2021 Kia Telluride Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 5 NHTSA recalls and 371 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

24/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Kia Telluride shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

Own or buying a 2021 Kia Telluride?

Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.

NHTSA Recalls

5 recalls on record

371

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

4 fire reports

⚠️

NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Kia Telluride (5)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Kia dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

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…

NHTSA #21V164000

🔧 Trailer Hitches

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…

NHTSA #22V626000

🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft

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…

NHTSA #24V214000

🔧 Seats: Front Assembly: Power Adjust

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…

NHTSA #24V407000

🔧 Seats: Front Assembly: Power Adjust

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 an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are…

NHTSA #26V430000

💬

Most Common Problems — 2021 Kia Telluride

Based on 371 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Unknown Or Other

Visibility/wiper

Engine

Electrical System

Structure

Power Train

Suspension

Visibility

📊

Kia Telluride — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Kia Telluride VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a Kia VIN — free Kia VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2020 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Kia Telluride

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Kia Telluride has 5 recall campaigns and 371 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Telluride have?

The 2021 Kia Telluride has 5 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Telluride?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Kia Telluride are: Unknown Or Other, Visibility/wiper, Engine, Electrical System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride safe to buy?

The 2021 Kia Telluride has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 5 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Kia Telluride should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Kia Telluride are: 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2020.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.