9.8

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
455 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Kia Telluride engine problems

engine problem

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2021 Kia Telluride Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 242024

Telluride

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car was being driven when it began to slow down. Pulled over and smoke was coming from under the car. Car would not start again. Once at dealership, found there was catastrophic engine failure due to a rod that put 7 holes in the engine. Also, car was low on oil despite an oil change less than 60 days prior to this incident.

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #10

Jul 092024

Telluride

  • miles
Since November 2023, the car's engine has been burning oil. There are no leaks in the driveway. On January 8th (87,000 miles), I took the Kia Telluride for service at Mission Viejo Kia for a Check Engine light. They said the car had low oil and indicated that the cause was a leaking oil housing. They completed an oil change and added new oil. On February 19th (90,000 miles), the AC drain was clogged and water was entering the passenger side inside the vehicle. In addition to this fix, Mission Viejo Kia noted that the oil level was down to 1/2 quart. This was only 3000 miles since the last oil change. On April 6th (95,000) completed another oil change at Ramona Tire, where I was getting new brakes. They did note very low oil. June 24th (96,600 miles), the Telluride started rattling and stalling at lights. Upon inspection, Mission Viejo Kia determined it was due to low oil again. July 9th (98,000 miles) I inspected the oil dipstick and saw barely any oil. I took it to Mission Viejo Kia and it is currently awaiting direction from Kia Corporate for the next steps. This was only 2000 miles after the most recent oil change. There was no oil leaking in the driveway. My research has shown that Kia Tellurides and other Kia/Hyundia are experiencing rapid oil consumption. This eventually could lead to engine failure and catalytic converter failure. Class action suits have been filed and dismissed recently. My 100,000 mile warranty is coming up. This complaint is to document the issues I have been experiencing for any possible future action.

- Mission Viejo, CA, USA

problem #9

May 292024

Telluride

  • miles
My car started having an oil leak on [XXX] of 2023 which is the date reported to Mark Martin Kia. They replaced the oil pan on [XXX] 2024 and said that the issue was fixed. I drove it home, and the next day oil was still coming from my engine. I took it back and they said that the housing was what was leaking. The tech told me that 10k parts were on backorder so I'd have to keep putting oil in until the part arrives. Over a month went by of me having to pour oil in. [XXX] was when they fixed it. [XXX] my engine is no longer functioning. Major nock. Needs replaced! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Batesville , AR, USA

problem #8

Jan 012024

Telluride

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Excessive engine oil usage. No low engine oil level. Engine overheating.

- North Arlington, NJ, USA

problem #7

Apr 182023

Telluride

  • miles
While at a red light after exiting the highway, the vehicle lost all power and functionality. The car was in drive, and the brake was pressed in. No buttons had been pressed to shut down the vehicle. I had no power and no ability to restart the vehicle. I placed the vehicle into park and attempted to turn on my hazard lights. Unfortunately, there was no response from the vehicle, and though I was interrupting traffic, I could not provide any visual indicators to oncoming traffic. After moving the vehicle into park, I was unable to move the car into neutral. After approximately five minutes, without the brake being pressed or any button is pressed, the vehicle turned on its own. I was able to move the car into drive and continue to function as expected. Prior to this, I had used the vehicle to drop off my kids at daycare (which required turning on the vehicle, driving, and turning off the vehicle). This event occurred roughly 40 minutes after a mix of highway and city driving. From a safety perspective, this was very concerning as I had no way to indicate to other drivers that my car was not driveable. Fortunately my children were no longer in the car. I was very concerned that not only the car lost all power and functionality, but was more concerned that the car started on its own. I was also concerned that if I had not moved the car to park and somehow it turned back on if left in drive what potential damage could have been done to me, another vehicle and potential injury 30K service and all recalls had been satisfied prior to this by an authorized Kia dealership.

- Mukwonago, WI, USA

problem #6

Apr 072023

Telluride

  • miles
My wife had placed our two children in the car in their car seats. She attempted to start the vehicle by pressing the brake and the starter button. Though all the dome lights and other normal electrical items were on at the time, as soon as she attempted to start the car, it instantly went dead. There was no power to anything, and all the interior dome lights did not work. No matter how often she attempted, she could not start the vehicle, even with accessory mode. It was almost as if the battery had been suddenly removed from the vehicle. At no point was the car moved outside of park. My wife removed our two kids from the vehicle, and shortly after, they were secured in our other vehicle; without my wife being in the Telluride, the car turned on itself. All interior lights were on, and the car was functional. She found that while the radio was on, the HVAC that had been on was now off. In addition, the fuel performance reset to zero. She turned off the vehicle, and we could not reproduce the issue. From a safety perspective, this was very unnerving as it involved our children in our car, but also that the car started on its own after five minutes. If we were not at home and the car could have been running in the garage without our involvement. All regular maintenance and satisfaction of recalls had been completed by a Kia-authorized dealership before this event.

- Mukwonago, WI, USA

problem #5

Jan 102022

Telluride

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When starting in the cold (approx 30 degrees F or less), the Kia has a very high pitch squeal. The sound appears to be coming from inside the engine and is NOT a pulley or slipping belt. There is a lot of discussion about this issue on the web, and Kia has not issued any resolution to any of the customers who have complained and taken to dealers. This link is not my car but is the same noise - if necessary, I too have my own video I can share. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-68J5bocqVxzPLIDpabmgd_St6CMoxky/view Note: Dealer was able to replicate, and has a video of the issue from us, but has stated that they do not know how to fix.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #4

Jan 072022

Telluride

  • miles
On cold mornings when the temperature falls below thirty degrees, the car emits a loud screeching noise from the area of the throttle body. I had the belts and pulleys checked at my last oil change (two weeks ago) and they were fine. It it-??s distinctly coming from the area of the air intake and throttle body. The high pitched squeal will last for about 10 seconds and stop. By the time the vehicle gets to the dealer, it has warmed up or the temperature has gone above 30.

- Freeport, NY, USA

problem #3

Dec 132021

Telluride

  • miles
As I started the car, it began to shake and shudder while idling. And the check engine light turned on. I could smell the unburied gas inside the car.

- Croton On Hudson, NY, USA

problem #2

Feb 122021

Telluride

  • miles
021 Kia Telluride, February 13, 2021. Temperatures are single digits or below and got worse as the week went on. Started the engine and a loud squeal or whistling noise came from the top of the engine. Last about 30 seconds then slowly stops. Engine also starts to sound like it has more power once noise stops. Been going on for the last 8 days. Belts and pulleys seem to be working fine and cannot see any issues. Sound like it is coming from under the engine cover but do not want to remove cover cause too cold and do not want to jeopardize warranty stipulations. Contacted midwest Kia in wichita, Kansas. Sent them a video and they think it is a vacuum leak of some kind. Midwest Kia said they cannot report it to Kia until they can see the car but we are 2 hours away and cannot get off work to take it and need our car for work. I own a mortuary and have funerals and my wife is a teacher and cannot get substitutes do to covid. I said based on my research it sounds like intake manifold. On the Kia forums, many people experiencing these very cold temps are experiencing the same noise and encouraged me to report the issue. I feel it is cold related and hope Kia looks into this problem. This only happens when the car has been sitting for several hours. If we use it off and on without sitting too long the noise does not happen. Car runs great once the noise stops.

- Russell, KS, USA

problem #1

Dec 012020

Telluride

  • 5,001 miles
My engine light came on on the first cold morning. When the engine light came on, it started spitting and sputtering and idled funny. I shut it off.

- Newark, OH, USA

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