Home › Kia › Telluride › Used 2021
Buying a used 2021 Kia Telluride? Check these 5 recalls first
The three critical fire recalls carry over from 2020 — tow hitch wiring and two power seat motor risks, all with park-outside advice — alongside high-severity recalls for child seat securing and rolling away while in park. Unverified NHTSA complaints drop to 359 from the prior year, with 4 fires, 7 crashes, and 9 injuries. Beyond unspecified reports, visibility/wiper, engine, and electrical system lead the areas, so windshield and wiper behavior deserves attention.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Confirm by VIN that the tow hitch wiring and both power seat motor recalls are closed
- With a child seat, check the belt locks and holds, and confirm the rollaway recall remedy was applied
- Inspect the windshield and run the wipers through all speeds — visibility is a top complaint area
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Kia dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2021 Kia Telluride
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Telluride tow hitch wiring can start a fire · park outside | Trailer Hitches | critical |
| Kia Telluride front seat motor fire risk from stuck knob · park outside | Seats | critical |
| Kia Telluride power seat motor can overheat and catch fire · park outside | Seats | critical |
| Kia Telluride, K5, Forte may miss child seat | AIR Bags | high |
| Kia Telluride can roll away while in park | Power Train | high |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
359 complaints filed for this model year, including 7 mentioning a crash, 4 a fire and 9 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility And Wipers | 86 | None found |
| Engine | 62 | None found |
| Electrical System | 39 | None found |
| Structure | 33 | None found |
| Power Train | 27 | Yes |
| Driver Assistance | 21 | None found |