2022 Kia Telluride Problems

What owners reported to NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Telluride, its recalls, and what to check before you buy one.

Kia Telluride, 2020 to 2024 model years
Photo: Gold Pony, CC BY 3.0
How the 2022 compares

Too new to judge fully

It has been on the road 4 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Telluride year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the lights, wipers and visibility.

Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Telluride years from 2020 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

Owners have filed 331 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Telluride. The most reported problem area is the lights, wipers and visibility (102, 31% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the engine and cooling. That ranks 3rd of 5 Telluride years from 2020 to 2024 for complaints. It has 7 recalls.

Complaints331filed with NHTSA
Recalls7for this model year
Crashes109 injuries reported
Fires4reported in complaints

8 of these complaints came from Utah owners.

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Most reported problems

Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2022 Kia Telluride before you buy.

Lights, wipers and visibility

102 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy

Parts named most: Windshield (14).

What to check before you buy

  • Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
  • Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

My low beam passenger side headlight started turning on and off randomly. Now it’s both low and high beams. Some days it is on when I start the vehicle and then turns off while driving and vise versa. Some days there is a dash light with it, and some days there is not. Some days it is out all day, while other days it works all day. Then…Owner complaint, filed 2026
One year ago, my headlight warning came on while driving back to [XXX] from [XXX]. I pulled over and tried wiggling my connector to my light which stopped the waring. I thought maybe just the bad roads had caused the connection to come apart. Throughout the year, the problem has happened. About 4 weeks ago the warning came back on but…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Electrical system

70 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles. Parts named most: Instrument cluster / panel (16).

What to check before you buy

  • Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
  • Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
  • Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Appears to be a parasitic drain on batteries. I just replace the 3rd battery yesterday. Kia does not address the underlying cause of battery drain.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Car has been degrading and fully depleting batteries, one per year, since car was purchased new. Some undiagnosed electrical drain is resulting the car not starting, either at home or at a stoplight when 'auto-stop' causes the car to stop and restart in traffic. Vehicle has been to dealership to investigate a cause 4 times without a…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Engine and cooling

34 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
  • Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
  • Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
  • Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have been having issues with my car cutting off at random times. I crunk it up at Walmart and it shut right back off twice. I was on the way to a mechanic yesterday 10/29/26 and it sputtered as if it was going to cut off at any moment. It drinks oil like crazy. I have already had a oil leak that was "fixed" under warranty and the water…Owner complaint, filed 2026
I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a recurring transmission issue with my 2022 Kia Telluride AWD. When descending hills in manual shift mode, the transmission initially provides engine braking but subsequently loses that braking effect. The vehicle then begins accelerating downhill, requiring application of the service…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Transmission and drivetrain

26 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 37,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
  • Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
  • Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
  • If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The AWD coupler is shuttering and making the vehicle shake on turns . It is a common issue with KiA awd systems which is why I don’t understand why it’s not a recall! It puts people’s life’s at risk because upon accelerating at an intersection the binding does not let the full acceleration of the vehicle to take place . I have not yet…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while stopped on several occasions, the Auto START/STOP feature was activated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart without any further issues. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three separate occasions; however, the failure was not duplicated. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 12,000 miles

Body, doors and structure

23 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy

Parts named most: Body (20).

What to check before you buy

  • Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
  • Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
  • Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving our 2022 Kia Telluride under normal operating conditions, the panoramic sunroof glass suddenly and spontaneously shattered outward with a loud explosion-like noise. The sunroof was fully closed at the time of the explosion. There was no impact with any object, no debris strike, no road hazard, and no external cause…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Back seat locks repeatedly engage and disengage when activating childproof lock. This is intermittent and since dealership couldn't get it to occur they wouldn't fix it. Today it happened again. There are multiple reports online regarding this issue with 2020-2022 Palisades and Telluride. This is a huge safety issue and makes the…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Seats and seat belts

18 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 72,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

  • Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
  • Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V430000 (Seats) and 24V407000 (Seats) and the recall repairs were performed. The contact stated that the seats constantly became hot and lowered down while driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 96,000 miles
The second row of seats folds down and forward while driving, whether or not someone is sitting in them. This feels very unsafe, and I am concerned about how well someone would be restrained by the seat belt in the event of an accident.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Brakes and stability control

16 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
  • The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
  • Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

As part of the fix to address a recall related to a a drivetrain defect and potential rolling issues, Kia installed software that would automatically apply the emergency brake when the car was put into park and the door was opened, and/or turned off. The problem with this fix is that once the car is off, the driver can not disengage the…Owner complaint, filed 2025
22May2023: 2022 Kia Telluride had a complete brake failure while exiting an elementary school garage, leading to a collision with the closed gate. ABS warning lights came on and witnesses heard ABS sounds despite dry pavement and slow speed. Driver stopped car by throwing into park. CCTV captured the incident. Can send higher res but…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Driver assist systems

16 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy

Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (8), Warnings (5).

