All known 2020 Telluride issues and complaints

[jaydur]

Question: Am I wrong to change my mind from buying a Telluride based on the issues and complaints on this site: Florida Telluridesand accumulated here - Heat at low RPMs?
I have been searching for a used 2020 Telluride SX Prestige, white or gray, and under 20K miles. I was just about to pull the trigger but now am not comfortable giving the "un-acknowledged" aka not recalled problems.
We test drove an LX last weekend a noticed a hard transmission "clunk" after decelerating then accelerating at about 20MPH. I thought well maybe it's just a demo problem.
Given the above, am I wrong to go elsewhere?
(Thank you @Tellthemride - corrected links. I am so mad and disappointed, I didn't check my work.)

 

[Kwim]

IMHO: do not take kia telluride.
the car has problems, and the brand has problems with customer service. Machine problems are solved if they are dealt with. Thus, if you have a car with a problem, no one will help you.

 

[Tellthemride]

First of all, when you are trying to copy a post/thread from a different forum (ie kiatelluride dot org), it doesn’t link correctly. The link you shared directs to un unrelated topic (palisade vs telluride).

Second, you aren’t the first person to hesitate in purchasing a Telluride based on reported issues with the car. Just don’t let it sway your opinion one way or the other with too much weight.

When you visit a car forum, you are always going find reported problems with the car. Why? Because it’s really the only public space owners can come to troubleshoot issues they are experiencing and voice their concerns. Sometimes the problems are an easy fix (ie. how do I update UVO software?) and sometimes the issues are more comprehensive (ie. a slipping transmission). Most satisfied owners don’t have a desire to come online to voice how happy they are with a car. Only a select population who come here to learn more about their car. Such as myself.

You need to evaluate how many people the reported problems are actually affecting. Are hundreds of owners experiencing the issue? Thousands? If only 5-10 people in the last 2 years have mentioned the problem, is it really safe to say the issue is problematic for all units sold out of 100,000? At the end of the day, it’s your money so don’t make a purchase you aren’t completely sure about, especially a large purchase such as a car.

I personally would say to you not to worry about reported issues with the Telluride. I have not seen anything to date that is problematic across the entire model production to be concerned about.

Issues I’ve experienced from the list you were trying to reference:

• Rear A/C vents randomly turns on. NOPE
• Engine overheating from idle stop/go. NOPE
• Front passenger side door wont open. NOPE
• LED Halo lights become faulty and stop working. NOPE
• Rear wiper cover falls off. NOPE
• Rear captain chair rattles due to loose seat back cover. NOPE
• Rear heat not blowing warm air. NOPE
• Inaccurate GPS / Navigation directions. NOPE
• Water leaking through door sills. NOPE
• Seat seam stitching coming loose. NOPE
• FCA malfunctioning. NOPE (some owners are unaware the radar sensor needs to be cleaned in front of the car when dirty)
• "Battery discharging due to external devices" error. NOPE (will discharge to disable ISG if not driven often though)
• Seat cushion coming loose. NOPE
• Speaker rattles when listening to XM. NOPE
• Speedometer stopped working. NOPE
• Battery died. NOPE
• Collision Warning malfunctioning due to bad wire-harness. NOPE

App & Software Related

• Kia Connect App defaults to Pacific Time with no way of changing time settings. NOPE (an owner was able to simply resolve this by contacting UVO app support to update the account location on their back end)
• In-car Weather App requires HD signal to work. NOPE (not if you update to version 14 or beyond)
• Bluetooth Connection issues. NOPE

 

[jaydur]

(@Tellthemride - Thank you for the time and consideration. I believe I corrected my reference links above.)
I searched for acceptable alternatives that might meet our needs tonight without luck. A 2013 Lexus GX-460 is similar but I want a modern V6. This is the second time I have saved up to pay cash and it's amazing how much the "value proposition" elevates to eye level when a lot of hard-earned money is on the table.

I thought the same that most people are motivated to complain, but finding multiple heater entries on both forums without resolution is a deal breaker. In our test drive, I forgot to say, we turned on rear AC and only one vent was working. We have had multiple heater/AC issues with our current car, so we're sensitive to that.
At this point, I think I'll have to wait for the second round fixes to come through or more vehicles are sold. I thought I saw a reference of 38,000 today. I think I'll keep monitoring in the mean time and see how the story unfolds. Crossing my fingers...

