2020 Kia Telluride Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

133Engine complaints

18.1%Of all 736 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

EXTERIOR LIGHTING174 · 23.6%

Unspecified / other138 · 18.8%

VISIBILITY/WIPER135 · 18.3%

ENGINE133 · 18.1%

POWER TRAIN70 · 9.5%

Share of the 736 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Kia Telluride overview page.

What owners report

“THE DASH SHOWED THAT MY ENGINE WAS OVER HEATING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGHE WENT ALL THE WAY TO HOT”NHTSA complaint 11277611 — filed 11/01/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Kia Telluride have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2020 Kia Telluride: 133 of 736 complaints on file (18.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Kia Telluride have in total?

736 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 8 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.