10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Kia Telluride drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2021 Kia Telluride:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2021 Kia Telluride Owner Comments

problem #10

Sep 072024

Telluride

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There is an ongoing problem with the AWD coupler on every model year of this vehicle and other KIA/Hyundai AWD vehicles. The problem occurs at lower speeds (35mph or less) while turning, and/or when starting from a stop turning either left or right. The vehicle produces a binding or slipping feel in the rear wheels along with a clunking noise from the rear of the vehicle. This is dangerous because the vehicle loses traction/power when its needed most during slit second decisions. Many of these couplers are failing early in the life of the vehicle. Mine is at 27K miles, however I believe the problem started long ago, closer to 15K miles. Kia knows about this issue but has failed to come up with a reliable solution. This is four model years now with the same issue. Kia has released TSB after TSB on this, and even recalled it early in the life of their debut model, the 2020. However, there are still reports of replacement parts failing again around the same amount of milage. It would be great if a wider recall can be issued to address this ongoing problem that seems to affect every model year so hopefully Kia can find a more reliable, quality part to replace the consistently failing part.

- Northbrook, IL, USA

problem #9

Apr 012024

Telluride

  • miles
Vehicle has a vibration at 60-75 miles per hour. It's a rhythmic vibration that you can feel in the gas pedal and sense in the front of the vehicles drivetrain. Kia has a TSB about this issue. Kia TSB 099. But our vehicle is past the 60k mile warranty period that would protect it. Kia knows that some cars manufactured between the start of production and February 2021 have this issue. They know which production lots of the affected parts have the issue, yet they refuse to make it a recall issue. Anyone who is unlucky enough to lapse the warranty period is such with a detective part that Kia is fully aware of. The issue is so difficult to diagnose, I had to go to two dealerships to even get an answer about what the issue might be and that the warranty will not cover it.

- Smyrna, DE, USA

problem #8

Jul 122023

Telluride

  • miles
As I was driving down the highway in the rain, my check engine light came on and I was unable to accelerate my vehicle over 30mph and the speedometer stopped working. I was turning onto the road I live on, so I was able to make it home. I then shut my car off and turned it back on about 5 minutes later, and that issue was no longer happening. I had an upcoming appointment for an oil change at a Kia dealership, so I told the dealership about the issue. They told me that they hooked their computer up to the car and it was showing that there weren-??t any issues showing and the only way that they would be able to see that there was an issue is if the vehicle was brought in while it was malfunctioning. Also, the mirror function on my vehicle where the side mirrors fold/unfold when locking/unlocking the vehicle, the mirror(s) don-??t fold/unfold every time I press the lock/unlock button on m key fob. Another issue, my windows don-??t roll/unroll when I try to use that function. I can sometimes roll the front window up/down while the rest of the windows won-??t roll up/down. I then have to shut my vehicle off, open the driver door, then turn the vehicle back on. Sometimes the windows will work, sometimes they won-??t. It-??s an ongoing issue.

- Grantsburg, IL, USA

problem #7

Mar 072023

Telluride

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At around 40,000 miles my Telluride start to have issues shifting at low speeds and when cold. By the time I hit 50,000 miles it was happening all the time. It began sputtering almost everyone I accelerated causing it to hesitate on highways. After two trips to the dealership they said I need a whole new transmission. My car is only at 56,000 miles and is no longer considered driveable until it is replaced which of course, the part is on back order.

- Gillsville , GA, USA

problem #6

Jan 172022

Telluride

  • miles
We were driving the car and it began lurching unpredictably. It was difficult to maneuver safely. It is now 3 weeks past that time and my Kia has been at the dealership this entire time. The dealer says that they cannot do anything without checking with Kia HQ and each time they do, Kia has them run another diagnostic.

- Iowa City, IA, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #5

Apr 302021

Telluride

  • 11 miles
I drove my brand new Telluride off the lot with 11 miles on it. Before I gained speeds over 50mph my vehicle would jerk as it changed gears and the RPM increased. After I stopped at stop signs or red lights and then began to accelerate again, the car would jerk, the engine would rev up and no acceleration would happen. If I kept pressing the gas, eventually the car would jerk again, catch the gear and drive. This happened every single time I would stop and go again. Over speeds of 50-60mph I did not have this problem.

- Coupeville, WA, USA

problem #4

Nov 122020

Telluride

  • 15 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving this vehicle at 65-70mph a high-speed low-tone oscillating vibration can be heard and felt and continues through 75mph.

- Shermans Dale, PA, USA

problem #3

Aug 262020

Telluride

  • miles
The vehicle started vibrating within a month of the purchase at speeds between 60-80. Several trips to Kia with Kia tech line and they deny the vehicle has an issue. They said the vibration measured with a picoscope was within the normal range. After fighting with Kia consumers, I took it to a driveshaft specialist for an independent diagnosis. The findings from the driveshaft specialist were quite alarming and it's obvious Kia is trying to hide the problem and forcing customers with the same problem to live with it. Driveshaft specialist told me this problem would get worse and affect other areas of the vehicle. I have been following a Kia forum and they are literally hundreds of Telluride AWD's with the same problem. Yesterday I traded my vehicle off at a $6K loss so I did not have to deal with the headaches and keep fighting Kia. This is not right to consumers and has been going on since their 2020 AWD Telluride. It appears to be a manufacturing design flaw. I filed a complaint with the Texas attorney general #cgs-266219 in October. I have filed numerous complaints with Kia consumer assistance case #13767404. They offered me $2500 and wanted me to sign off on the complaint. I have not signed anything or received any monies. I just lost $6,000 because of these people so $2500 is not covering my loss. I have recently recovered from surgery, chemo, and radiation and do not have the strength to fight this giant. They need to be held accountable. There is a Kia forum on vibration where there are literally several hundred people with this problem. Please help us hold them accountable.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #2

Dec 012020

Telluride

  • 50 miles
There is a known issue with Tellurides and Hyundai palisade vehicles right now with excessive vibration when speeds reach 55mph - 70mph. Kia consumer assistance and dealers are not being helpful. They road forced balanced my wheels and sent me home...I told them it's not fixed and now they want me to take it back. There are multiple people on forum/messaging board with the same problem. Kia replaces driveshafts/AWD couplers on some which resolves the issues but ignores others. They need a tsb to fix this universally. This piecemeal approach has gotten them in trouble with nhsta already.

- Bridgewater, NJ, USA

problem #1

Aug 242020

Telluride

  • 0 miles
The steering wheel and seats vibrate while driving between 60-80mph. This is a known issue on Tellurides and palisades that is fixed by replacing with a properly balanced driveshaft. However the dealer refuses to proceed and Kia Consumer Affairs has been difficult to work with.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

Not what you are looking for?