TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET REPLACEMENT (WTY045) - This bulletin provides information regarding the ‘Warranty Extension Program (WTY045)’ for the inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the oil filter housing gasket on certain 2020–2025 MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 9, 2019, through June 12, 2025. Under this program, the New Vehicle Warranty coverage for this condition is extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever occurs first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. Affected vehicles may develop an engine oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket. During t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Kia Telluride engine problems
severe Owners of the 2021 Kia Telluride have filed 43 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
43
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Telluride | 98 |
| 2021 Telluride (this page) | 43 |
| 2022 Telluride | 15 |
| 2023 Telluride | 9 |
| 2024 Telluride | 14 |
| 2025 Telluride | 12 |
4fires
What stands out
Owners have filed 43 engine 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.
Among the 6 model years of Kia Telluride in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY045) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for certain repairs related to an engine oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket in certain 2020-2025 MY Telluride vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address the oil filter housing gasket leaking condition at no cost to you during this extended warranty period.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY045) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension campaign program launch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY045) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Warranty Extension Campaign WTY045.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY045) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to all owners for certain repairs related to an engine oil leak from the oil filter housing gasket in certain 2020-2025 MY Telluride vehicles manufactured from January 9, 2019 through June 12, 2025, from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. This warranty extension is to address the oil filter housing gasket leaking condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2021 Kia Telluride 3.8L Lambda II GDI V6 engine shows a pattern of severe oil consumption and catastrophic failure across dozens of complaint narratives. Owners describe oil burning at rates of 0.75 quarts per 1,000 miles up to complete depletion between oil changes (2,000–5,000-mile intervals), with no dipstick marking detectable. The critical issue is the *absence of warning lights*: low oil pressure warnings, low oil level indicators, and check engine lights fail to illuminate despite oil levels dropping to near-zero. Owners report hearing knocking, rattling, sputtering, and shaking well before failure, but these mechanical cues come only after serious damage has already occurred.
Catastrophic failures occur at mileage ranging from 15,000 to 120,000 miles. Common findings after engine seizure include metal shavings in oil filters, rod bearing failure with holes punched through the block, internal damage with no external leaks, and complete loss of power while driving—often on highways with family aboard. A handful of vehicles have caught fire or shed engine components onto roadways.
Cold-start whistling and high-pitched squealing noises from the intake manifold or throttle body area are widely reported in sub-30°F conditions and persist unresolved by dealers. Multiple owners cite TSB ENG222 and reference systemic issues across Kia/Hyundai platforms. Owners document excessive oil consumption during the manufacturer powertrain warranty period (100,000 miles) but face denial of warranty claims and refusals to open goodwill cases.
Same Kia Telluride engine reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2022 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption without warning system activation
Engine burns oil at abnormally high rates (0.75 qt/1000 miles reported in formal tests, consumption of 3–5 quarts between scheduled oil changes), yet low oil pressure warnings, low oil level lights, and check engine lights fail to activate. Oil dipsticks show no marking despite critical low levels.
When: 70,000 to 110,000+ miles; some reports as early as 15,000–20,000 miles; most manifest between 80,000–100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No oil marking on dipstick despite regular maintenance; Absence of low oil pressure warning light; Absence of low oil level indicator light; Absence of check engine light until catastrophic failure occurs; Engine sputtering, hesitation, rough idle when oil critically depleted; Knocking or rattling from engine after oil depletion begins
Codes mentioned: P061B, P219C00
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement cost $10,500–$12,700 documented. Diagnostic shops found metal shavings in oil filter housing and severe internal engine damage (piston ring failure, rod bearing failure). No external oil leaks present in driveways or garage floors.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB ENG222 exists addressing excessive oil consumption across Kia engine families but dealers failed to perform oil consumption tests during warranty period. Kia Customer Care refused goodwill claims citing incomplete documentation or mileage exceeding 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Extended warranty providers (JM&A) explicitly exclude this as a known issue. Dealerships documented the problem within warranty but made no recall or TSB advisory to owners.
Catastrophic engine failure from oil starvation
Complete engine seizure or internal failure (rod bearing collapse, piston failure) occurs suddenly without prior warning, leaving the vehicle immobile on the roadway. Failures occur despite regular oil changes and no visible external oil leaks. Metal debris and damage consistent with oil starvation.
