RoadVitals

2022 Kia Telluride Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Nov 8, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 333 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2022 Kia Telluride submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 8, 2026

Passenger side headlamp turns on and off intermittently. This is the second time this has happened to my vehicle. First time was melted wiring, was fixed under warranty. Roughly 18 months later the issue is back. Either light turns on and off by itself or I can pop the hood each and every time, wiggle the wires until it turns back on.

NHTSA ID
11776585
Incident
Oct 26, 2026
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Nov 2, 2026

While parked in my driveway at 0 mph, the windshield cracked near the interior rearview mirror attachment as I adjusted the mirror. I felt and observed it crack with my hand on the mirror. Nothing struck the outside. The cracking appeared to begin at the interior attachment; the underlying cause is UNKNOWN. I requested service in September 2026 at approximately 58,864 miles. The appointment was scheduled for October 12. While waiting, the cracks worsened and mileage exceeded 60,000. The dealer now cites the basic warranty mileage limit to deny coverage despite my earlier report. The dealer confirmed the cracking and water inside the multifunction mirror/sensor cover. The service manager advised against driving currently, because the crack expanded further and now is obstructing the line of sight and water is entering. Safety concerns include visibility, windshield integrity and possible damage to nearby electronics. Electronic damage is UNKNOWN; the dealer reported no current component malfunction. Warning lamps/messages before failure: UNKNOWN. The dealer says a Kia factory representative inspected it and found an "obvious" external impact. I dispute this because it cracked during mirror adjustment without an external strike. Requested findings and photographs identifying the alleged impact point have not been provided; the dealer says findings will appear on the final invoice. Separate glass coverage is capped at $2,500, leaving over $900 out of pocket. Kia USA has not returned its promised 24–48-hour callback, even after an additional loaner week from dealership. The windshield remains unreplaced and available for inspection through the dealer. Please investigate a possible windshield/mirror attachment defect and consider other cracking reports, including allegations concerning 2020–2023 Tellurides in Sanchez v. Kia America. Those disputed allegations do not establish the cause of my failure.

NHTSA ID
11775050
Incident
Sep 20, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 9, 2026

My low beam passenger side headlight started turning on and off randomly. Now it’s both low and high beams. Some days it is on when I start the vehicle and then turns off while driving and vise versa. Some days there is a dash light with it, and some days there is not. Some days it is out all day, while other days it works all day. Then I can get in the vehicle the next day and it turns on and off sparatically.

NHTSA ID
11770031
Incident
Sep 13, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 14, 2026

One year ago, my headlight warning came on while driving back to [XXX] from [XXX]. I pulled over and tried wiggling my connector to my light which stopped the waring. I thought maybe just the bad roads had caused the connection to come apart. Throughout the year, the problem has happened. About 4 weeks ago the warning came back on but his time a triangle warning also appeared. I took it into the Lawton Kia dealership to be checked out. I was told it was due to my moister bearing being wet and needed to be changes with my head lights. I approved the work and this was done a week later when the parts were in. With in the week, the light came back on. I took it back in and was told that the headlight along with the pigtail was burnt and both needed to be replaced. the work in going to be over 1300 dollars. My warrant has expired and my extended warranty does not cover replacement of the head lights. At the time this started, my car was still in warranty, and I should have taken it in by I really thought it was loss connections due to the bad roads in [XXX]. I had not driven my vehicle at night since replacing the headlight bulb but if the light burned the pig tail, then this is a defect in the manufacture of this vehicle. I have filled a case Study with Kia but they do not willing to do anything about this because there is not a recall at this time for the headlights. My case is # XXX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11764191
Incident
Nov 15, 2025
Body & structureExterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Jul 3, 2026

My right headlight stopped working, even after replacing bulb several times. The exterior paint is chipping from different areas. The middle seat seatbelts middle and behind driver keep getting stuck, they will not retract. My vehicle is only 4 years old it started with the headlight issue within 2 years. Now the seatbelts and paint, this vehicle has been a pain.

NHTSA ID
11748092
Incident
May 12, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2025

The passenger side headlight randomly goes off. An alert comes on on the dashboard to check the headlight. The headlight comes back on randomly. I made several appointments to get it checked, but would be back on again when at the appointment. Diagnostic check showed no issues. The dealer replaced the bulb (not under warranty) and it worked for 1 year. The issue started again, another diagnostic was done, and a found no issues because the headlight came back on. A few weeks later it was out again and the whole lamp assembly was replaced. Not covered by warranty.

NHTSA ID
11700902
Incident
Nov 1, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 11, 2024

The driver's side high beam headlight has stopped working. I am told it is because a baffle, a movable reflector, inside the headlight assembly has stopped functioning. In addition, the cost of replacing the headlight assembly is $1300. I know you have received some complaints about the 2020 Telluride. The same assembly in the 2022 Telluride.

NHTSA ID
11576517
Incident
Oct 12, 2021
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 1, 2022

Since the purchase of my vehicle 7 30 2022 & after driving the first several times in the darkness/evening hours & since I have had safety concerns that the headlamps in my vehicle are insufficient/inadequate - not just the normal headlights illumination but also the high beams. When the high beams are activated the additional effect is negligible/deliver inferior performance. I have continued to reach out to Kia & thus far they have not been helpful. I believe driving at night time is putting me at a safety risk. The dealership did/does not have a way to test the headlamps in any sort of calibration or measuring means other than to turn on the headlights while in the service area and shine them on a wall. When driving during the night time hours I keep my speed on rural roads typically below the speed limit as I do not feel I could brake/stop the vehicle in the field of vision that the headlight illumination provides. I have reached out repeatedly to the Kia Assistance number & thus far there has been no action or contact made by any positive measures taken to address my concerns. I have even contacted my insurance agent twice to express my frustration of Kia's inadequacy to provide a solution or address my concerns. I ask please for any assistance that you may be able to help remedy this safety/risk concern.

NHTSA ID
11495664
Incident
Aug 15, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 2, 2022

Headlights are NOT bright enough for night driving.

NHTSA ID
11491918
Incident
May 20, 2022

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

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