2020 Kia Telluride: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2020 Kia Telluride: 7 recalls, 771 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts, Seat belts Vehicle recall #19V594000 · 2019 · 30,168 vehicles
What's wrong: The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats May not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.
The fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-u.s. Specified label, with a u.s. Specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The…
Forward collision avoidance, Exterior lights Vehicle recall #20V436000 · 2020 · 86,921 vehicles
What's wrong: When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the scc applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020.
Trailer hitch Vehicle recall #22V626000 · 2022 · 36,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: 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…
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #24V148000 · 2024 · 35,031 vehicles
What's wrong: Kia america, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights May fail.
Why it matters: Inoperable high beam headlights May reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #24V214000 · 2024 · 427,407 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: 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…
Seats Vehicle recall #24V407000 · 2024 · 462,869 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Seats Vehicle recall #26V430000 · 2026 · 462,869 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 or an improper recall 24v407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Why it matters: A fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: 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 expected to be mailed August 13, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 9 mention a fire, 11 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Exterior lights (185): the most common themes are warning light on (44), electrical failure (19), stalls / loses power (9).
- Engine (151): the most common themes are excess oil use (67), warning light on (53), stalls / loses power (48).
- Other / unknown (146): the most common themes are warning light on (14), noise or vibration (8), leaks (8).
- Visibility/Wiper (136): the most common themes are noise or vibration (6), stalls / loses power (4).
The 2020 Kia Telluride has 771 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 7 Telluride model years for complaints (2.7× the average Telluride year). Complaints peaked in 2023 (151 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 6,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2021 (368 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2020 Kia Telluride.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
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FAQ
Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2020 Kia Telluride. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2020 Kia Telluride problems?
Owners have filed 771 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are exterior lights (185), engine (151), other / unknown (146).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia Telluride get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (3.8 L, Automatic (S8)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2020 Kia Telluride repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.