2020 Kia Telluride Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle suddenly shut off and the battery warning light was flickering and the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to coast the vehicle into a parking lot off the highway where the vehicle remained. The contact replaced the battery; however, approximately one hour later while driving 50-55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost power and shut off. The vehicle was coasted onto the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with alternator failure. The alternator was replaced. The contact was notified of a possible transmission failure; however, there was no fault codes retrieved. The vehicle was later taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that the head gasket was damaged, and the spark plugs needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11747463

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

Mileage

100,000 mi

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2020 Kia Telluride because of excessive oil consumption that Kia has refused to address. My vehicle currently has approximately 138,000 miles and consumes about one quart of engine oil every 500 miles. This level of oil consumption is excessive and creates an ongoing risk of engine damage if the oil level is not constantly monitored and replenished. After researching this issue, I discovered that many Kia owners have reported similar excessive oil consumption problems. Despite the large number of complaints, Kia has not issued a recall or provided assistance for owners whose vehicles experience this problem after the factory warranty expires. I sought assistance from my local Kia dealership. At one point, the service manager attempted to advocate for me and other customers by bringing these concerns to Kia corporate. I later learned that he was no longer employed there. They have completed oil consumption tests and agreed my car is consuming a significant amount of oil. They conducted a “band aid” fix that did not help. The last appointment when we brought it in, all they did was check oil levels again. Since then, my concerns have largely been ignored, and I have been offered no meaningful assistance. While I understand my vehicle is outside the warranty period, a vehicle should not consume one quart of oil every 500 miles under normal operation. This appears to be a widespread issue rather than normal wear and tear. I respectfully request that this complaint be investigated and added to the record of similar complaints involving Kia vehicles. I also ask that Kia be encouraged to provide assistance to affected owners whose vehicles suffer from excessive oil consumption caused by what appears to be a common defect. Thank you for your time and consideration.

NHTSA ID

11746829

Incident

Jan 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving with the AWD activated in the rain, the vehicle ran off the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact spoke to the seller, who confirmed a previous failure with the AWD coupler. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Another local dealer, Kia Service - Southlake Kia (4191 E Lincoln Hwy, Merrillville, IN 46410); was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer stated that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ID

11744967

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

Mileage

84,000 mi

A continuation from my last post. I brought my car back to the dealer.The worker came out to inspect my car and he lifted the hood and he said I had a loose negative battery cable and that I had the wrong battery in my car. He said that might be the cause of the flickering lights.My car was at the dealership for three days before I was called to come pickup my car.He stated they found another service update that my car needed P0471 and that cleared my check engine light and the battery he said once again I have the wrong battery in my car and they were only able to tighten the negative cable so much.I explained to him that it was the correct battery because I went to Walmart where the battery was purchased and they auto manger printed out that paperwork that shows it is the correct battery for that car.Then he had me sign for my car and I left.While driving home my battery light stared flickering again.So I called him and said I thought you were able to tighten the negative cable to the battery. He then said they did the best they can do because it is the wrong battery.After he got off the phone all my lights on my dashboard lit up.My car seemed possessed.My steering locked up and brakes were not working.Scared and crying i called him back and was telling him what was happening to my car.He said once again it was due to battery. Crying I said I'm scared what do I do?He advised me to put my car in netural and try to pull off to the side.I explained to him that I was on the freeway in 5pm traffic my hazards, signals and brakes aren't working.I then asked him what do I do once I can stop the car.Do I bring it back to the dealership? He said the only thing they can do if i bring it back is to have me buy a new battery.At this point the car completely turned off.I was able to roll off the freeway then my car stopped completely violently as if someone slammed the the brakes.Now they want me to buy a new alternator and transmission.Car had no issue before taking it in.

NHTSA ID

11743764

Incident

May 14, 2026

The vehicle was taken in several times for a vibration, binding coming from the rear. It has been ongoing back to the original owner. It is the all wheel drive coupler. This is a known issue with TSBs out on it. Kia has been contacted and seems unwilling to help, replace. Online thousands of these things have failed some even twice. In icy or slippery conditions this can cause loss of control due to binding.

NHTSA ID

11742769

Incident

Oct 30, 2025

I own a 2020 Kia Telluride currently with approximately 91409 miles. The vehicle has a repeatable transmission issue during acceleration, most noticeable around 40 mph when the transmission shifts. The vehicle shudders/hesitates/jerks and does not accelerate smoothly. This creates a safety concern because the hesitation occurs during normal acceleration and could affect merging, passing, or maintaining speed in traffic. I brought the vehicle to Vision Kia of East Rochester, 201 East Linden Ave, East Rochester, NY 14445 on 2/4/26 at approximately 88067 miles. The Kia service manager/technician duplicated the concern during inspection/road test and stated that the issue is related to the torque converter damper clutch. However, I was told the dealer would not repair the vehicle unless a warning light/check-engine light comes on. No warning light is currently illuminated. I am reporting this because the transmission defect has been observed by the dealer while the vehicle is still under warranty, but no repair has been authorized. I am concerned that the condition may worsen and could cause delayed acceleration or unsafe drivability.

