2023 Kia Telluride Electrical Problems

My 2023 Kia Telluride started leaking water to the inside of the vehicle headliner and running out the 2nd row reading lights and all the way tobthe back hatch when it rained. This could cause significant electrical shortage in the lights, airbags and rear hatch or any other component the water makes contact with. It will most likely now cause mold in or on the headliner. When the vehicle was recently at the dealer for yet another set of recalls along with an extended warranty repair of the electronic thermostat, the service rep noticed water coming out of the headliner area on the driver side when driving it around to the shop. The service tech then pulled down part of the head liner on the opposite passenger side and borescoped the sunroof/panaramic drain tube on the passenger side and found that a hole was "chaffed" in the drain tube. They did not borehole any others at this time but with the service rep saying she saw water on the driver side it is believed that the drain tube on that side also has a hole. This is a manufacturer defect.

NHTSA ID

11774615

Incident

Oct 27, 2026

Within the last two weeks the vehicle has died approximately 8-10 times. Dealership checked the battery and found it to be in good condition. Approximately two weeks ago I walked outside and the cooling fan was on after the vehicle was parked for more than four hours. To this day the dealership can’t figure out why the cars battery is constantly dying. I believe the cars cooling fan turns on by itself and drains the battery. I am also concerned the fan turning on randomly on its own will create a fire risk due to it running for an extended period of time while the vehicle is turned off. I have video to support my claim of the fan turning on by itself.

NHTSA ID

11774604

Incident

Oct 11, 2026

There was a low-speed collision with a deer (approximately 10-15 mph). The vehicle continued to run fine after the collision and we were able to drive it home. After the next start, the engine was shaking all over and started smoking from behind the engine. The battery was disconnected but it continued to smoke. After further inspection, we were able to find a fire and extinguished it using a fire extinguisher. We had issues with this car prior to the collision where the engine would misfire after the car would get wet, but would only produce temporary codes. This was checked out by the dealer and we were told there's nothing that they can do. A few weeks prior to the collision it happened again and the check engine light went to a confirmed/permanent code and it was related to cylinder misfires. If we would not have had a fire extinguisher or had been able to roll it away from the house, the occupants, vehicle, and house would have been in danger of the fire. The source of the ignition has been confirmed to be the ignition coils, but the root cause of this has not been determined and it has just been assumed that it is related to the collision, without an actual root cause identification.

NHTSA ID

11773624

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

The vehicle electrical system could be a fire hazard since the vehicle electrical system is incurring parasitic draw down of the battery. Believe there is a class action lawsuit filed relating to the problem. It is well known issue wit KIA Corp while the dealerships play dumb. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11772067

Incident

Oct 18, 2026

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 [XXX]). Since my original filing, the identical defect has recurred twice more, on XXX — once at approximately 1:01–1:30 PM EST and again at approximately 5:03–5:17 PM EST, the same day. In both incidents, the dashboard and infotainment system powered up normally, but the vehicle would not crank, consistent with all prior occurrences dating back to XXX. This brings the total documented occurrences to six between XXX and August 8, 2026, including two in a single day. In both August 8 incidents, my wife was stranded and had to be picked up because the vehicle would not start. This follows a dealer-confirmed and dealer-executed starter replacement (Kia of Cleveland, RO dated XXX, part #36100-3L160) that was performed after the dealer duplicated the fault on the vehicle and on a bench test — and a 4th recurrence on XXX, just 10 days after that repair. I have video evidence of all four August incidents (XXX, and the two on XXX showing the instrument cluster and infotainment fully powered with a no-crank condition. I am providing this update because the frequency of occurrences is escalating — two failures in a single day — despite a repair that was physically confirmed by the dealer's own testing. This strongly suggests the actual root cause (potentially an immobilizer/smart-key system fault, IBU communication failure, or intermittent wiring/ground fault) has not been correctly identified, and the defect continues to pose an unreasonable stranding risk to occupants. I am concurrently pursuing a vehicle replacement request with Kia America under Customer Care Case #26211382. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755922

Incident

Aug 8, 2026

My 2023 Kia Telluride (VIN [XXX]) has an intermittent no-start/no-crank defect that has occurred on four separate occasions between [XXX] and [XXX] (mileage range 49,850–51,180). In each occurrence, the dashboard and infotainment system power on normally, but the engine will not crank when the start button is pressed, with both key fobs. The fault clears itself with no consistent trigger, making it undetectable by standard diagnostic scans after the fact. The vehicle was taken to Kia of Cleveland (2492 South Lee Highway, Cleveland, TN 37311) three times. On the first two visits (6/18/26 and 7/1/26) the dealer could not duplicate the fault and returned the vehicle unrepaired. On the third visit (7/17/26–7/27/26), the dealer successfully duplicated the no-start condition both on the vehicle and on a bench test after removing the starter, and replaced the starter under warranty (part #36100-3L160). Despite this confirmed and completed repair, the identical no-start condition recurred on [XXX], only 10 days and approximately 250 miles later. This is a safety issue: on [XXX], my wife was attempting to leave for work with our twin 5-year-old daughters in the vehicle when it failed to start. This is the type of defect that could strand occupants in unsafe locations or conditions (heat, cold, traffic, isolated areas) with no warning and no reliable workaround. I have video evidence of the [XXX] incident showing the vehicle's instrument cluster and infotainment fully powered with a no-crank condition, timestamped and showing the odometer reading. I am filing this complaint because the defect has now defeated a dealer-confirmed and dealer-executed repair, suggesting a root cause (such as an immobilizer/smart-key system fault, IBU communication failure, or intermittent wiring/ground fault) that has not yet been correctly identified. I am concurrently requesting a vehicle replacement from Kia America under Case #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755209

