TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUNROOF WIND DEFLECTOR ARMS AND MECHANISM PARTS REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to perform a partial replacement of the sunroof wind deflector and mechanism arms on some 2019-2022MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from February 15, 2019 through January 19, 2022. The affected vehicles may experience the sunroof open/close operation inoperative and/or the sunroof wind deflector function inoperative.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Kia Telluride body problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Kia Telluride have filed 48 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Complaints
48
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Telluride (this page) | 48 |
| 2021 Telluride | 26 |
| 2022 Telluride | 13 |
| 2023 Telluride | 13 |
| 2024 Telluride | 23 |
1injury
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Kia Telluride we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 48.
Owners have filed 48 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: OVERHEAD CONSOLE SUNGLASS DOOR-LATCH REPAIR - This bulletin provides information to repair the overhead console lamp assembly and sunglass door latch on some 2012-2023MY model vehicles listed in the table below, which may encounter the sunglass case of the overhead console lamp not closing properly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: REAR SHOCK ABSORBER ASSEMBLY NOISE - This bulletin provides information to replace the rear self-leveling shock insulator and locking nut on some 2020-2021MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 1, 2019 through December 1, 2020 which may exhibit noise from the rear of the vehicle while driving over bumps or on a bumpy road. Replacing the insulator instead of the complete rear shock assembly is recommended to help raise customer satisfaction with the reduced customer repair expense.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PITSTOP: DOOR SPEAKER DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This Pitstop provides diagnostic information to guide in diagnosis of suspected defective door speakers on some Kia vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Pearl white and Snow White Pearl paint delaminates and peels in sheets or large chunks, typically starting around 37,000–80,000 miles and progressing over time. The paint fails on the roof, hood, and above the windshield, exposing bare metal and primer. Most owners report Kia denies warranty coverage once the vehicle exceeds 60,000 miles, with repair costs running $3,500–$5,000.
Sunroof assemblies fail during normal operation. The wind deflector breaks, lodging pieces in the track and snapping plastic frame screws. Some sunroofs become completely detached from tracks while driving. Dealers quote $4,000–$5,800 for repairs and acknowledge the issue is "becoming more common," yet no recall has been issued.
Window trim pieces—metal strips at the bottom of driver and passenger doors—come loose due to poor adhesive and fall off at highway speeds. While newer model years received a recall for this defect, 2020–2023 models have not. One owner replaced trim at least three times.
Additional body issues include a front passenger door that would not open on a brand new vehicle, a muffler positioned too close to the bumper allowing heat to melt the rear trim, and abnormal wind noise on the driver's side that dealerships could not resolve. Owners consistently report Kia refusing to acknowledge these as manufacturing defects.
Same Kia Telluride body reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Pearl paint delamination and peeling
Snow White Pearl and pearl white paint on roof, hood, and above windshield delaminating and peeling in sheets or chunks. Affects multiple panel areas and expands over time. Exposes bare metal and primer underneath.
When: Typically around 3–5 years of ownership, 37,000–80,000 miles. One report at 1,273 miles with trim damage.
Symptoms owners cite: Paint peeling in sheets or large chunks; Paint chipping off in multiple locations; Bubbling paint; Delamination above windshield, hood, and roof; Exposed metal and primer; Progressive worsening over time
Repairs/costs cited: Repaint quoted at $3,500–$5,000+ by dealers. One owner reported paint damage after windshield repair by third party (Safelite). Owners report dealerships denying warranty coverage citing mileage limits (60,000 miles).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia has refused to acknowledge as defect or issue recall. Multiple owners report Kia warranty only covers up to 60,000 miles. Some mention ongoing discussions of potential class action lawsuit.
Window trim metal pieces coming loose and falling off
Satin or chrome window trim pieces at bottom of driver and passenger windows becoming loose due to poor adhesive, then falling off while driving. Heat softens glue over time, causing adhesion failure.
When: Reported at various mileages; one owner replaced trim at least three times after purchasing as Certified Pre-Owned.
