but I was told at the last visit that there is nothing else that can be done. The tech at the dealer agreed with the problem but was told by the Kia Techline that everything was within the specifications of the design. How can Kia ethically (and knowingly) sell a vehicle that doesn't provide heat in a state that is regularly below zero (and even below freezing) for over half of the year?

Feb 19, 2022

Transmission would engage into neutral and anytime. Engine would RPM would inceease, 5-7000rpm without pressing the accelerator. When engine was at high RPM transmission would then engage into gear causing a violent lurching. Transmissionseems to be locked into 5th gear. Transmission would also slip/disengage while trying to accelerate.

Aug 23, 2021 Fire

Check engine light in March of 2021. 38,800 miles. Determined to be a timing issue and parts of the engine was replaced by Bill Barth Kia in Mandan, ND. Car was picked up on 4/21/21. On 4/28/21 all warning lights came on. Car was towed back to dealership. After multiple attempts at fixes over a 4 month period of time it was finally determined a new wiring harness was needed. The new harness seemed to correct the problem and I took possession of the car on 8/20/21. It was driven around 75 miles that day to drive home. On 8/22/21 the car was driven 8 to 10 miles and then parked and turned off in my driveway at 12:35 pm. No warning lights were on at this time. At or around 1:30 pm I was notified by my neighbors that the car was on fire. My husband grabbed an extinguisher and located a 12 inch flame in the front of the car near the engine. It was quickly extinguished. Once the fire was out I opened the door to put the car in neutral to remove/push it from the driveway. All warning lights were on once again. The battery cable was disconnected to hopefully prevent another fire. I have documentation of work done between 3/11/21 and 4/21/21 but all work done after that point is on an invoice that was denied to me by the dealer. I was told I could receive a copy of the invoice once compensation was made to them by Kia for a part.

Feb 10, 2021

BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2020, STARTING THIS WINTER A HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE BAY DURING COLD START IN THE MORNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S FREEZING. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM TWICE YET THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE CANNOT BE LOCATED. KIA REFUSED TO OFFER MORE HELP, SIMPLY ASKING ME TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE OR SOMETHING REALLY BREAKS. THIS KIND OF NOISE COULD BE AN INDICATOR OF OTHER ENGINE OR AIR INTAKE PROBLEM WHICH KIA IS NOT CAPABLE TO DIAGNOSE.

Mileage: 2,000

Sep 11, 2020

THE VEHICAL WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES UP TO 6000 RPM WITH NO OR LITTLE ACCELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED.. THIS ALSO OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS, NO OR LITTLE ACCELERATION WHILE THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES TO 5000 RPM VISIBLE ON THE TACHOMETER AND HEARD FROM THE ENGINE NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE SLIPPING OR DOWN SHIFTING TO MANY GEARS FOR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL DEMAND. THE DEALERSHIP WITNESSED THIS PROBLEM DURING A TEST DRIVE AND I SHOWED THEM A VIDIO OF THE SPEEDOMETER VERSUS THE TACH READING WHILE THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND KIA STILL HAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCEDENT ON ONE OCCATION AND A NEAR MISS HEADON COLISSION WHILE DRIVING THRU OREGON AND TRYING TO PASS IN A PASSING LANE, ON A VACATION DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE DAY ONE OF THE VEHICAL PURCHAS AND HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE OF THE PROBLEM ON 3 OCCASIONS. KIA DEALER SAYS KIA HAS NO KNOWN FIX.

Mileage: 4,900

Nov 1, 2019

THE DASH SHOWED THAT MY ENGINE WAS OVER HEATING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGHE WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT

Mileage: 4,000