______________________________

 

[bruesjoh04]

I forgot to say, we turned on rear AC and only one vent was working.

Are you sure you actually had the vents open? Were they set to direct airflow or diffuse airflow? There are different options for rear ceiling vents on the Telluride. If it’s set to diffuse airflow, it likely won’t “feel” like much (or anything) is coming out when the rear A/C is on.

Also, if you’re searching for a vehicle that doesn’t have any reported issues, period, good luck. Every mass-produced thing has some amount of problems. The real question is if it’s common or consistent. A handful of people out of well over 100,000 cars on the road isn’t that many. But you are free to make your own decision… one more Telluride for someone else!

 

[Twotelluride]

You have no clue how bad the Kia Telluride is unless you been to the Kia dealership and listen to the complaints people have. I been sitting in the service department and heard- 1. Transmission problems 2. Windshield cracked 3. Engine overheating 4. AC not working. Going to stop here to talk about these 4 problems that customers have been trying to have fixed. Seems customers been trying to fix these problems 4 to 8 times. Still no fix. Why ??? 5. Engine dies on HW. 6. Brakes came on at 60 MPH. I’m stopping here to tell you what a customer told me. Brakes came on at 60 MPH. The fix from the Kia dealership was. Speed limit is 55 you should not be going 60. WTF.

First of all, when you are trying to copy a post/thread from a different forum (ie kiatelluride dot org), it doesn’t link correctly. The link you shared directs to un unrelated topic (palisade vs telluride).

Second, you aren’t the first person to hesitate in purchasing a Telluride based on reported issues with the car. Just don’t let it sway your opinion one way or the other with too much weight.

When you visit a car forum, you are always going find reported problems with the car. Why? Because it’s really the only public space owners can come to troubleshoot issues they are experiencing and voice their concerns. Sometimes the problems are an easy fix (ie. how do I update UVO software?) and sometimes the issues are more comprehensive (ie. a slipping transmission). Most satisfied owners don’t have a desire to come online to voice how happy they are with a car. Only a select population who come here to learn more about their car. Such as myself.

You need to evaluate how many people the reported problems are actually affecting. Are hundreds of owners experiencing the issue? Thousands? If only 5-10 people in the last 2 years have mentioned the problem, is it really safe to say the issue is problematic for all units sold out of 100,000? At the end of the day, it’s your money so don’t make a purchase you aren’t completely sure about, especially a large purchase such as a car.

I personally would say to you not to worry about reported issues with the Telluride. I have not seen anything to date that is problematic across the entire model production to be concerned about.

Issues I’ve experienced from the list you were trying to reference:

• Rear A/C vents randomly turns on. NOPE
• Engine overheating from idle stop/go. NOPE
• Front passenger side door wont open. NOPE
• LED Halo lights become faulty and stop working. NOPE
• Rear wiper cover falls off. NOPE
• Rear captain chair rattles due to loose seat back cover. NOPE
• Rear heat not blowing warm air. NOPE
• Inaccurate GPS / Navigation directions. NOPE
• Water leaking through door sills. NOPE
• Seat seam stitching coming loose. NOPE
• FCA malfunctioning. NOPE (some owners are unaware the radar sensor needs to be cleaned in front of the car when dirty)
• "Battery discharging due to external devices" error. NOPE (will discharge to disable ISG if not driven often though)
• Seat cushion coming loose. NOPE
• Speaker rattles when listening to XM. NOPE
• Speedometer stopped working. NOPE
• Battery died. NOPE
• Collision Warning malfunctioning due to bad wire-harness. NOPE

App & Software Related

• Kia Connect App defaults to Pacific Time with no way of changing time settings. NOPE (an owner was able to simply resolve this by contacting UVO app support to update the account location on their back end)
• In-car Weather App requires HD signal to work. NOPE (not if you update to version 14 or beyond)
• Bluetooth Connection issues. NOPE

This is only the 2 Nd year made. What’s to come ?

