The 2020-2024 Kia Telluride three-row SUV has been recalled for a risk of rolling away while in park, as disclosed by the NHTSA.
The front passenger driveshaft may not be fully engaged with the intermediate shaft from the transmission. This partial engagement can lead to spline degradation over time, resulting in unintended movement even when the SUV is parked. Until the issue is resolved, Kia urges owners to apply the electronic parking brake after putting the Telluride in park.
Owners may notice a grinding noise, vibrations, or less power than expected when accelerating. There may also be issues shifting the transmission into drive or reverse. If it moves while parked, the issue needs to be addressed. Kia acknowledged 16 instances of unintended vehicle movement of Tellurides in the field, with six of those cases showing spline damage. Kia is not aware of any injuries or crashes related to this recall.
The recall affects 427,407 Tellurides, which have been a hit since Kia launched its largest vehicle for the 2020 model year.
Handsome, roomy, packed with features, and offered at great value, it has earned The Car Connection Best Car To Buy award three times over the past four years. Telluride sales grew by 11% in 2023, totaling 110,765 units, making it the brand's third best-seller behind the Sportage compact crossover and the Forte economy car, which was recently redesigned as the 2025 Kia K4. Until the launch of the EV9 electric three-row crossover late last year, the Telluride was the brand's largest and most expensive vehicle, averaging around $50,000.
This marks the fifth recall for the Kia Telluride since 2020, which is below average for a new vehicle debut. The only other serious recall was for a short circuit in the tow hitch harness that could potentially cause a fire.
Owners will be notified by mail as early as May 15 to bring their Tellurides to Kia dealers for an electronic parking brake software update that will automatically engage when the SUV is shifted into park and the engine is turned off. This should mitigate the rollaway risk. Until then, Kia recommends owners manually press the electronic brake before shutting off the SUV. Tellurides built after October 20, 2023, have a driveshaft assembly that's fully engaged at all times.
For more information, contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 or visit Kia's recall page here.
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To learn more about the Kia Telluride, you can click on the model link below:
Adrian is an Editor. Psychology graduate with over 4 years in the automotive industry, 3 in front of the camera. Occasionally seen at his family owned tyre shop. He will only buy cars that pass the big bottle test.
