The 2023 Telluride with the 3.8L Lambda II V6 is experiencing catastrophic engine failures far earlier than expected, primarily due to metal debris contamination during manufacturing. Otherwise solid platform undermined by serious powertrain reliability concerns.
Catastrophic Engine Failure - Metal Debris Contamination
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden knocking or rod-bearing noise developing rapidly, Metal shavings visible in oil during changes, Check engine light with misfire codes, Complete loss of oil pressure leading to seizure
Fix: Complete engine replacement or rebuild required. Internal metal debris from manufacturing process contaminates bearings, scoring crankshaft journals and cylinder walls. Short block replacement is minimum, full long block often necessary. 18-24 labor hours for R&R plus machine work if rebuilding.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid mixing with coolant (pink milky appearance in overflow), Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Overheating warnings on instrument cluster, Coolant loss without visible external leaks
Fix: Internal cooler in radiator fails, allowing cross-contamination. Requires radiator replacement, transmission fluid flush (possibly multiple flushes), and often transmission filter/pan service. 4-6 hours labor. Critical to catch early before transmission damage occurs.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Power Front Seat Track Failures
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Driver or passenger seat won't adjust forward/backward electrically, Grinding or clicking noise from seat base, Seat stuck in one position, Intermittent operation requiring multiple button presses
Fix: Plastic gears in seat track motor strip or track assembly binds. Usually requires complete seat track replacement as assembly. Recall issued for some VINs but problem persists beyond recall scope. 2-3 hours per seat.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Instrument Cluster Electrical Glitches
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Intermittent complete cluster blackout while driving, Speedometer/tachometer freezing or reading incorrectly, Warning lights illuminating without fault codes stored, Cluster rebooting randomly during operation
Fix: Software corruption or hardware failure in cluster module. Recall addresses some units but reflashing doesn't always resolve issue. Cluster replacement required in persistent cases. 1.5-2 hours for replacement and programming.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Driveshaft CV Joint Vibration (AWD Models)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration at highway speeds (65-75 mph), Clunking when accelerating from stop, Shudder during tight turns, Grease visible on inner CV boot area
Fix: Front driveshaft CV joints wear prematurely or become unbalanced. Recall issued for certain VINs but problem affects wider range. Complete driveshaft assembly replacement recommended over attempting rebuild. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $900-1,600
Transmission Mount Deterioration
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive, Excessive vibration at idle in Drive, Lurching sensation during acceleration, Visible sagging or cracking of mount rubber
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount fails prematurely due to fluid leakage or rubber deterioration. Common on this platform's weight and torque combination. Straightforward replacement, 1.5-2 hours.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Owner tips
Check oil religiously every 3,000 miles and inspect for metal particles - catch engine issues before catastrophic failure
Monitor coolant level and color closely - pink/milky coolant means immediate transmission cooler attention needed
Verify your VIN against all open recalls, especially engine and driveshaft campaigns - Kia has extended warranties on some engine failures
Consider extended warranty coverage if buying used - engine replacement costs exceed many vehicles' total value
Avoid unless factory powertrain warranty remains with substantial time/mileage left - the engine failure risk is unacceptable for a 2023 model year vehicle.
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.
STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM · 25V494000
2025-07-28
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC347.
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · 23V035000
2023-01-29
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC262.
Performance
Horsepower
291hp
Torque
262lb-ft
0–60 mph
7.2sec
Quarter mile
15.6sec
Top speed
130mph
Capability & size
Towing capacity
5,500lb
Payload
1,721lb
Curb weight
4,540lb
Wiper blades
SUV body style with rear wiper; standard hook-type attachment for all positions
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 2023 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.