I am reporting a safety concern involving my 2022 Kia Telluride EX with approximately 95,000 miles. The vehicle has experienced intermittent rough running, significant loss of engine power, stalling, and recurring check-engine warnings. During one incident, the vehicle started, sputtered, and shut off. The engine oil level was found to be extremely low despite the vehicle having received an oil change approximately 2,000 miles earlier. After adding approximately one quart of oil, the vehicle was able to start and remain running. The check-engine light subsequently illuminated and Kia Connect reported diagnostic code P000A00. The warning light has intermittently turned off, but the fault remained stored in the vehicle's computer and was later confirmed by a Kia dealership. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership because of the oil loss and drivability concerns. The dealership documented that no external oil leak was found and stated that the engine was likely consuming excessive oil. An oil-consumption test was initiated. According to the dealership's subsequent documentation, after approximately 1,000 miles the engine was more than two quarts low on oil. During this process, the vehicle continued to experience drivability concerns including rough running/stalling and poor engine power. I am concerned that the vehicle may stall or experience significant loss of motive power while being driven in traffic. I routinely use this vehicle for commuting and transporting my family. Kia ultimately declined warranty coverage based on insufficient maintenance documentation. I am not submitting this complaint to dispute the warranty decision. I am reporting the underlying safety concern because the vehicle has experienced stalling/loss of power together with substantial engine-oil consumption, and the underlying mechanical cause has not been clearly resolved.
2022 Kia Telluride: sudden loss of power
5 of the 333 complaints about the 2022 Kia Telluride describe sudden loss of power.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 0
Sudden loss of power by model year
What owners say
The vehicle began showing serious safety related symptoms before the engine failed. These included engine knocking, repeated sensor failures, the speedometer and odometer blacking out while driving, the navigation screen going dark, and the entire instrument cluster malfunctioning. These issues caused loss of speed information, loss of vehicle status, and loss of navigation visibility, creating unsafe driving conditions. Despite these warning signs, the engine later failed suddenly at around 71,399 miles with no warning lights, no oil pressure alerts, and no overheating indicators. The sudden loss of power created a highway safety hazard due to loss of propulsion and reduced steering and braking assist. The manufacturer and dealership also provided conflicting and misleading information about warranty coverage, including a claim of “no warranty on engine,” which contradicts the official warranty coverage documents. This has delayed proper repair of a safety related defect.
Was driving heard a noise and then lost power to gas peddle and bunch of smoke and then flames coming from front of car got out and there were flames coming from hood eventually flames died down and was just smoking police &fire department were called. Piston blew through engine block these engine have a known oil consumption issue and I have kept up with oil .
Borescope inspection of the engine shows multiple signs of internal mechanical failure involving oil control, piston ring integrity, coolant intrusion, and cylinder wall damage. Excessive oil buildup is visible above the oil control ring, far beyond what is expected at 59k miles. Cylinder walls show heavy polishing where cross-hatching should be visible, indicating loss of lubrication and abnormal wear. Carbon deposits are extremely thick; in several areas carbon has flaked off and been pulled downward into the cylinder, creating scoring. Straight vertical scoring marks cut through the normal diagonal honing pattern, confirming blow-by and damage to the cylinder sleeves. Evidence of coolant intrusion is present, including orange discoloration consistent with rust/coolant contamination, excessive moisture, and steam-cleaned areas of the combustion chamber. The intake valve and combustion surfaces appear abnormally clean, consistent with coolant steam-washing. This suggests head-gasket failure, a block or head casting defect, or ring damage (possible cracked scraper ring). Coolant in the cylinders can wash away oil from the bore, leading to rusted pistons and accelerated scoring. Multiple pictures show severe scoring and loss of lubrication. This compromises the ability of new pistons or rings to seal, meaning the cylinder walls would continue to allow blow-by, oil burning, coolant intrusion, and friction. Even attempting to polish or recondition these bores would enlarge them, causing piston flutter, noise, and long-term failure. Based on the level of damage, the engine is no longer safe or reliable. A seized piston could cause sudden loss of power at highway speeds, creating a safety risk. The observed defects indicate a potential manufacturing or casting issue that may affect other engines. The dealership and KIA Consumer Affairs have been notified but there has been no replacement or resolution after 3 months of ongoing issues, and 8 weeks of holding my vehicle.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed the vehicle lost power, and smoke started coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to pull over and shut down the vehicle and the smoke stopped. The contact noticed that the brake control that was added to the vehicle for the tow hitch had melted and burned. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis, and they stated that the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board caused an electrical short. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and they stated there was nothing they could do because the tow hitch and brake control installed in the vehicle was an aftermarket part. The failure mileage was 7,968.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2022 Kia Telluride loss of power
Is sudden loss of power a common problem on the 2022 Kia Telluride?
5 of 333 owner complaints about the 2022 Kia Telluride (2%) mention sudden loss of power. The model year with the most reports is 2021.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2022 Kia Telluride?
There are 0 recalls and 22 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2022 Kia Telluride
Windshield crack 59Sunroof shattered 34Backup camera 12Headlights 11Check engine light 10Screen failure 8Oil consumption 8ABS 7Adaptive cruise 7Collision warning 7Knocking 7Engine failure 6Overheating 6Stalling 6No deployment 5Brake failure 5Jerking 5Lane assist 5
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