Won't start; brake pedal high and firm

[mesquite72]

Problem started 4 days ago. First thing after resting overnight; tried to start but brake pedal felt very high and hard. Car would not start. Not even a sound from the engine. Engine mobilizer light lit seeming to indicate that my key wasn't good. Used other key fob next day...same thing. I could only start car by cycling through the power stages "ACC, ON, OFF" then again. Finally the brake pedal felt normal and the car starts. Dealer thinks it is either my fob battery or a dead cell in the car battery. I doubt both of those since the car eventually started and showed no sign of a weak battery. There is something wrong with the brake pedal feeling so high and hard. Don't know what causes that. Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!! Unacceptable to me. And since it only happens when car has been sitting overnight I would have to leave it there. Dealer has no loaner cars either!! Poor service in my opinion. Car is 4 month old 2021 Telluride EX with 4700 miles on it.
Anyone else having a similar problem? I am considering using the lemon laws here to turn the car back in if they can't fix it.

 

[ernysan]

Following!!!!!!!!!! Hope they fix your Telluride

 

[Senator20]

My dealer tried to say they had no loaners and talked to the service manger explained I needed a car and they had one for me.

 

[Tellmeride]

"Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!!"

WAIT, WHAT?!

______________________________

 

[ernysan]

"Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!!"

WAIT, WHAT?!

KIA's normal service lead time

 

[GeorgiaTelluride]

"Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!!"

WAIT, WHAT?!

Waited three weeks for oil change yesterday, just checked down to just under two weeks now

 

[Tellthemride]

Problem started 4 days ago. First thing after resting overnight; tried to start but brake pedal felt very high and hard. Car would not start. Not even a sound from the engine. Engine mobilizer light lit seeming to indicate that my key wasn't good. Used other key fob next day...same thing. I could only start car by cycling through the power stages "ACC, ON, OFF" then again. Finally the brake pedal felt normal and the car starts. Dealer thinks it is either my fob battery or a dead cell in the car battery. I doubt both of those since the car eventually started and showed no sign of a weak battery. There is something wrong with the brake pedal feeling so high and hard. Don't know what causes that. Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!! Unacceptable to me. And since it only happens when car has been sitting overnight I would have to leave it there. Dealer has no loaner cars either!! Poor service in my opinion. Car is 4 month old 2021 Telluride EX with 4700 miles on it.
Anyone else having a similar problem? I am considering using the lemon laws here to turn the car back in if they can't fix it.

Maybe a leaking brake booster?

AGCO Automotive Repair Service - Baton Rouge, LA - Detailed Auto Topics - Vacuum Brake Boosters

AGCO provides overall lowest costs of vehicle ownership. We do this by providing extremely high quality automotive service, following the theories and practices of Dr. W. Edwards Deming., Vacuum brake booster

www.agcoauto.com

If you have kids, they may also be going into the car and stepping on the pedal causing it to stiffen up.

In short, the brake pedal has to be depressed in order to start the car, so if the brake pedal isn’t allowed to travel, it sounds like that may be the cause.

 

[arattle]

Maybe a leaking brake booster?

AGCO Automotive Repair Service - Baton Rouge, LA - Detailed Auto Topics - Vacuum Brake Boosters

AGCO provides overall lowest costs of vehicle ownership. We do this by providing extremely high quality automotive service, following the theories and practices of Dr. W. Edwards Deming., Vacuum brake booster

www.agcoauto.com

If you have kids, they may also be going into the car and stepping on the pedal causing it to stiffen up.

In short, the brake pedal has to be depressed in order to start the car, so if the brake pedal isn’t allowed to travel, it sounds like that may be the cause.

As per @Tellthemride, it makes sense that if you cycle through ACC/ON/OFF, you release brake pressure in the "ON" position. Try taking your foot off the brake after putting the car in park, but before shutting off the engine.

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[G-563610]

Problem started 4 days ago. First thing after resting overnight; tried to start but brake pedal felt very high and hard. Car would not start. Not even a sound from the engine. Engine mobilizer light lit seeming to indicate that my key wasn't good. Used other key fob next day...same thing. I could only start car by cycling through the power stages "ACC, ON, OFF" then again. Finally the brake pedal felt normal and the car starts. Dealer thinks it is either my fob battery or a dead cell in the car battery. I doubt both of those since the car eventually started and showed no sign of a weak battery. There is something wrong with the brake pedal feeling so high and hard. Don't know what causes that. Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!! Unacceptable to me. And since it only happens when car has been sitting overnight I would have to leave it there. Dealer has no loaner cars either!! Poor service in my opinion. Car is 4 month old 2021 Telluride EX with 4700 miles on it.
Anyone else having a similar problem? I am considering using the lemon laws here to turn the car back in if they can't fix it.