NHTSA ID

11739512

Incident

Feb 4, 2026

I was driving down the interstate when all of a sudden, I hear a bang, and my power went crazy, couldn't push the gas at all, my car was suddenly shut off. We coasted to the side of the interstate and got out to see a pile of oil underneath my car. Called a tow truck to help us and he found a massive hole in the engine block / oil pan - catastrophic engine failure. I have 117k miles on my car BUT I have kept up with maintenance on this vehicle. There should be no reason for this to happen. This put my family in immediate danger.

NHTSA ID

11738539

Incident

May 17, 2026

While driving on a highway at approximately 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration without warning and was unable to exceed approximately 10–15 mph. This created a dangerous situation requiring immediate maneuvering across multiple lanes of traffic to reach safety. At the time of the incident, the check engine light was illuminated. Diagnostic trouble codes P0191, P2177, and P2179 were later identified, indicating fuel pressure irregularities and air/fuel imbalance. The vehicle was inspected by a dealership, which diagnosed a purge valve vacuum leak and faulty high-pressure fuel system components. The repair required replacement of the purge valve and high-pressure fuel system components. The failure involved components within the fuel/propulsion system and engine systems, which are controlled in part by the electronic control module (ECM). This resulted in a sudden and unexpected loss of propulsion while driving at highway speed. Prior to the incident, there were issues with refueling, including difficulty filling the fuel tank when near empty, indicating a potential developing issue within the fuel system. This condition created a significant safety risk due to the sudden and unexpected loss of vehicle speed in active highway traffic, increasing the risk of collision.

NHTSA ID

11730157

Incident

Dec 8, 2025

My transmission failed at 95k miles and was available for inspection at a fee. My safety was at risk since my car was jerking on the highway and I had to quickly pull over while the car slowed down in a fast and high trafficked area. The problem has been an ongoing issue especially in 2020 models from social media and the dealership. The vehicle was inspected by the Kia dealership. The engine light did not come on until the car showed immediate signs of issues.

NHTSA ID

11727142

Incident

Jan 18, 2026

Description of Defect: My 2020 Kia Telluride experienced catastrophic engine failure and excessive oil consumption, which is a known issue for this model year (to the point that I had to sell it just 1 year after I bought it). The vehicle consumes oil at an alarming rate without any dashboard warning lights, or low oil pressure indicators, leading to sudden loss of engine power and potential stalling while in motion. This failure occurred at 93,200 miles, well before the expected service life of the powertrain. Safety Risk: Sudden engine stalling or power loss while driving at highway speeds creates an immediate risk of rear-end collisions and leaves the driver without power steering or braking assistance. The lack of any 'Check Engine' or 'Low Oil' light prior to the mechanical crisis meant there was zero opportunity to safely maneuver off the road before the vehicle became disabled. Furthermore, excessive oil consumption in this engine type has been linked to potential fire risks under the hood. Failure/Incident Details: Despite following all manufacturer-recommended maintenance, the vehicle suffered a major [Engine/Transmission] failure. Kia America has acknowledged the failure but refuses to provide transparency or assistance, despite Technical Service Bulletins (TSB SA428 and TSB 089) existing for these exact powertrain issues. This represents a significant safety defect that puts my family and other drivers at risk.

NHTSA ID

11724560

Incident

Nov 28, 2025

The engine is stalling, knocking and the check engine light will occasionally come on. You can smell carbon monoxide and hot oil. We are having to add a quart of oil weekly.

NHTSA ID

11723762

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

My 2020 Kia Telluride EX experienced a sudden engine shutoff / loss of motive power while driving in traffic. The vehicle stopped in the roadway, would not immediately restart, and restarted later after sitting. This was not normal stop/start operation, the car shut down. No low-oil warning appeared before the event. I am also aware of multiple similar owner reports online describing high oil consumption, stalling, and lack of warning in 2020 Tellurides, but this complaint is based on my own direct experience and concern. It was scary and life threatening!

NHTSA ID

11723555

Incident

Mar 10, 2026

Engine oil is disappearing in my 2020 Kia Telluride. This has been occurring for an extended period of time ( Since 2020) Early on, I was not driving frequently and did not immediately recognize the severity of the issue. However, about a year ago, when my work required significantly more driving, I began noticing that a large amount of oil was missing between checks, at times approximately half of the engine’s oil capacity. I initially suspected the plastic oil filter housing, which can crack or leak if it is over torqued during oil changes. To address that potential issue, I purchased an aluminum oil filter housing and had it installed. While that repair resolved one concern, it did not stop the ongoing oil loss. At times, when I check the dipstick, there is little to no oil registering, indicating the engine is operating on residual oil. When I remove the oil filler cap, smoke is visible coming from the opening. There are no signs of external leakage, no oil on the ground, and no oil leaking under the engine. This strongly suggests the engine is consuming oil internally. This is a serious safety concern. If the oil level drops unexpectedly while driving, the engine can suffer sudden damage, lose power, stall, or fail without warning. Because I regularly travel for work between Florida and Georgia, including highway driving, I now carry bottles of oil in the vehicle and feel compelled to monitor and top off oil frequently out of concern that the engine could fail or stall while driving, potentially leading to a crash, injury, or loss of life. Based on my research, I understand I am not the only Kia Telluride owner experiencing this type of abnormal oil consumption or unexplained oil loss.

