114 of the 1,945 complaints about the Kia Telluride (5.9%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #6 problem area. That share is 0.5× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
114Complaints · Transmission / powertrain
5.9%Share of complaints
0.5×vs. all vehicles
39Last 12 months
4.4%Share involving a crash or fire
1Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2020 model (46, 6% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (3). 39 Transmission / powertrain complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 22 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
Owners most often describe: “awd”, “coupler”, “vibration”, “snow mode” and “driveshaft”. 5 of these reports (4.4%) describe a crash or fire, with 3 injuries and 1 death mentioned.
1 recall campaign relates to this area, most recently campaign 24V214000 (2024-03-20, model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024).
The contact's spouse owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact's spouse stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle inadvertently rolled backwards and struck the contact’s aunt as she was exiting the vehicle.
Transmission / powertrain · 2025-07-02 · ODI 11670820
The vehicle was parked(placed in park on gear shift) in a friends driveway, facing upward on approx. 15Deg incline with the engine idling.
Transmission / powertrain · 2025-06-18 · ODI 11667813 · Crash
On XXX, at approximately 7:40 a.m., my 2023 Kia Telluride, VIN [XXX], experienced a sudden mechanical failure while traveling approximately 65+ mph southbound on [XXX].
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-28 · ODI 11760459
Our 2022 Telluride is binding when turning at low speed or accelerating on the highway we took it to our trusted mechanic, he believes it to be the all-wheel-drive coupling unit and that is a common failure point with these vehicles.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-26 · ODI 11759775
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while stopped on several occasions, the Auto START/STOP feature was activated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart without any further issues.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-06 · ODI 11755180
A P0741 warning light comes on and off leading driver to believe the problem is intermittent when in fact it is a torque converter failed.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-05 · ODI 11754967
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT Campaign 24V214000 · 2024-03-20 · Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.
Remedy: Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.
How common are Transmission / powertrain problems on the Kia Telluride?
114 of the 1,945 complaints about the Kia Telluride (5.9%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #6 problem area. That share is 0.5× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Kia Telluride model years have the most Transmission / powertrain complaints?
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2020 model (46, 6% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (3).
Is there a recall for Kia Telluride Transmission / powertrain problems?
1 recall campaign relates to this area, most recently campaign 24V214000 (2024-03-20, model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024).