Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a bad year?
377 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Telluride years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2021 Kia Telluride are in line with other Telluride years. Visibility and wipers stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Telluride owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 4,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 87 (23%) | 2k–10k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 29 (8%) | 0k–38k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (3%) | 1k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 69 (18%) | 62k–93k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 43 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 33 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 22 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 21 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 14 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 4,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 377 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
115 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Kia Telluride: 5
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. A fire increases the risk of injury.
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. A fire increases the risk of injury.
The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK. A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
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. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 74
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Kia Telluride. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Is extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever occurs first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service
AWD coupler noise/vibration logic improvement
Voluntary emissions service campaign: ECU emissions software logic improvement (SC357)
4WD coupling noise/vibration logic improvement
Neighbouring years
2020 Telluride: 780 complaints, keep it · 2022 Telluride: 331 complaints, keep it.
Every Kia Telluride year
2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · All Telluride years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a bad year?
377 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Telluride years. At 4,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Telluride?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (87), transmission and drivetrain (29), exterior lighting (10), engine (69), electrical system (43).
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Telluride have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 26V-430), Seats (NHTSA 24V-407), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 24V-214), Trailer hitch (NHTSA 22V-626) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.