Incident

May 1, 2026

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 car for 2 weeks and say they can not duplicate and I drive it (Perfectly) and it goes off. this is a 2023 Kia telluride , previous year models and later models you could turn off or turn down sensitivity of this warning. KIA eliminated the owner the opportunity to disable or turn down this warning. It is a safety hazard because it is always going off, causing the driver to take his attention from the road to the dash every few minutes with the bells and coffee pot Take A Break Warning . KIA will not do anything about it.

NHTSA ID

11750985

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

The engine cooling fan activates at high speed and runs continuously for an extended period — in one instance, overnight — after the vehicle has been turned off, locked, and left unattended. This has occurred on multiple occasions. No warning lamps or messages appear before or during the event. The vehicle gives no indication anything is wrong; the fan simply runs at full speed on its own, without the ignition on, for hours at a time. The component involved is the engine cooling fan and/or its control module. Based on owner community research, the likely cause is a faulty signal being sent to the Engine Control Module, which triggers the fan to run even when the vehicle is not overheating and is fully shut off. The component is available for inspection. Safety risk: The vehicle is parked in an attached garage. An electrical component running uncontrolled and unattended for hours inside an enclosed structure attached to a residence poses a credible fire hazard. A bedroom is located directly above the garage. This is not an inconvenience — it is a fire risk to occupants of the home. The problem has been reported to an authorized Kia dealer on multiple occasions. The dealer was unable to replicate the condition during the service visit and did not perform a repair. The defect is intermittent in nature, which makes dealer replication difficult, but video documentation of the fan running with the vehicle off and unattended exists for multiple incidents. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps illuminate during or prior to the event. The fan simply activates after shutoff with no prior symptoms. VIDEO LINK of both incidences: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11745549

Incident

Jun 20, 2026

Multiple times over the course of six months the vehicle would turn itself and all electric components off while being driven, with no warning. The car would then refuse to restart.

NHTSA ID

11744919

Incident

Dec 31, 2024

I was driving on the service road of the freeway, driving approximately 40 mph when my main screen started flashing warnings. I was only able to catch 2 before the screen shut off. One was saying front collision sensors not working and the other said side sensors not working then the screen where the radio was went black. Then my brake pedal locked up, the car lost all power steering. The car started to just roll and I was able to pull into a side parking lot and the car died. I was not able to start the vehicle and called roadside assistance and had my vehicle towed to the car dealership. This was during rush hour traffic with multiple vehicles in the road. I was terrified as my vehicle was slowly starting to stop moving and there were multiple cars surrounding me while I lost all brake function and power steering. At the time of this report, the service department at my dealership was closed and will call them in the morning. The tow truck left my vehicle there as it is inoperable. From the time I noticed the warnings on the screen to when my vehicle came to a complete stop was about 2 minutes.

NHTSA ID

11733150

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

Recall of vehicle catching fire has not been taken care of even after contacting dealership.

NHTSA ID

11732239

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

2023 Kia Telluride: black digital cluster screen will not turn on, affecting the ability to monitor vehicle status, odometer, speedometer, and safety features. We purchased this vehicle brand new in 2023. The vehicle has been in the Kia dealership service center (where it was purchased) from January 2026 to present. The dealership estimates it will be June 2026 before backordered parts can be replaced by a master mechanic. We have continued to make payments on a vehicle we are unable to use with no resolution in sight. The vehicle has also been serviced for 5 separate recalls since purchased new in 2023, and we just received our 6th recall notification for an additional issue.

NHTSA ID

11728708

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

Drivers cluster screen (which include all gauges, odometer, temp gauge, gas gauge, critical safety features, etc.) has gone completely black with zero visibility to essential functions. Took to dealer. Dealer says screen is covered under warranty but is backordered from Kia. ETA for new screen is late May 2026.This happened on January 15, 2026 with no warning signs. Currently driving vehicle as it is my only means of transportation.

NHTSA ID

11724656

Incident

Jan 15, 2026

1. Instrument panel failure, can’t see speed, fuel, mileage. Blind spot warning does not work, lane assistance does not work. This issue was not solved by recall related to software update. 2. Unsafe to drive with no way to see speed, blind spot warning failure, can’t tell if blinker is on or how much gas is in car. 3. Dealer reproduced. It’s not a sporadic issue, the panel does not turn on 4. Yes Kia dealership inspected 5. No warning. Turned the car on and the panel no longer worked.

