2023 Kia Telluride Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 202 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 6 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2023 Kia Telluride receives a 5.1/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 202 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 6 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports with a median failure point at 2,000 miles (IQR: 2,000 – 2,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $280 – $850 .
18.4 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
6 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“This is an update to my original NHTSA complaint (ID 11755209) regarding an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect on my 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN ...). Since my original filing, the identical defect has recurred twice more, on XXX — once at approximately 1:01–1:30 PM EST and aga...”
“My 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN ...) has an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect that has occurred on four separate occasions between ... and ... (mileage range 49,850–51,180). In each occurrence, the dashboard and infotainment system power on normally, but the engine will not cra...”
“Driver Assistance Warning (DAW) warning bells and dash sign "Driver Needs a Break" with Coffee Pot showing goes off constantly. Even with safest driving possible, on purpose safest driving, the warning and sounds goes off every few miles and few minutes. KIA dealer has kept ca...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“Ever since purchasing this 2023 Kia telluride I have felt a skipping or thumping feeling when making a turn from a stop sign or a light, at a slower speed, then accelerating.. I have read many many forums stating this happens in A LOT of these models of vehicles. It is called ...”
“At 30,000 miles, the dealership replaced the right rear shock absorber because I noticed it was clunking when an adult sat in the third row. I just had it serviced at 40,000 miles and I mentioned to the tech that there was a slight clunking sound when making a right-hand turn ...”
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield started to crack on the upper passenger’s side of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“This is an update to my original NHTSA complaint (ID 11755209) regarding an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect on my 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN ...). Since my original filing, the identical defect has recurred twice more, on XXX — once at approximately 1:01–1:30 PM EST and aga...”
“My 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN ...) has an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect that has occurred on four separate occasions between ... and ... (mileage range 49,850–51,180). In each occurrence, the dashboard and infotainment system power on normally, but the engine will not cra...”
“On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“A P0741 warning light comes on and off leading driver to believe the problem is intermittent when in fact it is a torque converter failed. The intermittent nature of the warning light could lead drivers to believe the problem is not a safety issue, particularly on a SUV with o...”
“My 2023 Kia Telluride has been subject to at least 8 separate NHTSA recalls, including SC181 (seat belt/child restraint), SC194 (trailer brake light/cruise control), SC207 (airbag OCS/ODS), SC262 (side airbag wire harness), SC303 (driveshaft/rollaway risk), SC316 (power seat m...”
“On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“My 2023 Kia Telluride has been subject to at least 8 separate NHTSA recalls, including SC181 (seat belt/child restraint), SC194 (trailer brake light/cruise control), SC207 (airbag OCS/ODS), SC262 (side airbag wire harness), SC303 (driveshaft/rollaway risk), SC316 (power seat m...”
“While driving my car randomly displays a warning that I need to shift to park or neutral immediately and turn off my engine. Sometimes my car will work afterwards, other times it will not and I’m stuck for 5-7 minutes. It happens in the middle of me driving with no warning sig...”
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake light illuminated and was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a repair on the wheel speed sensor and parking brakes. After retrieving the vehicle, the ...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“This is an update to my original NHTSA complaint (ID 11755209) regarding an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect on my 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN ...). Since my original filing, the identical defect has recurred twice more, on XXX — once at approximately 1:01–1:30 PM EST and aga...”
“My 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN ...) has an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect that has occurred on four separate occasions between ... and ... (mileage range 49,850–51,180). In each occurrence, the dashboard and infotainment system power on normally, but the engine will not cra...”
“My 2023 Kia Telluride has been subject to at least 8 separate NHTSA recalls, including SC181 (seat belt/child restraint), SC194 (trailer brake light/cruise control), SC207 (airbag OCS/ODS), SC262 (side airbag wire harness), SC303 (driveshaft/rollaway risk), SC316 (power seat m...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the second-row seat belts failed to operate as designed. The alarms failed to engage when the seat belts were buckled or unbuckled. While there was a child using a car seat on the second row of seats, the seat belt...”
“Our 2023 Kia Telluride's digital cluster panels (all of the screens displaying speedometer, fuel tank, safety information, and entertainment) have gone black and have remained blank for over 2 weeks. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, but they do not have a fix ...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (6)
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Summary: 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.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2023 Kia Telluride
Before purchasing a used 2023 Kia Telluride, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2023 Kia Telluride
Is the 2023 Kia Telluride a reliable used car?
The 2023 Kia Telluride earns a 5.1/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 202 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2023 Kia Telluride?
The leading complaint category is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports, with a median failure point around 2,000 miles (IQR: 2,000 – 2,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2023 Kia Telluride?
Yes, the NHTSA records 6 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.