When: 15,000 to 120,000 miles; majority occur 90,000–110,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking or banging from engine; Sudden complete loss of power while driving (highway and surface streets); Smoke and/or fire emanating from engine bay; Rough idling preceding failure; No check engine light or warning prior to failure; Engine will not restart after shutdown
Codes mentioned: Internal engine failure codes (generic)
Repairs/costs cited: Post-failure inspection by dealership and independent mechanics reveals no oil on dipstick, metal shavings in oil filter housing, holes in engine block from connecting rod ejection, and damage to oil pan from rod penetration. No external oil leaks found. Engine replacement mandatory, cost $10,500–$12,700.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claims denied once vehicles exceed 100,000 miles, even if failure occurs shortly after. Kia refused goodwill claims despite documented systemic oil consumption within warranty period. Some owners were told the issue is a 'known problem' by warranty providers and dealers but still denied coverage.
Cold-start high-pitched squeal or whistle from intake area
Loud squealing or whistling noise from the intake manifold or throttle body area during cold starts (below 30°F). Noise lasts 10–30 seconds, then subsides as engine warms. Suspected intake manifold gasket leak or vacuum leak but never definitively diagnosed or repaired by dealers.
When: Occurs consistently during cold mornings, temperatures below 30°F; reported from 2021 model year on
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched squeal or whistle from upper engine area; Sound originates under engine cover, not from belt/pulley; Lasts 10–30 seconds on cold start; Dissipates as engine warms; Engine performance improves noticeably once noise stops; Occurs after vehicle sits for several hours in cold
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate noise during service visits (vehicles warm up before appointment) and unable to offer repair. Some suspected vacuum leak; owners suspected intake manifold gasket. No documented repair or fix identified in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No TSB or recall issued. Dealers acknowledge the issue when video evidence provided but state they do not know how to fix it. Multiple owners report the same noise on Kia forums; no manufacturer response or guidance documented.
Oil filter housing gasket or oil pan leaks
Significant external oil leaks from oil filter housing gasket or oil pan, sometimes occurring shortly after oil changes. Owners discovered leaks via oil spots on driveways. Leaks occur despite vehicle being properly serviced.
When: Reported from early in ownership to 60,000 miles; some occur within weeks of oil service
Symptoms owners cite: Large oil spots on driveway or under parked vehicle; Oil level drops significantly after recent oil change; Low oil level indicator may or may not illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pan replacement and oil filter housing gasket replacement required. One owner reported $220 repair cost; another waited over one month for parts (housing gasket on backorder) and continued to top off oil manually. Possible over-torquing of filter cap during oil service mentioned by one owner.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Described as 'a known Kia Telluride issue' by service managers. Kia Customer Care initially took cases seriously but denied payment after dealership provided small discount ($20 off $220 repair). One dealership provided partial credit; Kia then refused to cover any amount. No recall issued.
Multiple hose and gasket failures with overheating and stall
Multiple cooling system and gasket failures (heater core hoses, valve cover gaskets, radiator hoses upper and lower, various seals) causing overheating, loss of power, and engine shutdown while driving. Degradation and leaks occur across multiple locations simultaneously.
When: Reported at least once; mileage not fully specified but indicates relatively low usage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shaking suddenly while driving; Overheating warning displayed on dashboard; Engine shuts off abruptly; Low fluid levels requiring replacement; Occurs on highway, creating safety hazard
Repairs/costs cited: Kia diagnostic identifies heater core hoses (all), valve cover gaskets, radiator hoses (upper and lower), and connecting seals all requiring replacement. Cost and parts specifics not provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia diagnosed the failure. Owner reports similar complaints from other Telluride owners online and suspects manufacturing/quality issue requiring further evaluation.
Fuel pump and high-pressure fuel system failures
High-pressure fuel pump failure and OCV (oil control valve) harness/solenoid failures, along with associated lines, gaskets, plugs, and seals. Causes deceleration without warning and inability to drive above 45 mph.
When: Reported at 80,000 miles and again at sub-80,000 miles on subsequent incident
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden deceleration on highway without warning light initially; Check engine light comes on after ~10 minutes of deceleration; Vehicle will not exceed 45 mph after light activation; Rough rattling noise reported after repairs completed
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump, OCV harness, solenoid, lines, gaskets, plugs, and seals replaced. Repairs completed; rattling noise persisted afterward and required follow-up axle joint replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure. Kia later refused warranty coverage on a subsequent engine failure at sub-80,000 miles (under 100,000-mile powertrain warranty), stating no supporting documentation provided despite earlier diagnostic work.
Synthesized from 43 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
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.
First there are holes in the block from a rod bearing coming off. It was leaking oil and started on fire. There are many recalls and law suits regarding this matter and we shouldn’t be on the hook for putting a new engine in.
Engine oil pan gasket and oil filter housing have failed shy of couple hundred miles of manufacturer warranty
Had engine trouble with your 2021 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 engine problem on the 2021 Kia Telluride?
It's a meaningful issue. 43 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 43 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 53,232 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2021/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.