NHTSA ID

11721143

Incident

Jan 31, 2026

Upon starting suv, the instrument panel / cluster did not display. There is now no way to know speed, safety warnings such as malfunctioning sensors or safety features . No odometer or any driving feedback of any kind. Have scheduled appointment with dealer tomorrow.

NHTSA ID

11712784

Incident

Jan 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 KIA Telluride. The contact stated the vehicle was experiencing heating system failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer on three occasions for heating and cooling failures. The dealer replaced an unknown sensor and the thermostat; however, the heat became inoperable. The contact stated that the heat was only operable while driving, and the vehicle would blow cool air while idling. The contact stated that the heat was barely warming up the vehicle while driving. The contact stated that the failure had caused the windows to be foggy, which reduced the road's visibility while driving. The vehicle was taken to a Kia Dealer, where an unknown sensor and the thermostat were replaced, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11707540

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Mileage

35,000 mi

Upon starting the vehicle, the gauge cluster screen was and remained completely blank. No indication as to an error, no visual indicator was available as to my speed or the vehicle's status, and no problem lights were visible. The vehicle appeared otherwise operable, and the media control screen was fully functional

NHTSA ID

11707253

Incident

Dec 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster display screen failed to activate and was inoperable. During the failure, the driver was unable to view several needed features, such as the speedometer and fuel gauge, and the blind spot monitoring system. The vehicle was cautiously driven to the dealer, who diagnosed that the instrument cluster screen was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11705590

Incident

Dec 14, 2025

Mileage

82,000 mi

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the instrument cluster went blank. The speedometer and fuel gauge failed to display as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V298000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ID

11705511

Incident

Dec 15, 2025

Mileage

30,000 mi

after receiving my car on Friday morning 10/31 from the dealership, I drove to work, where all my dashboard lights popped on, I lost power steering, and I lost my speedometer (which is what it was in the shop for that whole week). I tried to drive it back to Kia and it completely stopped working in the middle of the road, even though it was turned on, it wouldn’t drive or change gears. Leaving me stranded in the middle of a 50 mile per an hour road. I had to call the police to help me maneuver off the road.

NHTSA ID

11701956

Incident

Oct 31, 2025

Drivers display panel not working, no vehicle information is available, it's a black screen. This is the 4th incident since new in 2023. Car can't be driven with nothing displayed.

NHTSA ID

11697898

Incident

Nov 5, 2025

The fuel gauge has erratic readings which frequently displays "low fuel" when in fact the fuel IS NOT LOW. The reverse is also true. The fuel gauge will occasionally indicate fuel is present in the vehicle when in fact THERE IS NONE resulting in running out of gas. This results in a dangerous seinero when driving in congested traffic areas since this can easily produce a traffic hazard and endanger occupants of this vehicle (and others). This is a known problem from multiple Kia Telluride owners.

NHTSA ID

11694746

Incident

Oct 15, 2025

Contact states large metal vehicle door trim came off while driving, unknown if accident was caused or other damage to surrounding vehicles. Further states, noticed when large rubber-like molding under door trim was flapping and thunking against door. Contact says water now intrudes into vehicle cabin and suspects constant water inside door affecting door electrical systems. Dealer notified by contact and no remedy provided for this "known issue". Contact is concerned about other trim pieces coming off and penetrating other vehicles at speed with "sharp and pointed edges", as well as electrical fire from water intrusion corrosion. Contact demands further investigation and action by vehicle safety regulators.

NHTSA ID

11691431

Incident

Sep 13, 2025

First issue, the entire screen went black while driving. Couldn't see navigation, speed other critical information. Was at the dealership a few weeks got it back and the hazard lights no longer worked but they did before it had gone to the dealership. Screen went out again and took it back. Dealership had it a few weeks fixed hazards and started a ticket with Kia engineering. Screen still goes out randomly. Electrical is messed up and car won't start randomly while screen blinks on and off. Been in the shop multiple times for weeks at a time for this issue and they say there is nothing wrong because they can't duplicate it while they have it. They have had to pick it up from my home because it wouldn't start and still say there is nothing wrong with the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11690607

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

Every time this issue happens, ALL the safety warnings are going off on my dashboard, telling me to check each safety feature and that it's currently NOT working. 1 - Check AWD/4WD 2 - Check Blind Spot Safety System 3 - Check Tire Pressure Monitoring System 4 - Check Smart Crusie Control System 5 - Check Forward Side Safety System 6 - Check Rear Cross Traffic Safety System 7 - Check Lane Following Assist System 8 - Check Lane Change Assist Function 9 - Check Lane Safety System 10 - Check Speed Limit System 11-Check High Beam Assist System 12 - Check inattentive Driving Warning System 13 - Check Door System 14 - Check Truck Lift gate System - ALL going off while I also LOSE MPH and Turn Signal capability and cameras.

NHTSA ID

11686809

Incident

Sep 16, 2024