Is the Kia Telluride Reliable? What Used Buyers Need to Know
By Caropsy · July 1, 2026 · 5 min read
The Kia Telluride launched in 2020 and immediately won awards — MotorTrend's SUV of the Year, Car and Driver's 10Best. Now that early examples are hitting the used market with real mileage, the early reliability data looks solid. Not perfect, but significantly better than many expected from Kia a decade ago.
B
Strong early reliability — with a few items to watchCaropsy overall grade for most years: B
Best years to buy used
2021–2023The Telluride hit its stride post-launch. The 3.8L V6 is smooth and proven. Most early complaints were minor — infotainment bugs, trim fit issues — not mechanical. This is the safer used generation.
2020 (launch year)Launch years always carry more risk. Some 2020 Tellurides had wind noise complaints and minor electrical bugs. Still generally reliable but the least proven year in the lineup.
Years to think twice about
High mileage examples (over 80k)The Telluride is young enough that most used examples are still relatively low-mileage. Be cautious of any used example claiming very high mileage — it may have been heavily used commercially or had a hard life.
💡 Screenshot the listing and grade it on Caropsy before you contact the seller — know the specific year's issues in 10 seconds.
Common problems to know
Engine recall (2020–2021, Theta II-adjacent): Some early Tellurides were subject to a precautionary engine inspection recall. Confirm it was completed.
Infotainment (2020): Early software had some lag and connectivity bugs. Usually resolved by software update.
Sunroof seals: Some owners report wind noise from the panoramic roof seals.
Bottom line
A 2021–2023 Telluride is a genuinely strong used three-row SUV buy — competitive with the Highlander and Pilot at a lower price point. Just verify the service history.