Kia Telluride, representative photo
Representative 2020 model. Photo: Gold Pony, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2021 Kia Telluride recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2021 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns
5
Park-it warnings
3
Complaints
370
Latest campaign
Jul 2, 2026

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
ComponentCampaignsPark‑itLatestCampaign IDs
Seats22Jul 2, 2026
Power train1–Mar 20, 2024
Trailer hitches11Aug 15, 2022
Air bags1–Mar 11, 2021

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
3Park-it warnings
0Fixable over the air
Jul 2, 2026Latest campaign
Jul 2, 202626V430000

Seats: front assembly power adjust

A fire increases the risk of injury.

Park outside, away from structures
DetailsHide details for campaign 26V430000
What's wrong
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.
Risk
A fire increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign
NHTSA 26V430000 · Jul 2, 2026
Jun 5, 202424V407000

Seats: front assembly power adjust

A fire increases the risk of injury.

Park outside, away from structures
DetailsHide details for campaign 24V407000
What's wrong
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.
Risk
A fire increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign
NHTSA 24V407000 · Jun 5, 2024
Mar 20, 202424V214000

Power train: driveline driveshaft

A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 24V214000
What's wrong
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.
Risk
A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.
Campaign
NHTSA 24V214000 · Mar 20, 2024
Aug 15, 202222V626000

Trailer hitches

A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Park outside, away from structures
DetailsHide details for campaign 22V626000
What's wrong
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.
Risk
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign
NHTSA 22V626000 · Aug 15, 2022
Mar 11, 202121V164000

Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

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.

DetailsHide details for campaign 21V164000
What's wrong
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
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.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
Campaign
NHTSA 21V164000 · Mar 11, 2021
To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2021 Kia Telluride? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component370

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h
370Complaints filed
7Involving a crash
4Involving a fire
9Injuries reported
ComponentShareComplaints%CrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or other10228005
Engine6718030
Visibility/wiper6417000
Electrical system4211001
Structure339000
Power train288000
Visibility236001
Forward collision avoidance226302
Suspension205000
Service brakes144302
Exterior lighting103000
Seats92000
Fuel/propulsion system72000
Steering51000
Vehicle speed control41000

11 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

  • Seats

    “NHTSA Recall Number 26V430000.”

    Filed 10/15/2026 · ODI 11771314
  • Engine

    “I was attempting to accelerate on the freeway and the rpms kept going up but it felt like the engine didn't want to shift gears.”

    Filed 10/09/2026 · ODI 11770117
  • Electrical system

    “Vehicle was sitting all night and entered the garage in the morning and found the radiator fan at full speed. Car was not running, so backed it out, turned it off and the fan turned back on.”

    Filed 10/08/2026 · ODI 11769911

Other Kia Telluride model years

Other Kia models

2021 Kia Telluride recall questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Telluride have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia Telluride. The most recent, 26V430000 (reported July 2, 2026), concerns seats. 3 campaigns carry a park-it or park-outside warning. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2021 Kia Telluride recalls for?

The largest group is seats, with 2 campaigns. Others: power train (1), trailer hitches (1), air bags (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Kia Telluride?

Unknown or other is the most-reported component, named in 102 complaints out of 370 filed with NHTSA (28%). Across all complaints, owners reported 7 crashs and 4 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2021 Kia Telluride?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Kia dealer.

Check a specific Kia by VIN

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