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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2020 Kia Telluride is associated with 746 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 7 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, accounting for 164 reports (22% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3.8l 6-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 23 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 746 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 7 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: EXTERIOR LIGHTING (164 / 22%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 8 crash / 9 fire / 8 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 21–23 MPG across 2 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Telluride FWD 3.8L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 20 MPG 26 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Telluride AWD 3.8L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 19 MPG 24 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD 15.5%
SUV AWD 14.299999999999999%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2020 Kia Telluride models.
View complete 2020 Kia Telluride crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Summary of 746 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
746
Crash Reports
8
Fire Reports
9
Complaints w/ Injury
8
Total Injuries
11

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 164 complaints (1 crash)
Visibility & Wipers 121 complaints
Engine 88 complaints
Structure & Body 40 complaints
Powertrain 33 complaints (1 crash)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2020 Kia Telluride problems & component breakdown (95 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #26V430000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

Defect Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign #24V407000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

Defect Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.
NHTSA Campaign #22V626000 Active Recall
Affected Component: TRAILER HITCHES

Defect Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.
View all 2020 Kia Telluride recalls & campaign history (7 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2020 Kia Telluride

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2020 Kia Telluride

How many safety recalls does the 2020 Kia Telluride have?

The 2020 Kia Telluride is associated with 7 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2020 Kia Telluride?

NHTSA records list 746 consumer defect complaints for the 2020 Kia Telluride. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, appearing in 164 filings (22% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2020 Kia Telluride?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2020 Kia Telluride earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2020 Kia Telluride get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2020 Kia Telluride range from 21 to 23 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.