The 2020 Kia Telluride with its 3.8L Lambda II V6 is generally solid, but this first model year has a critical engine defect that destroys motors prematurely. When the engine fails, it's catastrophic—metal shavings, seized bearings, complete loss of power.
Symptoms: Metallic knocking or ticking from engine bay, especially cold starts, Metal shavings in oil during changes, Check engine light with rod bearing or knock sensor codes, Sudden loss of power, seizure, or complete engine failure while driving
Fix: Complete engine replacement or rebuild required—connecting rod bearings fail due to manufacturing defects, sending metal through the entire engine. Kia extended warranty covers many cases under 10yr/100k, but out-of-warranty it's 25-35 hours labor plus $8k-12k in parts for reman long block. Some shops do in-frame bearing replacement (18-22 hrs) but high re-failure rate.
Estimated cost: $9,000-15,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Red transmission fluid puddles under vehicle, Transmission running hot, harsh shifting when fluid low, Fluid visible on frame rails or crossmember, Burnt transmission smell if driven while low
Fix: The hard lines running to the transmission cooler corrode where they connect, especially in salt-belt states. Replace both feed and return lines (they'll both go eventually). 2.5-3.5 hours labor, lines run about $150-250 for OEM. Flush and refill ATF after repair adds another 1 hour.
Estimated cost: $500-800
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Vibration through floor and steering wheel at idle, Excessive engine movement visible when revving in Park, Clunking over bumps from engine bay
Fix: The upper transmission mount (torque mount) tears and separates. It's rubber hydraulic-filled and doesn't last. Replace the mount—straightforward job but requires supporting the drivetrain. 1.5-2 hours labor, mount is $180-250 OEM.
Estimated cost: $350-500
Headlight Condensation and Electrical Issues
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Water droplets or fog inside headlight housings, Intermittent headlight flickering or complete failure, Corrosion visible in bulb sockets, Check engine light with headlight circuit codes
Fix: Poor headlight housing seals allow moisture intrusion, corroding bulb connectors and causing electrical faults. Covered under recall for some VINs (NHTSA 21V-547), otherwise requires housing replacement or resealing. If just wiring: 1 hour to repair connectors. Full housing replacement: 2-3 hours labor, $400-600 per side for OEM assemblies.
Estimated cost: $150-1,200
Front Power Seat Track Failure
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Driver seat won't move forward/back electrically but manual override works, Grinding or clicking noise from seat track motors, Seat stuck in one position, switch lights up but no movement, Intermittent operation, works sometimes then quits
Fix: Power seat track motors or gears strip out—plastic gears wear prematurely. Covered under recall 22V-403 for certain build dates if tracks break completely. Otherwise replace seat track motor assembly. 1.5-2.5 hours labor, motor assembly $250-400 OEM. Some techs rebuild with metal gears but not factory-supported.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Rear Seatbelt Retractor Lockup
Rare · medium severity
Symptoms: Second-row seatbelt won't pull out or retracts very slowly, Belt locked in retracted position, unusable, Clicking or grinding from B-pillar retractor, Belt pulls out but won't retract properly
Fix: Retractor mechanism binds or locks due to internal spring or pawl failure. Covered under recall 21V-838 for certain VINs—free replacement at dealer. Out of recall coverage: replace retractor assembly, 1-1.5 hours labor per side, $180-280 per retractor OEM.
Estimated cost: $0-450
Owner tips
Check oil at every fill-up and watch for metallic glitter—early warning for bearing failure. Oil analysis at 30k and 60k can catch engine issues before catastrophic failure.
Inspect transmission cooler lines annually in rust-belt states; catching leaks early prevents transmission damage from low fluid.
Keep all service records documenting oil changes—critical for engine warranty claims if bearings fail.
Run a VIN check for open recalls before purchase; several safety-critical items (seatbelts, seats, headlights) have factory campaigns.
Solid SUV when the engine doesn't grenade—confirm engine warranty status and get a pre-purchase oil analysis before buying any used Telluride from this generation.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST · 24V407000
2024-06-05
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · 24V214000
2024-03-20
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.
Consequence: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · 24V148000
2024-02-26 · PE23002
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.
Consequence: Inoperable high beam headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.
TRAILER HITCHES · 22V626000
2022-08-15
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 20V436000
2020-07-28
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Inoperative trailer brake lights can fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER · 19V594000
2019-08-13
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2020 Kia Telluride 3.8L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.