My 2025 Kia Teulluride that I bought on 10/21/2024 was sitting in my garage over night on 11/20/2024. The next morning 11/21/2024 I went to leave for work and notice a huge crack in the windshield. Goes from the driver side to about half way to the middle of the windshield
2025 Kia Telluride visibility problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Kia Telluride we track for visibility problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (13).
Visibility accounts for 18% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2025 Kia Tellurides report windshield cracking as the dominant complaint. The pattern is consistent: small chips from minor debris or no impact at all trigger rapid, extensive cracks that span large sections of the windshield. Cracks have appeared while vehicles sat parked overnight or within days of purchase, even at low mileage. Owners note that equivalent impact on other brand vehicles does not cause similar damage, and cite this as a recurring Kia defect dating back to at least 2020 models. Windshield replacement is required, and owners report insurance claims are necessary since Kia warranty does not cover these failures.
Sunroof glass spontaneously shatters without impact, producing a loud noise described as a gunshot. Glass scatters into the vehicle interior at highway speeds. Dealers have denied coverage, directing owners to file insurance claims.
One owner reported wiper failure at very low mileage—intermittent operation that persisted after a ring sensor replacement. The vehicle spent a month at the dealer without resolution.
One owner also reported adaptive cruise control randomly decelerating the vehicle on clear, empty highways with no traffic present, creating unexpected braking events.
Owners express frustration that Kia has not resolved windshield and sunroof glass issues despite prior complaints affecting earlier model years.
Same Kia Telluride visibility reports on nearby years: 2022 · 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield spontaneous cracking and chipping
Windshield develops cracks and chips without clear impact or with minimal debris contact. Cracks spread rapidly from small chips. Owners report cracks appearing while vehicle is parked, or after light debris strikes, which other vehicle brands handle without issue. Some cracks span large portions of the windshield (up to 1/3 or more) from small initial impact points. Owners cite this as an ongoing Kia problem since at least 2020 models.
When: Mileage ranges from new (under 5,000 miles) to 25 miles; some failures occur while parked overnight or within days/weeks of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks radiating from small chip; Cracks appearing without visible impact; Rapid crack propagation from minor debris strike; Small chip in driver's line of sight
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replacement required; owners report insurance claims needed; some report Kia warranty does not cover the failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer initially denied knowledge of previous class action suits; later claimed issue was only in 2020 models for 6 months and resolved. One owner received no coverage under warranty. Manufacturer/dealer did not provide recalls or technical service bulletins mentioned in narratives.
Sunroof spontaneous shattering
Sunroof glass spontaneously explodes or shatters without impact, producing loud noise described as gunshot or cracking sound. Glass shards scatter into vehicle interior. No warning light or notification before failure.
When: Mileage 1,470 and approximately 5,899 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud gunshot or cracking sound; Sunroof glass exploded outward; Glass shards in rear of vehicle; No visible impact or external cause
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed; owners directed to insurance claims; no parts or costs documented in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer informed contact to file insurance claim, citing no coverage. Manufacturer not contacted in at least one case. No recalls or technical bulletins mentioned.
Windshield wiper intermittent/failure operation
Windshield wipers intermittently operate or fail to activate when needed, particularly in snow and rain. Ring sensor identified as defective in one case; replacement did not resolve issue long-term. Wipers failed again the next day after repair.
When: At 25 miles; failure during snow driving and subsequent rainstorm
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers activate but fail to consistently wipe; Intermittent wiper operation; Complete wiper failure when activated in rain
Repairs/costs cited: Ring sensor replaced by dealer on third service visit; failure reoccurred within 24 hours. Vehicle remained at dealer for one month without successful repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer opened a case after owner contacted them. No resolution documented in narrative.
Adaptive cruise control false deceleration
Adaptive cruise control randomly decelerates vehicle as if detecting an obstacle ahead when no vehicle is present in clear weather conditions with no traffic nearby. Occurs multiple times and creates sudden, unexpected braking without warning.
When: During normal highway driving in clear weather; specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Random deceleration in clear weather with no traffic; Unexpected braking without warning or indication; Occurs multiple times
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
I bought my Kia Telluride on 10/25/2024. The windshield already has a long crack in the bottom going upwards. A chip will not normally extend the crack this quick after a purchase of a vehicle. Several others have reported the same from earlier Telluride models. This poses a driving risk especially at night with glare.
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH in the snow, the windshield wipers were activated to clear the snow, but failed to consistently wipe the windshield. The wipers were intermittently operating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again; however,…
I was driving on the freeway and the windshield spontaneously cracked. There were no cars even around me. My 2025 Telluride is brand new and has less than 5k miles on it…
As I was driving on the interstate, a small pebble hit the corner of my windshield (lower left corner on the driver side). It made a small chip that has quickly turned into a 3" crack. Upon inspection by a windshield repair company, it has been deemed unrepairable and the entire windshield must be replaced due to the location of the incident. I also have a small chip directly in the driver's line…
Had visibility trouble with your 2025 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 2025 Kia Telluride?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 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 13 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 3,623 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/2025/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.