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#BS-2020-KIATEL-2C9D2020 Kia Telluride
Based on reports from 821 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 821 complaints, 11 crashes, 13 fires, and 6 recalls. Complaint rate is 4.0x the class average. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.
Top reported problems
the bright lights stopped working
13 complaints • Severity 8.3/10
high oil consumption
8 complaints • Severity 9.5/10
my radio and dash gauge issues
2 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
172 owners reported lights issues — failures commonly reported around 5K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (163 reports) • Median: 5K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Lights (172 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2020 Kia Telluride: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Lights Issues
Lights complaints account for 21% of all reports filed for the 2020 Kia Telluride, with 172 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 5,400 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 5K-mile mark.
Visibility Issues
Visibility complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2020 Kia Telluride, with 134 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2020 Kia Telluride, with 111 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2020 Kia Telluride, with 57 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2020 Kia Telluride. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (6 recalls)
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
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."
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
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."
TRAILER HITCHES
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
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.
+ 1 more recall in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
This is the worst model year for the Kia Telluride according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is lights.
2020 Kia Telluride vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)
This vehicle
821
Class avg
206
4.0x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 821 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
2020 Kia Telluride: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Kia Telluride?
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How much does it cost to fix 2020 Kia Telluride problems?
Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have any recalls?
What mileage do Kia Telluride problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
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Get the Full 2020 Kia Telluride Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 821 owner reports. Know before you buy.