2021 Kia Telluride problems
The 2021 Kia Telluride has 337 NHTSA owner complaints and no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
The 2021 Kia Telluride has 337 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is visibility at 74 complaints, typically surfacing around 11,000 miles (~$350 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Telluride | 737 | 3 |
| 2021 Telluride (this page) | 337 | 0 |
| 2022 Telluride | 311 | 3 |
| 2023 Telluride | 197 | 1 |
| 2024 Telluride | 204 | 4 |
The safety recall on the 2021 Kia Telluride
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.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Engine: 43 complaints, classified severe
- Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
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.
NHTSA crash-test safety ratings 5 / 5 overall
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: 2021 Kia Telluride SUV FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Buying a used 2021 Kia Telluride? Check these first
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.
What to inspect on this specific car
- visibility — 74 owner reports · tends to show around 11,000 mi · ~$350 to fix
- engine — 43 owner reports · tends to show around 53,232 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
- electrical — 32 owner reports · tends to show around 2,950 mi · ~$850 to fix
- body — 26 owner reports · tends to show around 5,033 mi · ~$1,500 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 53,232 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 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 →Ask anything about your 2021 Kia Telluride
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.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Bought the vehicle in February. The vehicle is burning oil too fast. In 1 week 5 qts. I don't drive much as I work from home. Kia dealer wants thousands of dollars. I paid for extended warranty.
I purchased the 2021 Telluride (former owner of a Sportage, Rio and Sorento). I have our local mechanic handle maintenance and service. After paying $1,400 for a tune up to address misfiring, we quickly concluded the transmission was shot and my engine was burning theough…
Anytime going through the car wash the front and back parking sensors don’t work and gives an error. It is now permanently stuck with this error.
My engine started jerking when stopped. Then the electrical started acting up, like the windows wouldn't roll back up. Then the engine just shut off while I was driving.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2021 Kia Telluride reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 337 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Kia Telluride is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2021 Kia Telluride?
The 2021 Kia Telluride is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Engine: 43 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2021 Kia Telluride?
Inspect the visibility first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 74 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 11,000 miles. Average repair cost runs about $350 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.
Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 337 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is visibility. Typical failure occurs around 11,000 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.
What's the most common problem on the 2021 Kia Telluride?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is visibility, with 74 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 11,000 miles. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The visibility is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 11,000 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Kia Telluride has open recalls?
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.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2021 Kia Telluride?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 337 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $350, 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.