2021 Kia Telluride: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 21, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · OH

I purchased my 2021 Kia Telluride S new, with only 22 miles from the test drive. XXX (approx. 53,000 miles, vehicle age 18 months): The transmission failed while I was traveling approx. 75-80 mph on a major highway in [XXX]. Upon failure, the vehicle suddenly lurched as if the brakes had locked or the parking brake had been applied, nearly causing us to strike our heads on the dashboard and creating a hazardous situation for other traffic. After the failure, the vehicle would only operate in approx. first through third gears and reverse, and would not exceed 25 mph. We were forced to limp the vehicle off a busy six-lane highway. XXX: Due to parts delays, the vehicle was not returned until November 2022 after the transmission work. XXX (approx. four months later): The vehicle developed engine knock and excessive oil consumption. Advised this may have been related to oil degradation while the vehicle sat waiting for parts. Since then, I had to regularly check and add oil between oil changes. Despite low oil levels, no oil pressure warning light ever appeared. XXX (exact date unknown): While opening the sunroof at a stop, a loud crack occurred and pieces of the sunroof track, plastic and metal, fell onto me and my passenger. The glass is intact but became partially stuck open without the track to guide it. XXX: The engine knock worsened and became a squeal while driving approx. 60 mph. The vehicle lost power, requiring me to turn on hazards and coast off to avoid accident. Dealership mechanic advised that the engine had thrown a rod and blown the oil filter housing gasket. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection. Kia has denied coverage despite the failure of a component linked to excessive oil loss and a recently extended 180,000-mile warranty, even after the engine threw a rod following a sudden loss of oil pressure. The failed transmission has likely already been disposed of. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Engine, Visibility · KY

Constant jerking and shuttering when accelerating/shifting gears. Oil consumption done last year as dealership thought it was engine related. Engine replaced. Problem continues. Fuel in MAP sensor. Continued shuttering at acceleration, shuttering at parked idle, shuttering at braking idle, engine stalls at red lights but car stays on. When car is started, exhaust is pushing out gusts of strong fuel smell and sputtering little puffs. Replaced engine, MAP, upper intake gaskets, spark plugs, cleaned throttle body, battery. Wiper pauses mid wipe (in driving view) when in intermittent setting and when turning them off.

Filed Jun 17, 2026 · Acceleration, Steering · 81,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the passenger’s side drive shaft boot was leaking. The steering and mileage were affected by the failure. While making a turn, the steering wheel was readjusting. The accelerator pedal was depressed; after the pedal was released, the pedal jerked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed there were no open recalls associated with the VIN. The brakes were reprogrammed. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the front boot was leaking, and the axle and tires needed to be replaced, and an alignment performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Kia Mentor (9090 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060); who provided the same diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. The BBB was contacted and the Attorney General. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.

Filed Mar 13, 2026 · Brakes · NY

Kia had a safety recall which required a software update to address the potential of the car moving/ rolling away while parked. Kia addressed this by updating the software to automatically set the parking brake when the vehicle is turned off. In the northeast/ rust belt states where there is water/ salt and rust, the brake pads rust and freeze to the rotor. The brakes lock up, physically jerk and cause damage to the braking system when driving away. Owner's manuals normally recommend that the parking brake not be set when under these wet and winter conditions. The brake rotors and pads are being prematurely damaged and may result in sudden failure. This "cheap software fix" needs to be changed and the drivetrain parts/ parking pin should be appropriately repaired on all affected vehicles.

Filed Aug 5, 2025 · AZ

I was driving at approximately 65-70 mph on the freeway at around 7:40 AM when the sunroof glass spontaneously exploded above me. The sound was terrifying...literally like an explosion or gunshot going off. Thankfully, I did not jerk the wheel at this high speed from the scare and the sunroof shade was closed, preventing glass shards from falling on top of me. The sunroof was not hit by any debris and was not near any large trucks, so it was a huge surprise when it happened.

Filed May 15, 2025 · Visibility · AL

My wife was driving with my kids when there sounded like an explosion and the sunroof exploded. There was nothing around that hit the glass and we haven't been involved in any accidents that may have compromised the integrity of the glass. The sound sounds like an explosion and luckily when it scared my wife while driving, she didn't jerk the wheel and flip the vehicle. Also, thankfully the sunroof shade was closed otherwise glass would have exploded everywhere inside the vehicle hitting my kids and wife. It appears that it explodes up and in the middle of the sunroof by looking at how the glass was missing. It seems this is a common occurrence with the 2021 kia telluride. There's no warning, no cracking, no signs of it going to bust; it just does it. I'm going rounds with Kia to get it fixed but the keep sending me down an endless rabbit hole, so I have in the meantime I paid out of pocket for it. Because I paid out of pocket for it after I was told I could by cooperate I could and then be reimbursed, which is not accurate, kia doesn't want to inspect the car. The only thing the dealerships tell us is yeah, they've seen this happen before.

Filed Dec 30, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · CT

My engine started jerking when stopped. Then the electrical started acting up, like the windows wouldn't roll back up. Then the engine just shut off while I was driving.

Filed Mar 20, 2022 · Driver assistance · IA

Had a new transmission installed in February 2022. Now, beginning March 13, warning lights come on to check blind spot and forward collision systems. About 10 seconds after the car lurches violently. This has happened at full speed on interstate which is a huge risk for injury/death. I have video of this phenomenon.

Filed Feb 11, 2022 · Transmission · IA

We were driving the car and it began lurching unpredictably. It was difficult to maneuver safely. It is now 3 weeks past that time and my Kia has been at the dealership this entire time. The dealer says that they cannot do anything without checking with Kia HQ and each time they do, Kia has them run another diagnostic.

Filed Jul 19, 2021 · Transmission · MD

I drove my brand new telluride off the lot with approximately 12 miles on it. About a month after having it I noticed the following: when entering a highway from about 20-25 MPH, the vehicle would not gradually accelerate allowing me to enter the highway. As I continue to press the accelerator pedal the rpms would eventually jump up and the vehicle would launch itself forward. Reaching 5000-6000 rpms. When I let off the accelerator the engine would downshift similar to a manual transmission and would jerk as it changed gears and the rpms decrease. Additionally, when creeping in traffic I notice jerky and hesitation from the engine/transmission. This is quite dangerous as one time it almost launched me into the back of the vehicle in front of me. Merging onto a highway is also quite dangerous as I am not confident the vehicle will accelerate when I attempt to merge. I have taken it to a dealership and had the technician drive it and he concurred that there is a problem. The dealership has tried working with the manufacturer but to no avail after 3 months. Now the dealership won't even call me back. The dealership, via the recommendation of the manufacturer, has reset "adaptive values" at least 3 times, but that did not fix the problem. There are no warning lights or messages of a problem. While quite noticeable, this problem is even more noticeable when it is in sport mode.

Filed May 1, 2021 · Transmission · 11 miles · WA

I drove my brand new telluride off the lot with 11 miles on it. Before I gained speeds over 50mph my vehicle would jerk as it changed gears and the RPM increased. After I stopped at stop signs or red lights and then began to accelerate again, the car would jerk, the engine would rev up and no acceleration would happen. If I kept pressing the gas, eventually the car would jerk again, catch the gear and drive. This happened every single time I would stop and go again. Over speeds of 50-60mph I did not have this problem.

Filed Sep 27, 2020 · Driver assistance · 804 miles · MS · crash

09/26/2020, 2:30pm cst, while vehicle was in stationary 'auto hold' position, stepped on accelerator, causing vehicle to lurch forward violently, resulting in a rear-end collision with another vehicle in front of telluride. Filed under progressive claim #201457380, 09/26/2020.