Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.
Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.
The 2020 Kia Telluride has 737 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 3 active recall campaigns.
The 2020 Kia Telluride has 737 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is lighting at 172 complaints, typically surfacing around 46,167 miles (~$250 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Telluride (this page) | 737 | 3 |
| 2021 Telluride | 337 | 0 |
| 2022 Telluride | 311 | 3 |
| 2023 Telluride | 197 | 1 |
What the defect is, what it can cause, and the free dealer fix — from the NHTSA campaign record. Check your own VIN before you buy or drive.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2020 Kia TELLURIDE SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged critical on this model , showing up around 32,553 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Brights stopped working. They do not turn on, even though you pull the lever, and the dash light comes on
Oil filter, housing leaks where it bolts to the motor this could become a fire hazard but the exhaust close to it
The high beam headlights fail to activate, yet the blue dash indicator shows lights are on high beam. Furthermore, when on low beam the headlights do not broadcast a sufficient distance ahead or to the side to enable driver to see the road sufficiently for safe driving. This…
Dash gage cluster (tach, speedometer, fuel, and engine temp) all go to zero while driving. The digital speedometer readout is also zero. Basically the entire dash is dead minus the entertainment system which functions perfectly.This also shuts down all adaptive cruise and…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.2 out of 10 based on 737 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Kia Telluride has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2020 Kia Telluride is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 1 fire-related complaint on the powertrain; Electrical system: 47 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 6.2/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the lighting first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 172 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 46,167 miles. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 737 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is lighting. Typical failure occurs around 46,167 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is lighting, with 172 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 46,167 miles. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 32,553 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 737 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.