 

[keg]

Question: Am I wrong to change my mind from buying a Telluride based on the issues and complaints on this site: Florida Telluridesand accumulated here - Heat at low RPMs?
I have been searching for a used 2020 Telluride SX Prestige, white or gray, and under 20K miles. I was just about to pull the trigger but now am not comfortable giving the "un-acknowledged" aka not recalled problems.
We test drove an LX last weekend a noticed a hard transmission "clunk" after decelerating then accelerating at about 20MPH. I thought well maybe it's just a demo problem.
Given the above, am I wrong to go elsewhere?
(Thank you @Tellthemride - corrected links. I am so mad and disappointed, I didn't check my work.)

I think you also need to consider how many people are driving their vehicles without issue day after day that do not stop to post on a forum that they are not having any problems. Any vehicle will have problems and/or some lemons in the lot. That's the nature of mass production. But Kia offers one of the best warranties around, and an extended warranty offers peace of mind for all the technology in particular. I'm afraid you will be able to find complaints about any make and model out there. If you are buying a used vehicle, take it to a mechanic you trust for an independent evaluation before pulling the trigger on it. But if you think you will be uncomfortable with your choice, pick something else. It's your money; you should get what you want.

 

[ashuride]

i bought a brand new honda civic in 2013. it leaked oil, the window randomly wouldn’t work (up or down) the paint was absolute shite, the speakers rattled, sometimes the push start wouldn’t work, and the trunk would stick shut often. honda is reputable, the dealer was awful, and the car was a lemon.

we have a 2017 top of the line f-150. the doors have frozen shut for two years with no fix in sight. the dealer told us it doesn’t get cold enough here for ford to be concerned (we live in BC, Canada)

it’s going to happen with ANY car

______________________________

 

[BoulderT4R]

(@Tellthemride - Thank you for the time and consideration. I believe I corrected my reference links above.)
I searched for acceptable alternatives that might meet our needs tonight without luck. A 2013 Lexus GX-460 is similar but I want a modern V6. This is the second time I have saved up to pay cash and it's amazing how much the "value proposition" elevates to eye level when a lot of hard-earned money is on the table.

I thought the same that most people are motivated to complain, but finding multiple heater entries on both forums without resolution is a deal breaker. In our test drive, I forgot to say, we turned on rear AC and only one vent was working. We have had multiple heater/AC issues with our current car, so we're sensitive to that.
At this point, I think I'll have to wait for the second round fixes to come through or more vehicles are sold. I thought I saw a reference of 38,000 today. I think I'll keep monitoring in the mean time and see how the story unfolds. Crossing my fingers...

The GX was on our short list also so thought I would chime in here. We ended up going with the Telluride but in retrospect I would have bought the GX.
We like the Telluride a lot, primarily the tech.
But we do a lot of backcountry venturing for camping, fishing, MTB, etc and the Telly just isn’t up for it. We have another vehicle for that, so not a major issue. But looking back I would have done it differently.
Another thing for me is the proven reliability. The V8 in the GX is a proven work horse. And Kia is relatively unproven compared to the Lexus, IMO. We bought the Telly with that in mind and Kia has a great warranty. But the concern is sometimes in the back of the mind- what will the Telly be like in 15 years? (We keep our vehicles for a long time). I would have no concerns about the GX being in great shape 20 years from now. To be clear I’ve had zero issues with our Telly over 6k miles! But I’ve driven multiple Toyota’s north of 200k miles with very few issues and never anything major.
But while the GX is very reliable in my eyes, the technology is very dated. The infotainment system in a 2021 very closely resembles one from 2013. So it lacks some of the cool factor, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
One of the last considerations for wishing we bought the GX is the number of Tellurides we’re beginning to see. I prefer to drive vehicles that are less common and you don’t see 20 times in a parking lot. Given everything working against the GX (poor mileage, dated tech, $$$) you don’t see them terribly often. When we bought the Telluride last fall we rarely saw other Telly’s on the road. But they are increasing in numbers. On a short 5 mile drive to a local store yesterday we counted four other Tellurides. Popularity is growing and in a year or two I think they’re going to be all over. So if you prefer to dive something that not everyone else is in, it may be worth considering something other than the Telluride. Fingers crossed the major car rental companies don’t buy a fleet of Tellurides!