What to check before you buy

  • Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
  • Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
  • Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The forward collision-avoidance assist, FCA is the main component that failed on me numerous times before inevitably ending in a car accident. The car is currently with my insurance company StateFarm, to assess the damage and to see if it was a total loss or not. They have had it since the accident that occurred back on August 20, 2022.…Owner complaint, filed 2022
2022 Telluride is undriveable due to safety alarms/warnings. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where it was purchased (Findlay Kia). It's been 19 days and they have not been unable to find the cause and correct the safety alarms/warnings. Alarms/Warnings: Master Warning Electric Power Steering AWD System Warning Forward Collision…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Suspension

8 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
  • Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
  • Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a clanking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000.Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 46,000 miles
IAfter recognizing some problems with suspension, I went to an independent auto repair shop. Mechanic discovered that axle on front passenger side was falling apart. He took pictures of it. I turned it into a nearest Kia dealer in Garden Grove, CA. They said that they would repair it under manufacturer's warranty after receiving parts.…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Steering

6 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
  • On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
  • A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The auto cold error message was displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel violently jerked back and forth three times. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and turned…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 61,000 miles
Our 2022 Telluride is binding when turning at low speed or accelerating on the highway we took it to our trusted mechanic, he believes it to be the all-wheel-drive coupling unit and that is a common failure point with these vehicles. I called our local Kia dealership and stated that the mechanic told me they need to check the firmware…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Air bags

6 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
  • Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

A deer ran into my vehicle while I’m traveling at 55MPH and my airbags did not deploy. My vehicle is leaking fluids and smoking.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Vehicle struck drivers side rear passenger door going at least 30mph and side air bags did not deploy. Upon inspection and door removal for repair, it was found that in the crash, the air bag sensor was struck and broke. The door and everything in it has to be replaced as well as the unibody sections surrounding each side door. This was…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Cruise control and acceleration

5 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
  • Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while reversing, after releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 4 MPH. While driving, after releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle independently accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 38,300 miles
Just started the car and the whole dashboard went blank, no speedometer, gas tank, nothing is showing like the whole dashboard died on us while drivingOwner complaint, filed 2026

Wheels and tires

4 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
  • Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
  • The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

245/50 R20 Tire exploded no rubber left on wheel I was on the freeway doing 70, and there wasn't a secure place to pull completely over. no I got 5 second warning my tire was at 26 all others at 30... then BAMOwner complaint, filed 2022
The vehicle experiences a recurring mechanical failure where the electronic AWD coupling/rear axle locks up and binds when accelerating through turns. This creates an immediate safety hazard by altering steering dynamics and causing vehicle hesitation or severe wheel hop in intersection turns. A certified Kia dealership has already fully…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Fuel system

3 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
  • On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
  • Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

On three different occasions this car’s engine shuts off on me sometimes at highway speeds. It is terrifying being in the left lane and losing all propulsion and power steering. I have to quickly put the car in park (in the middle of the highway) and then restart the car to go again. When it starts failing it keeps shutting off when we…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The vehicle intermittently fails to shift gears and loses acceleration without warning, creating a serious safety hazard. The problem began in October 2024 when the check-engine light first appeared and has continued since. Despite multiple repair attempts by the Kia dealership, including replacement of the fuel pump, fuel pressure…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Kia Telluride complaints by year

Compare the 2022 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.

Compare with similar 2022 midsize SUVs

Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.

CarVs. its other yearsRecallsMost reported
2022 Kia TellurideToo new to judge7Lights, wipers and visibility
2022 Toyota HighlanderToo new to judge5Transmission and drivetrain
2022 Honda PilotToo new to judge5Driver assist systems
2022 Subaru AscentToo new to judge2Transmission and drivetrain
Compare side by side

2022 Kia Telluride recalls

This is every recall issued for the 2022 Kia Telluride, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.

Seats Power adjustPark outside until fixed

Jul 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V430000
Risk
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
Full recall summary

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.

Seats Power adjustPark outside until fixed

Jun 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V407000
Risk
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
Full recall summary

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.

Transmission and drivetrain Driveshaft

Mar 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V214000
Risk
A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix
Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed.
Full recall summary

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.

Trailer hitchPark outside until fixed

Aug 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V626000
Risk
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
Full recall summary

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.

Tires Temporary / emergency spare tire

Jul 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V509000
Risk
Impaired anti-lock braking or traction control systems can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will inspect and replace the spare tire, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Sorento and Telluride vehicles. The vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Electrical system Instrument cluster / panel

May 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V344000
Risk
A blank instrument cluster display screen will not show critical information, such as the odometer, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will replace the instrument cluster assembly, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Telluride vehicles. Excess adhesive in a circuit board within the instrument cluster may cause the instrument cluster display screen to be blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."

Electrical system Instrument cluster / panel

Jul 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V577000
Risk
A blank LCD display may be missing information, such as the digital speedometer, gear selection indicator, and odometer, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will update the instrument cluster's software, free of charge.
Full recall summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Telluride vehicles. The LCD display screen may remain blank after startup. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."

2022 Kia Telluride questions

What are the most common problems with the 2022 Kia Telluride?

The most reported problem areas on the 2022 Kia Telluride are the lights, wipers and visibility (102 complaints), the electrical system (70 complaints) and the engine and cooling (34 complaints). Within the lights, wipers and visibility, owners most often name the windshield.

Is the 2022 Kia Telluride a good year to buy?

Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 4 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Telluride year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the lights, wipers and visibility. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Telluride years from 2020 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.

How many recalls does the 2022 Kia Telluride have?

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2022 Kia Telluride. The most recent, from Jul 2026, covers the power adjust. 3 of them tell owners to park outside or not drive the car until it is fixed. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.

At what mileage do 2022 Kia Telluride problems start?

Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 28,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 37,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.

Which Kia Telluride years should I avoid?

The Telluride years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2020. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.

Looking at a 2022 Kia Telluride?

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.