TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DATC HEATER OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the air condition (AIRCON) software logic on certain 2020-2023MY Telluride (ON) vehicles equipped with Dual Air Temperature Control (DATC), produced from January 9, 2019 through June 6, 2023. The affected vehicles may exhibit temporarily reduced heater performance in cold climates, especially during prolonged idle operation or coasting.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Kia Telluride visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2022 Kia Telluride have filed 84 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
84
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Telluride | 135 |
| 2021 Telluride | 74 |
| 2022 Telluride (this page) | 84 |
| 2023 Telluride | 27 |
| 2024 Telluride | 25 |
| 2025 Telluride | 18 |
When does it fail?
Of the 84 visibility complaints filed for the 2022 Kia Telluride, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 84 visibility 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 visibility problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility 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: 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 ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: REAR HVAC CONTROL CLIP REPLACEMENT (SA534) - This bulletin provides information to replace the rear Heating Ventilation and Air Condition (HVAC) control assembly retaining clips on some 2022-2023MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from August 1, 2022 through May 03, 2023. The affected vehicles are equipped with a metal retaining clip which can create a rattling sound while driving on rougher road conditions. New plastic retaining clips will be installed to help rectify this rattling noise concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2022 Tellurides describe a consistent pattern of windshield failure that goes beyond normal road debris damage. A small pebble or rock impact—sometimes at speeds as low as 25–35 mph—triggers an initial chip barely visible to the naked eye. Within hours to days, that chip becomes a spider-webbed crack spanning 18–30 inches or more across the windshield, often directly in the driver's line of sight.
Some owners report windshields cracking spontaneously while parked, with no impact, sometimes after sun exposure or temperature swings. A handful describe sunroofs exploding outward at highway speeds with a loud pop and no prior warning. One rear window imploded during freeway driving. The accumulation of damage is striking: owners with less than 6 months of ownership report three to four separate incidents, and one owner counted at least 100 small chips before needing full replacement.
Repair costs run $950–$1,200 per windshield replacement. Kia issued a goodwill letter covering the 2020 model but denies the same coverage to 2021–2022 owners, citing model-year cutoff. Dealerships acknowledge the pattern but typically blame external impact. Owner forums and research reveal discussion of a factory windshield bonding defect on 2020 models and a class-action lawsuit, yet the failures persist on newer model years.
Same Kia Telluride visibility reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield spontaneous cracking and rapid propagation
Windshield develops cracks with minimal or no verifiable external impact, or cracks propagate across the entire pane within hours to days after a minor chip. Owners report initial impacts from small pebbles or road debris that would normally leave only a small chip; instead, cracks spider out and spread across the windshield rapidly, often within 24 hours.
When: Varies; some cracks appear spontaneously while vehicle is parked; others begin after minor rock strikes during normal driving (25–75 mph). Crack propagation often accelerates after vehicle exposure to sun or temperature changes.
Symptoms owners cite: Initial circular chip or small crack from minor pebble impact; Crack rapidly expands to 18–30+ inches across windshield within hours to days; Spider-webbing pattern spreading across full width of windshield; Crack visible in driver or passenger line of sight, impacting visibility; In some cases, owners report hearing crackling or popping sounds before crack becomes visible
Repairs/costs cited: Safelite and dealer windshield replacements; owners report costs of $950–$1,200 per replacement. Some owners have had to replace windshield twice within 6 months or less. Repairs attempted on chipped windshields often fail, with cracks still developing afterward.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia issued a 2020 goodwill letter for 2020 Telluride windshield issues; 2021–2022 model owners report Kia denied coverage, stating the issue does not apply to later model years. Dealership inspections sometimes confirm spontaneous failure without external impact. Some references to class-action lawsuit and discussion of a factory windshield bonding problem.
Sunroof spontaneous explosion or shattering
Sunroof glass unexpectedly shatters or explodes outward while vehicle is in motion or parked, with no impact or external cause evident. Owners report sudden loud noises and cone-shaped upward shattering or blowout pattern in the glass.
