2021 KIA TELLURIDE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Kia Telluride. This model year has 307 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Uncategorized Issues.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2021 Kia Telluride Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Uncategorized Issues
Visibility/Wiper
Engine Problems
Considering a 2021 Kia Telluride?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Kia Telluride. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uncategorized Issues | 85 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 58 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 49 | — | 4 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 33 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 28 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 23 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 18 | 3 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 13 | 3 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 4 | 3 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Kia Telluride. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 307 most recent complaints
The sunroof wind screen broke off while driving. The sunroof then stayed open and would not shut. The electrical components in the middle seat are not working properly with the buttons on the seats. The leather is ripping on the seats and the center console even with regular …
There is no incident that lead to this part breaking. My sunroof broke when it was opened. A part fell out of the assembly into the car. The sunroof will now not open fully or close fully. It's a hazard because I'm not sure if the glass is properly attached to my car and can fly …
Sunroof wouldn’t fully close when a rainstorm hit, causing driver panic attack. This appears to be a known issue under TSB BOD-319.
The sunroof on my 2021 Kia Telluride broke and is stuck open. We had to take it to Kia to have the repair quoted and they want to charge $6k to have it replaced. This is a huge safety issue, as it is winter and we have rain/snow getting in the car, as well as the potential for so…
The sunroof wind deflector mechanism on my 2021 Kia Telluride failed due to what appears to be a known defect. The passenger side wind deflector arm broke off and upon trying to close the sunroof it made grinding noises. This caused the sunroof to malfunction and created a situa…
I recently pressed the button to open the sunroof, and it only retracted a few inches before I heard a loud noise. The sunroof stopped, and simply would not go any further. Thankfully, the vehicle is garaged at home (I was stationary and heading out when this occurred), but with …
In December of 2025 at approximately 95,000 my 2021 Kia Telluride (VIN [XXX] ) showed the oil level was about two quarts low. My car has had regular maintenance including oil changes at Santa Fe Kia. At the next oil change appointment in March, I pointed out the oil consumption c…
Bought my 2021 kia telluride sx with a cpo warranty with a little over 69,000 miles. at about 73,000 my car began to smoke and the dealership that I bought the vehicle from kept it for the day and sent me on my way with no diagnosis just simply stating they couldnt duplicate the …
Kia has 110,000 miles on it. We’ve regularly changed the oil at 3-5k mile intervals. A week ago, I heard loud knocking from the front of the car, along with loss of power. We drove it to our local Kia dealer (Kia of Bedford, OH), where upon inspection, they found cylinder bank 2 …
Hello, I've contacted customer service for Kia America and also, customer service in Puerto Rico since I'm a resident in Puerto Rico, so that I can address the safety recall with number SC303 and also a technical service bulletin with number BOD319. However, customer service adv…
Recently our 2021 Kia Telluride, had a fluttering/metal knocking/mechanical sound and I scheduled a shop visit at our trusted local mechanic. After their inspection, they found that the oil was extremely low and there was metal shavings in the oil filter housing. This was found w…
I have 2 issues going on with my vehicle. The trim on the outside of my doors is coming off which I know was a recall for some telluride vehicles about this old. Also ive been having some electrical issues/hot smell like something is burning if the heated seats get turned on.
Code P0087 on a Kia Telluride indicates that the fuel rail pressure is too low. This means the engine is not receiving enough fuel, often resulting in poor acceleration, stalling, rough idle, and decreased power. It is frequently caused by a faulty high-pressure fuel pump... Thi…
I have 2021 Kia Telluride with 38000 miles on it. When I wash my car, I normally wash the roof and in order to do that I put one foot on 3 step ladder and one foot on the back tire. I always had a plenty space above the tire and under the fender and I could stand up on the tire w…
Opens sunroof and part broke
Sunroof mechanism failure in May 2025. Had sunroof repaired and paid out of pocket at KIA dealership. The sunroof was off track therefore the roof was exposed to elements. March 2026 sunroof mechanism has broken again. Sunroof has not been operated since repair in May 2025 for f…
I am a 2nd owner of a kia telluride and the engine failed without warning at less than 90,000 miles. No check engine light, no temp gauge, no low oil level light. No warning at all. Just failure of the "push rod bearing" ny Kia was regularly maintained and when I took it to the …
Driving on the highway when all the lights on the dashboard came on and heard a loud sound. Pulled over and noticed flames coming out. The front part of the car 911 was called. An incident report was made. The flames were out quickly. The car was towed and is at the dealership.
Kia had a safety recall which required a software update to address the potential of the car moving/ rolling away while parked. Kia addressed this by updating the software to automatically set the parking brake when the vehicle is turned off. In the northeast/ rust belt states …
The 3.8L Lambda II GDI V6 engine suffered catastrophic failure at approximately 102,000 miles. The root cause is excessive oil consumption documented by an independent repair shop well before the 100,000-mile powertrain warranty expired. At 81,207 miles, during a routine oil chan…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Kia Telluride.
Recalls for 2021 Kia Telluride
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia Telluride. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2021 Kia Telluride — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2021 Kia Telluride reliable?▾
Notable Issues. The 2021 Kia Telluride has 307 NHTSA owner complaints, 7 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Uncategorized Issues (85 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Telluride?▾
#1: Uncategorized Issues (85 complaints). #2: Visibility/Wiper (58 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (49 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Kia Telluride?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2021 Kia Telluride?▾
The 2021 Kia Telluride has 7 crash-related complaints and 4 fire reports out of 307 total NHTSA complaints. 7 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2021 Kia Telluride have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2021 Kia Telluride. The largest issue: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2021 Kia Telluride?▾
The 2021 Kia Telluride has notable issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Uncategorized Issues issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Telluride reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2021 Kia Telluride
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.