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Kia Telluride Design Flaw

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Came across this YouTube video yesterday. Wanted see what everyone's thoughts were on this subject.

interesting observation --
should definitely be one of those things that are reported to KIA corporate, that they can perhaps address it later?
 
A number of people on the facebook group had expensive repairs because of rocks coming through the openings. It is probably a small number and luck of the draw. Any car will have a risk of damage from rocks bouncing in, particularly radiators . Whether the Telluride is more at risk because of some component placements besides the radiator is unknown.
 
That is a hideous joke of a solution, if someone did want a proper solution they would design something that mounts behind, because that looks like some sort of side of the road fix at a gas station
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A number of people on the facebook group had expensive repairs because of rocks coming through the openings. It is probably a small number and luck of the draw. Any car will have a risk of damage from rocks bouncing in, particularly radiators . Whether the Telluride is more at risk because of some component placements besides the radiator is unknown.


Agreed.. i seen this video the other day and was like is this a joke...so im like not sure if true or not
 
WOW! Seems like some the "newbie's" here know better then most. Would love to hear, or better yet, see your solution to this known Telluride issue. If you own a Telly, show us a pic of your radiator after 1 year of driving it.
 
Came across this YouTube video yesterday. Wanted see what everyone's thoughts were on this subject.

I would never do this to my car! That is hideous! And I wouldn't really classify it as a design flaw....maybe he should build one to cover the front windshield while he's at it since rocks and birds are funneled to it...lol
 
I'm definitely going to get these and do this when I get my Telly. There is a thread where people were losing their A/C due to a rock hitting a part that is exposed in the lower opening. I don't mind the way these look at all, and protecting the radiator and other parts from flying debris and just plain keeping them out of the engine compartment speaks to me as a good trade-off.
 
Came across this YouTube video yesterday. Wanted see what everyone's thoughts were on this subject.

My thoughts... It does not look clean enough. Great idea, but there needs to be a better way to attach. Don't want to see the zip ties.
 
I have had driven and owned and leased many vehicles, sports, sedan, coupe, suv... none had this type of fence. Never had an instance where a rock caused damage to the cooling system warranting a ($1,800) repair. Besides, this is making a very nice vehicle looking like a junkyard special. Just my .02 💵
 
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I have had driven and owned and leased many vehicles, sports, sedan, coupe, suv... none had this type of fence. Never had an instance where a rock caused damage to the cooling system warranting a ($1,800) repair. Besides, this is making a very nice vehicle looking like a junkyard special. Just my .02 💵
Agreed. I remember driving my RX-8 and people on the forums were covering up oil coolers back in 2004. Never once had any issue. Same with the next two brand new cars, and the current ride has a grill opening in 2" slats in front of the radiator.
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WOW! Seems like some the "newbie's" here know better then most. Would love to hear, or better yet, see your solution to this known Telluride issue. If you own a Telly, show us a pic of your radiator after 1 year of driving it.
*newbies
*than
 
Most people on the forum dislike this retrofit, personally I think it's a good idea. Because you never had any damage to your radiator or condenser doesn't mean it cant happen.
I bought them, they they look fine. I travel on I95 in the mid Atlantic everyday, and they are doing a ton of construction on the highway. So the chances of stones hitting those vital areas are good.
 
Came back from a 1300 miles trip and looked at the radiator while washing my car. Bunch of cooling fins got bent from hitting debris. I am not sure if anything can prevent it and if that something to be concerned. This means more will get bent with more road trips. Will this compromise cooling system? Never looked at this area on any car before.

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Came back from a 1300 miles trip and looked at the radiator while washing my car. Bunch of cooling fins got bent from hitting debris. I am not sure if anything can prevent it and if that something to be concerned. This means more will get bent with more road trips. Will this compromise cooling system? Never looked at this area on any car before.

View attachment 20558
This thread and many others discuss installing mesh grill guards.

Some people think it’s stupid to install the guards but it’s your call. Based on your pic, I’m glad I elected to purchase and installed the mesh guards the same week I got my Telly.
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That is a hideous joke of a solution, if someone did want a proper solution they would design something that mounts behind, because that looks like some sort of side of the road fix at a gas station
It's not a beautiful solution, however, mounting the screen behind would make it more likely to trap leaves. It's not a great idea. Also, getting behind the grill is a massive PITA.

I've had to replace AC condensers because of the same "flaw". They do get hit by rocks and they do get damaged, though I've seen cars that were worse than the Telluride.
 
If this is a "design flaw" then wouldn't there will be an epidemic like incidents that will warrant a recall? Wouldn't this be covered under the warranty? Insurance companies filing complaints? Thanks.
 
AC could be a problem but what about the radiator? Eventually, more fins will be bent from hitting even small objects. Doesn’t air need to go through those soft metal fins to cool the radiator? City driving probably ok but I bought the car mainly for road trip. Never thought about this before.
 
Hmm, all good questions begging good answers! May I use an analogy? Two well trained long distance runners running the same course and time--one wearing a mask (just a very light and thin mask) and the other without. Who will gas out first? Our Tellys are designed with big engine and to run 60, 70, 80 miles per hour for many hours. Wouldn't the engineers who designed our Tellys already weighed the pros and cons of exposed radiators (to avoid overheated engines) versus a slightly unexposed radiators protected from hurtling debris and potentially causing harms to radiators and condensers? What is the acceptable ratio (number of cars overheating due to slightly obstructed radiators versus exposed radiators leading to bent fins/leaking radiators and condensers that may also cause overheating due to radiator leak)? Wouldn't wire/plastic mesh obstruct cooling air when needed the most--heavy traffic, long distance driving with AC? Again, I'm not to criticize (and in fact, I also think protecting my Telly's radiator and condenser is a good and common sense action) but I also want to know more before I deviate from its original intended design. My two cents. Thanks!
 




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