2021 Kia Telluride reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2021 Kia Telluride — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 409
- 388 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- 89 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 13 reported crashes · 13 injuries · 4 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,278
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+144
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2019-2023
+170
median 240 complaints in 444 records
Top component share
22%
Unknown Or Other: 89 complaints
What owners report fails — 2021 Kia Telluride
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 89
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 59
- ENGINE 52
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34
- STRUCTURE:BODY 30
4 recalls on record for the 2021 Kia Telluride
- NHTSA 24V407000 · 2024 · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST A fire increases the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 24V214000 · 2024 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
- NHTSA 22V626000 · 2023 · TRAILER HITCHES A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 21V164000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2021 Kia Telluride
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2021 Kia Telluride units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Kia Telluride reliable?
NHTSA has 409 consumer complaints on record for the 2021 Kia Telluride and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (89 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2021 Kia Telluride units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Telluride?
Owners most often report problems with: unknown or other (89), visibility/wiper (59), engine (52), electrical system (34). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2021 Kia Telluride?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.