Hi! We are having the same issue and the service department can’t duplicate it so they say they can’t repair it. Did you find out what the issue was to get it corrected?

 

[AK Telly]

I also sometimes get the "high hard" brake pedal, but it has always started, no problem. Immediately upon starting, the feel returns to "normal".

 

[mitchkramez]

@mesquite72 - have them check the starter - this sounds very similar to an issue we had that turned out to be a failing solenoid in the starter. does it make a click sound when trying to start it?

 

[Retired-TELCO]

Hey Mesquite72 you might want to try calling the Corp Help line @ 1-800-333-4542. they have helped me out in the past.

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[JP#]

This has happened to me once last year but has never repeated. I waited about 30 minutes and it started but had the same exact issue.

 

[JamieA]

Problem started 4 days ago. First thing after resting overnight; tried to start but brake pedal felt very high and hard. Car would not start. Not even a sound from the engine. Engine mobilizer light lit seeming to indicate that my key wasn't good. Used other key fob next day...same thing. I could only start car by cycling through the power stages "ACC, ON, OFF" then again. Finally the brake pedal felt normal and the car starts. Dealer thinks it is either my fob battery or a dead cell in the car battery. I doubt both of those since the car eventually started and showed no sign of a weak battery. There is something wrong with the brake pedal feeling so high and hard. Don't know what causes that. Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!! Unacceptable to me. And since it only happens when car has been sitting overnight I would have to leave it there. Dealer has no loaner cars either!! Poor service in my opinion. Car is 4 month old 2021 Telluride EX with 4700 miles on it.
Anyone else having a similar problem? I am considering using the lemon laws here to turn the car back in if they can't fix it.

I have had the same issue at my dealership, but I kept insisting and they picked up the rental tab at enterprise .

 

[Retired-TELCO]

Hey JP# & JamieA - you might want to try calling the Kia Corp Help line @ 1-800-333-4542. they have helped me out in the past.

 

[EtobicokeTelly]

[Sorry this was an inadvertent post and i cant figure out how to delete it]

______________________________

 

[Digitalfirex]

Problem started 4 days ago. First thing after resting overnight; tried to start but brake pedal felt very high and hard. Car would not start. Not even a sound from the engine. Engine mobilizer light lit seeming to indicate that my key wasn't good. Used other key fob next day...same thing. I could only start car by cycling through the power stages "ACC, ON, OFF" then again. Finally the brake pedal felt normal and the car starts. Dealer thinks it is either my fob battery or a dead cell in the car battery. I doubt both of those since the car eventually started and showed no sign of a weak battery. There is something wrong with the brake pedal feeling so high and hard. Don't know what causes that. Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!! Unacceptable to me. And since it only happens when car has been sitting overnight I would have to leave it there. Dealer has no loaner cars either!! Poor service in my opinion. Car is 4 month old 2021 Telluride EX with 4700 miles on it.
Anyone else having a similar problem? I am considering using the lemon laws here to turn the car back in if they can't fix it.

I can't help you with the loaner part... but I wouldn't bother doing a service appointment. I had a battery issue with my car when I first got it (month old?) Called KIA roadside assistance. Tow truck picks it up at your house for free. Tows it to nearest Kia dealer or shop. Instant appointment since now the dealer HAS to look at it. They will probably keep it a few days but should be fixed at that point.

 

[billypaulson]

Problem started 4 days ago. First thing after resting overnight; tried to start but brake pedal felt very high and hard. Car would not start. Not even a sound from the engine. Engine mobilizer light lit seeming to indicate that my key wasn't good. Used other key fob next day...same thing. I could only start car by cycling through the power stages "ACC, ON, OFF" then again. Finally the brake pedal felt normal and the car starts. Dealer thinks it is either my fob battery or a dead cell in the car battery. I doubt both of those since the car eventually started and showed no sign of a weak battery. There is something wrong with the brake pedal feeling so high and hard. Don't know what causes that. Dealer has a one month lead time for a service appointment!!! Unacceptable to me. And since it only happens when car has been sitting overnight I would have to leave it there. Dealer has no loaner cars either!! Poor service in my opinion. Car is 4 month old 2021 Telluride EX with 4700 miles on it.
Anyone else having a similar problem? I am considering using the lemon laws here to turn the car back in if they can't fix it.

Hi @mesquite72 - did you ever figure out what was happening? I had the same issue this morning and towing it to dealership.

 

[TheNip73]

Hi @mesquite72 - did you ever figure out what was happening? I had the same issue this morning and towing it to dealership.

Shot in the dark.

What if you don’t put foot on brake and push start button twice to get vehicle In accessory mode - will it soften the brake pedal so you can start?

 

[billypaulson]

no dice - initially some stuff was lighting up in the dash (indicator as mentioned above by OP that key wasn't working), but now its completely dead (nothing electronic works)