 

[Twotelluride]

The GX was on our short list also so thought I would chime in here. We ended up going with the Telluride but in retrospect I would have bought the GX.
We like the Telluride a lot, primarily the tech.
But we do a lot of backcountry venturing for camping, fishing, MTB, etc and the Telly just isn’t up for it. We have another vehicle for that, so not a major issue. But looking back I would have done it differently.
Another thing for me is the proven reliability. The V8 in the GX is a proven work horse. And Kia is relatively unproven compared to the Lexus, IMO. We bought the Telly with that in mind and Kia has a great warranty. But the concern is sometimes in the back of the mind- what will the Telly be like in 15 years? (We keep our vehicles for a long time). I would have no concerns about the GX being in great shape 20 years from now. To be clear I’ve had zero issues with our Telly over 6k miles! But I’ve driven multiple Toyota’s north of 200k miles with very few issues and never anything major.
But while the GX is very reliable in my eyes, the technology is very dated. The infotainment system in a 2021 very closely resembles one from 2013. So it lacks some of the cool factor, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
One of the last considerations for wishing we bought the GX is the number of Tellurides we’re beginning to see. I prefer to drive vehicles that are less common and you don’t see 20 times in a parking lot. Given everything working against the GX (poor mileage, dated tech, $$$) you don’t see them terribly often. When we bought the Telluride last fall we rarely saw other Telly’s on the road. But they are increasing in numbers. On a short 5 mile drive to a local store yesterday we counted four other Tellurides. Popularity is growing and in a year or two I think they’re going to be all over. So if you prefer to dive something that not everyone else is in, it may be worth considering something other than the Telluride. Fingers crossed the major car rental companies don’t buy a fleet of Tellurides!

Poor guys driving those Telluride

 

[Dougb44]

I have a 2000 sx p+t, and it is 1 year old today, a bit over 5000 miles. Yes, I had a tire issue from road damage, purchased a new tire and a road hazard warranty, but no other issues of any kind with the Telluride.

being a new model and the first model year, I also purchased a third party extended warranty. so now everything is covered (well not brakes, hoses, and the usual wear items) not form my dealer but from Muncie , search here on the forums.

so if anything breaks I have protection,
but really hope I don't need to use it.

my last car was a Hyundai Santafe and had almost no issues over 4 years before it was traded for the Telluride. note Hyundai and KIa share engineering etc.

 

[Twotelluride]

I have a 2000 sx p+t, and it is 1 year old today, a bit over 5000 miles. Yes, I had a tire issue from road damage, purchased a new tire and a road hazard warranty, but no other issues of any kind with the Telluride.

being a new model and the first model year, I also purchased a third party extended warranty. so now everything is covered (well not brakes, hoses, and the usual wear items) not form my dealer but from Muncie , search here on the forums.

so if anything breaks I have protection,
but really hope I don't need to use it.

my last car was a Hyundai Santafe and had almost no issues over 4 years before it was traded for the Telluride. note Hyundai and KIa share engineering etc.

Your smart getting the X coverage. Your going to need it with that Telluride

______________________________

 

[AK Telly]

My three complaints would be:
1) My knee resting on that stupid console "grab handle" .......OUCH !
2) The use of the name "Everlasting Silver" .......HA !!! Don't try to tell me that's ANY shade of silver .....It's GRAY !! It's not even LIGHT gray ....It's GRAY !! (OK, if you're in Canada it's "GREY") ..... But no matter how you slice it, it's NOT silver......... it's GRAY / GREY !!!
3) The annoying "wind noise" thru the driver's door. ........ as if the window were slightly down......but it's not. I've tried a few fixes, but no solution yet. (KIA needs to address this and find a solution).

 

[G-95631]

i bought a brand new honda civic in 2013. it leaked oil, the window randomly wouldn’t work (up or down) the paint was absolute shite, the speakers rattled, sometimes the push start wouldn’t work, and the trunk would stick shut often. honda is reputable, the dealer was awful, and the car was a lemon.

we have a 2017 top of the line f-150. the doors have frozen shut for two years with no fix in sight. the dealer told us it doesn’t get cold enough here for ford to be concerned (we live in BC, Canada)

it’s going to happen with ANY car

Spray silicone or wd-40 on the door gaskets. And doors won’t freeze shut