Symptoms owners cite: Metal trim pieces becoming loose; Trim pieces falling off while driving, including at highway speeds (70 mph); Trim separation from plastic trim housing; Multiple occurrences on same vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Kia dealer replacement performed multiple times (at least 3 times per one owner). Dealership eventually refused warranty coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2023–2025 model years recalled for this issue. Owner alleges 2020–2023 models need recall but have not received it. One dealer (Ken Ganley Kia, New Port Richey) stopped providing warranty assistance; owner required to open case with Kia corporate for each incident.
Sunroof malfunction and track failure
Sunroof wind deflector/bug guard breaks, lodging pieces in the track. Plastic track screws snap, leaving sunroof glass unsecured and bouncing. Track breaks during normal opening/closing operation. Glass becomes misaligned or completely comes off tracks.
When: Varies; one report noted sunroof opened less than 10 times before deflector assembly spring broke. Another with no specific usage pattern reported track failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop when opening sunroof; Wind deflector breaking; Sunroof glass misaligned or bouncing on frame; Sunroof unable to retract or close; Entire sunroof becoming detached from tracks; Loud noise from motor when button pressed
Repairs/costs cited: Quoted repairs: $4,000–$5,800 for parts and labor. One dealership was unable to fully repair and left sunroof open with plastic cover; sunroof later flew off vehicle on highway. Parts reported backordered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge issue is 'becoming more common.' Kia quoted high repair costs but no recall issued. One owner reports Kia refused to acknowledge responsibility.
Front passenger door inoperable
Front passenger door would not open from inside or outside. Occurred on brand new vehicle at 1,273 miles.
When: Within days of purchase (3/18/19 purchase, issue reported 4/6/19 at 1,273 miles).
Symptoms owners cite: Door unable to open from inside; Door unable to open from outside
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Corporate Kia received formal complaint on 4/9/19 but did not return owner's calls.
Muffler heat damage to rear bumper
Muffler developed hole in rear wall, hidden by exhaust pipes. Heat from hole melted silver trim on rear bumper. Damage worsened after car wash when brushes caught and pulled off approximately 15 inches of trim.
When: Within one week of hole developing; damage discovered after car wash.
Symptoms owners cite: Audible muffler noise; Silver trimwork torn and hanging; Bumper surface damage from heat exposure
Repairs/costs cited: Muffler replaced at Midas (considerable cost). Owner questioned poor muffler placement relative to bumper.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response from manufacturer mentioned. Owner planned to visit dealership (Taylor Kia) to inquire about recall or design change.
Oil housing leak and bolt failure
Oil housing leaks requiring replacement. Vehicle is 5 years old; one owner experienced two replacements (one pre-owned, one after ownership). Oil housing was previously not bolted down properly by dealership.
When: Approximately 5 years into vehicle life. Owner's second replacement needed after 2 years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Part dragging at bottom of vehicle; Oil leak
Repairs/costs cited: Out-of-pocket repair required for second replacement. Dealership negligence during initial service cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Unclear if manufacturing defect or service defect; owner uncertain.
Constant wind noise on driver's side
Abnormal wind noise on driver's side of brand new vehicle. Not normal road wind noise. Dealer mechanic acknowledged issue exists but could not resolve it after three service visits.
When: Present on brand new vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Constant wind noise on driver's side; Unresolved after three dealer visits
Repairs/costs cited: Unresolved; dealer test drove and confirmed issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No resolution provided after three service attempts.
Windshield cracking
Windshield developed crack while vehicle was parked, with no apparent cause. One owner reported rock strike damage; another reported spontaneous crack appearing overnight in driveway.
When: Varies; one overnight in parked vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield crack; Crack appearing without impact
Synthesized from 48 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My vehicle is 3 years old and the frame of my sunroof snapped. The warranty only covers the motor and the frame is what is damaged. When I called the warranty, they said this is a very common problem among Kia Tellurides. Why is this not a recall? It would cost me $4,000 to repair. This is not right.
Paint is peeling above the windshield.
Had body trouble with your 2020 Kia Telluride?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2020 Kia Telluride?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 48 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 48 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 12,557 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Kia/Telluride.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.