NHTSA ID

11719605

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

I am the original owner of a 2020 Kia Telluride with 48,409 miles. My wife purchased it new. It has never been sold or transferred. It is fully covered under Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty. What component failed and is it available for inspection? The engine is consuming excessive oil due to failed internal components—likely the piston rings. This has fouled the spark plugs and caused active misfires on cylinders 1,3,4,5. Codes: P0300, P0301, P0303, P0304, P0305. Kia acknowledges this defect in TSB ENG222, which defines consumption over 1 quart per 1,000 miles as abnormal. The failed components remain in the vehicle and are available for inspection. Has the problem been confirmed by a dealer? Yes. [Dealer Name] confirmed the misfire codes and excessive oil consumption. Despite being original owners with an active warranty, they refused to cover the repair. The advisor said they "only cover internal engine parts"—which is exactly what is broken. We were sent home with a flashing check engine light. Has it been inspected by manufacturer or others? No. Only the dealership. Kia Corporate has not inspected it. How was safety put at risk? A solid check engine light means active misfire and risk of sudden engine stall or seizure. Other Telluride owners report complete power loss on highways and intersections—no acceleration, no power steering, no power brakes. My wife and children drive this car. I fear for their safety every time they start the engine. Were there warning symptoms? Yes. Two weeks before the check engine light appeared, I noticed a slight shudder during acceleration that gradually worsened. The light came on solid, then began flashing within days. No oil light appeared. No other warnings. Kia advertised a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. At 48,409 miles, they denied coverage for a known, documented defect. That is not a warranty. Not true. I request an investigation into the 2020 Telluride 3.8L engine. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11717327

Incident

Jan 19, 2026

The check engine light is on and reading code P07104. The vehicle has been diagnosed and it was found the torque converter is slipping and the technician recommends replacing the transmission. The anti-freeze has been low over the past 30 days and must be leaking internally. I have had to add anti-freeze twice during that time.

NHTSA ID

11716176

Incident

Feb 4, 2026

Oil filter housing assembly- Resulted in very low engine oil with no warning lights or engine lights potentially leading to engine damage. Yes the component was inspected and replaced by dealership. This was after getting the oil plan repaired for leaking oil as well

NHTSA ID

11711541

Incident

Jan 14, 2026

Kia equips their 2020 Tellurides with a plastic oil filter housing unit. Over time, the heat from metal and pressure causes the plastic component to crack, become warped and this leads to oil leaks.

NHTSA ID

11711241

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

We have had multiple issues with this car. First the pearl white peeling off on hood and above the windshield. Second CV3 axles boots leaking on our vehicle and multiple others at the Kia dealership. Third burnin oil even with good maintenance records. 3rd sunroof won’t open or close now for no reason at all. 4th back seat now attempts to fold at random times. Even with our kids in the seat. 5th oil housing leak. 6th CEL comes on and off randomly causing it to run rough. 7th screen is now to have issues of not working right. We’ve had to pay out of pocket for multiple things. Including the paint. We’ve spoken to service department and common issue they don’t see why it’s not a recall by now. Dealership is no help. Beware

NHTSA ID

11710216

Incident

Apr 10, 2025

P0741 Error Codes - Torque Converter issue around 100k miles. Shuttering at low rpm between 2nd and 3rd gears. This is a known issue for owners of the 2020 model year. TCM software update and transmission oil change did not fix.

NHTSA ID

11710063

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Oil consumption problem and oil filter housing needing replacement.

NHTSA ID

11701330

Incident

Nov 17, 2025

After 8 months of trips to the shop telling them the engine was bad, and spending thousands to do things it didn’t need trying to get warranty to cover engine, kia finally agreed it had issues. Tore it down and piston rings are bad. There was carbon build up despite regular maintenance and they are telling me warranty won’t replace

NHTSA ID

11699056

Incident

Oct 30, 2025

The engine is consuming oil

NHTSA ID

11696901

Incident

Oct 30, 2025

AWD Coupler locking and wobbling jerks vehicle

NHTSA ID

11695387

Incident

Oct 22, 2025

High oil consumption. Oil needs added frequently or it gets low and car doesn’t run correctly. Transmission slips daily at low speed first thing in the morning. When making slow turns tires tires don’t seem to remain steady/grip. The car is hoppy like there is a traction problem. Tires have been replaced and issue remains.

NHTSA ID

11692284

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

Right at 100k miles both our engine began burning oil at an extremely high rate with no clear resolution for the issue. We are adding 1-2 quarts ever week. Simultaneously, we received transmission solenoid codes from a check engine light. The sealed factory transmission had burn looking transmission fluid and after replacement the light continue to show and now the transmission is slipping and hesitating and we are being told it needs replaced.

NHTSA ID

11692122

Incident

Oct 8, 2025