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2020 Kia Telluride problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2020 Kia Telluride are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 61% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 188 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 27%).
Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 205 of 579 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Telluride concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (149). For comparison, the 2021 scores 25%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Kia Telluride years
Of the 4 Kia Telluride years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the worst on engine and transmission share (35%). The best is the 2022 (16%). By volume, the 2020 drew 767 complaints (205 drivetrain), against 365 for the 2021.
Kia Telluride years to avoid and best years →
2020 · 2021 Telluride problems · 2022 Telluride problems · 2023 Telluride problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Kia Telluride
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Kia Telluride said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 205 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Kia Telluride powertrain recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Kia Telluride involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged…
6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Kia Telluride? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 Kia Telluride
Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 205 of 579 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Telluride concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Kia Telluride?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Kia Telluride is exterior lighting: 184 of 767 complaints (24%) name it, followed by engine (149) and visibility/wiper (136). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 35% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Kia Telluride reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 35% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 61% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 4 Kia Telluride years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Kia Telluride?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Kia Telluride involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 24V214000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Telluride years are better?
Among the Kia Telluride years we track, the 2022 (16%), the 2023 (24%) and the 2021 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (35%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-telluride
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.