When: One case at 70 mph on interstate; one case at 37 mph in town; one case while driving at undisclosed speed; one case at 66 mph with no prior warning. One incident occurred at 3/15/2026 (likely data entry error). No prior warning signs or diagnostic codes observed.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang, pop, or gunshot-like sound during driving; Large section of sunroof glass missing or shattered (up to 1/3 of glass); Cone-shaped upward shattering pattern in remaining glass edges; Glass shards scattered if sun shade was open; sun shade closed prevented passenger injury in some cases; No visible impact or stress marks on sunroof frame
Repairs/costs cited: Temporary repair with duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal opening. Dealership vacuumed glass and taped remaining glass; full replacement required but timeline and cost not specified in complaints.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer filing for warranty coverage (outcome unknown). Another owner reported manufacturer did not assist. Dealership initially resisted repair until owner mentioned other reports of spontaneous shattering.
Rear window spontaneous implosion
Rear passenger window spontaneously imploded while vehicle was in motion on a freeway. No external impact or cause identified. Owner feared future recurrence while driving.
When: During freeway driving; failure mileage not specified.
Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous implosion of rear side window; No warning signs or prior damage; Glass shards in passenger compartment (no injuries reported in this case)
Repairs/costs cited: Repair performed; cost not stated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership initially resisted repair until owner mentioned other reports of KIA windows shattering without cause. Warranty coverage status unknown.
Multiple windshield chips accumulating in short ownership period
Multiple small chips or cracks developing on windshield from minor pebble strikes or unknown causes within a few months of ownership, far exceeding typical wear. One owner reported at least 100 small chips.
When: Within first 6 months of ownership; in one case within 2 months; one owner reported chips developing within 3 weeks of purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple small chips from pebbles or unknown causes; Low visibility due to cumulative chip damage; At least one owner reported 100+ small chips in windshield
Repairs/costs cited: Chips and cracks extend to require full windshield replacement. Owners mention costs exceeding $2,000 for multiple windshield replacements within short timeframe.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge glass company reports high repair frequency for these vehicles. Kia consumer affairs contacted by owners; no formal acknowledgment of defect for 2021–2022 models despite reports from owner forums.
Windshield wiper interference with glass and hood design
Windshield wiper arm assemblies cannot be lifted away from windshield glass due to design interference with hood, making it unsafe to clear ice and snow before driving in winter conditions.
When: Issue present in winter driving preparation context; not tied to specific mileage or usage.
Symptoms owners cite: Wiper arms cannot be lifted or disengaged from windshield; Hood design prevents proper clearance of wiper arms; Cannot properly clear windshield of ice and snow before driving
Synthesized from 84 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Description of the Problem: I noticed a crack suddenly appearing on my car’s windshield without any external impact, such as a rock or debris. The crack seems to have formed spontaneously, starting from the bottom edge and growing through the center of the glass, and there are no visible signs of external damage or impact points. This raises concerns about the quality or structural integrity of…
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear windshield inadvertently shattered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact was informed that the manufacturer was aware of the issue. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified…
Windshield easily cracked with a small small kick up in snow. Several small chips in the windshield for low visibility in a car with less than 1500miles on it. Several groups of telluride owners report the same problem on 2020-2022 models
I had noticed a 1" wide crack had formed in the center of the windshield after first night of cold weather (~10°F). There was no prior damage to the windshield before the crack formed. I'm concerned that the crack will continue to spread as we progress into the winter in the upper Midwest, ultimately shattering while I'm driving.
I was traveling on a local road at approximately 35 mph, with only 1 other vehicle near me. I heard a crack, but did not see any rock hit the windshield. I immediately saw a spider crack form on the driver's side. The car is less than a month old and the windshield has no previous wear.
Had visibility trouble with your 2022 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 visibility problem on the 2022 Kia Telluride?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 84 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 84 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 29,089 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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/2022/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.