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 got it serviced because it’s a pricey job . I just bought the vehicle last month and the warranty expired at the beginning of this month ! How do I purchase a vehicle and expected to to pay for a repair that is known to KIA AWD SYSTEMS !!! My vehicle only has 40k miles on it and from horror stories I hear it goes out more then one time .
2022 Kia Telluride transmission problems
26 complaints (8% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 37,600. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 26
- of this car's complaints
- 8%
- typical mileage
- 37,600
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Kia Telluride transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2022 Kia Telluride transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.
Recall number 24V214000 · Recall details
What 2022 Kia Telluride owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 for the ECU to see if that may fix the issue. The dealership stated that they were just gonna have to replace the all-wheel-drive coupling unit instead of diagnosing the problem. After reading several reports from this government agency and other forms, etc. it sounds like the all-wheel-drive coupling unit is a common failure point and needs to be addressed as a recall by Kia.
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 manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
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 replaced the entire factory AWD Coupling assembly twice: first under the original warranty on July 16, 2024 at 48,054 miles, and again under warranty on May 2, 2025 at 59,350 miles. Following a preliminary check-in for the same symptom on April 9, 2025, this identical component failure has now recurred for a third time at approximately 77,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the side view mirror's blind-spot system generated phantom alerts while there was no object nearby. Additionally, the headlights inadvertently fluctuated between dim (low beam) and extremely bright (high beam) settings. The instrument cluster displayed that the vehicle unintendedly switched to Smart Drive Mode but failed to display the transmission gears. The trunk button intermittently failed to operate as needed. The back over prevention sensing system failed to alert that there was an object behind the vehicle while reversing. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure, but twenty-six history trouble codes were retrieved, indicating the power steering, ABS, air bags, blind spot collision, front radar, and Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) malfunctions. The contact stated that prior to the failure, a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign: SC357 Engine Control Unit (ECU) was performed on the vehicle; however, the dealer informed the contact that the failure was not related. The dealer recalibrated the front radar, but the failure recurred at night while driving. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
This is supplemental evidence for the federal safety agency Safety Complaint #11739200 UNIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL EVIDENCE PACKET SEE UPLOADED FILE
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.
Catastrophic rear differential failure at highway speed following recent warranty repair. Vehicle previously brought to Kia dealership for rear differential knocking noise. Warranty repair performed and vehicle returned. Within one week, original noise returned with additional whirling/ grinding sound.While traveling approximately 70 mph on the highway, vehicle experienced a sudden loud bang and immediate abrupt stop in traffic. At the time of failure, wife and two children were in the vehicle. Incident posed a severe and life-threatening safety risk.Visual inspection indicates complete rear differential mechanical failure, with fluid and component debris present underneath vehicle. Vehicle is currently unsafe to operate.Failure occurred immediately following manufacturer-authorized warranty repair.
The oil filter housing cracked on the car, causing all the oil to leak out. In researching this, I have found that this is a common problem with the Kia Telluride and Kia Sorrento. The problem is that the oil filter housing is made of cheap plastic and not durable material such as aluminum or steel. This allows the oil filter housing to easily crack under stress. In speaking with the dealership, this is not an uncommon problem. I feel that this should be covered under the Powertrain warranty or through a recall. A quick Google search will show that the problem is widespread in the Sorrento and Telluride models. This repair cost me a total of $425. If I had not replaced or repaired oil filter housing, the engine would have locked up as all the oil at escaped onto the pavement.
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 sensors, and ECU—the root cause remains undiagnosed, and the defect persists. When the vehicle was brought back in August 2025, the dealer’s latest recommendation on 9/30/25 was to replace the injector harnesses and front wire assembly, but they cannot guarantee this will resolve the issue.
Questions about the 2022 Kia Telluride transmission
Does the 2022 Kia Telluride have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 26 complaints about the transmission of the 2022 Kia Telluride, 8% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2022 Kia Telluride transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 37,600 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2022 Kia Telluride transmission?
Yes, 1 recall: 24V214000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Kia Telluride have bad transmission?
The Kia Telluride model years with the most transmission complaints are 2020 (71 complaints), 2021 (29 complaints) and 2022 (26 complaints).
Other 2022 Kia Telluride problems
Visibility 95Electrical 70Engine 34Body 20Brakes 16Driver assistance 16Seats 11Lights 9Seat belts 8Suspension 8Airbags 6Steering 6Acceleration 5Fuel system 4Wheels 3Locks 2Tires 1
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