2023 Kia Telluride acceleration problems

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Acceleration, Fuel system · NV

Kia installed voluntary safety recall on my car - SC357 ECM SW UPGRADE (VESC). I drive up and down steep mountain roads. Previous to this installation when I downshifted the transmission it would slow down the car. After the installation, going down two or more gears, the car now speeds up instead of slowing down. It shows on the gas mileage indicator that the mileage is going down instead of up. It would be expected that the gas mileage would increase instead of decrease. The accelerator is not being used when this occurs. It would appear that the car's computer system is causing fuel to be added to the engine to accelerate the car at lower speeds. This is especially dangerous going downhill when a downshift is expected to slow the car. It causes increase use of brakes which can cause the brakes to overheat. I have been able to avoid overheating the brakes but this is not a safe situation. Supporting the theory that the car is using fuel to accelerate in lower gears is the fact that my gas mileage has decreased about 1.5 to 2 miles per gallon on a tank full of gas.

Filed Jun 10, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · KY

Engine shuts off without warning while driving. First reported to the dealer on XXX (approximately 12,000 miles) and has continued for 2.5+ years despite repeated repair attempts. Shutoffs typically occur at low speed while decelerating, such as turning into neighborhoods or approaching stops, but have also occurred while coasting at 33 mph on a busy road with cruise control active (August 8, 2025). Frequency has varied from roughly every 1,000 miles to severe clusters: three shutoffs within one hour on [XXX] and again on [XXX], and five in a single day in mid-August 2025. The dealer reproduced the failure with diagnostic equipment connected in August 2024. Most recent events: XXX;XXX (quit while coasting at 20 mph on a busy four-lane road with cruise control engaged);XXX (quit while slowing to turn onto a neighborhood street, 87 degrees F, A/C on high). The vehicle usually restarts immediately, but on [XXX] it would not restart for 5-7 minutes. After restart, cruise control retains its previous set speed, indicating an incomplete power cycle. The dealer (Kia Store East, [XXX]) has attempted repairs since September 2023 under Kia case #XXX, including crank position sensor replacement, MAP sensor replacement (June 2025), and a four-wheel-drive coupler replacement plus software update (October 2025); shutoffs continued after every repair. Historical fault codes include P0068 and B1763. Events have occurred in traffic and at intersections with several near-misses, including one that nearly caused a collision in an intersection on XXX. This is a family vehicle regularly carrying children. Repair orders are available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 12, 2024 · Acceleration · CO

I purchased a new 2023 telluride-SX in April 2023. For the first time since owning the vehicle, I used the Snow Mode during the snowstorm on 14 March 2024. I then used it again on 15 March 2024. I experienced a serious problem on both days. When I stopped at redlights, I tried to accelerate as I made a turn. I lost all power, and the car came to a near stop, nearly causing an accident by being rear-ended. I quickly switch to the Eco Mode and the power returned to the car. I took the car into Arapahoe KIA, CO service department on 8 April 2024 for an oil change/tire rotation AND to address the issue with the Snow Mode. The Technician said the issue I describe would happen if the snow was deep.(?) I explained that the roads were nearly bare. He then said that they would look at it. He later said that they could not duplicate the malfunction in the Snow Mode and to bring the car in if it happened again. The KIA service department is the only place that supposedly inspected the car for the issue described above. There were no warning lamps, or messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

Filed Feb 26, 2024 · Acceleration, Engine · 35,100 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle did not accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated before accelerating. The contact stated that the failure started while the vehicle was in snow mode and then the contact noticed that the failure was occurring while in other selected traction modes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,100.

Filed Feb 25, 2024 · Acceleration, Fuel system · CO

On about 5 occasions, when I have set the drive mode to "Snow Mode", after a stop, the accelerator pedal has no effect. I can push down the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and nothing happens. There is no indication that the engine is revving and the vehicle does not accelerate. This leave me stranded in the middle of the road at a stop until I change to a different mode other that snow mode. Then I can accelerate again. This has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer. The dealer asked that I video record it happening, which I have not done yet. There were no warning lights or messages when this happens.

Filed Feb 18, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · OH

Snow Mode caused the vehicles accelerator and brakes to be unresponsive after stopping to turn. Kia could not duplicate the issue through service inspection and test drive. Since no alerts or sensors were tripped they ignore the safety concern. This major safety issue is is very very common problem among Telluride owners. A simple google search will reveal hundreds of complaints. Note: A child was in the vehicle and this occurrence happened along an interstate with poor visibility and snowy road conditions.

Filed Feb 15, 2024 · Acceleration · MN

When vehicle is in Snow Mode and I begin accelerating after a complete stop or turning the vehicle from park to drive, the accelerator does not respond. Once I move the dial to any other mode the issue resolves. I can then go back to snow mode and the issue doesn’t occur again until I start accelerating after a complete stop. This has happened four times. This is dangerous. If I am merging into traffic or crossing a street and my vehicle won’t respond to me pressing the gas pedal it could result in an accident.

Filed Feb 5, 2024 · Acceleration, Electrical · CO

While driving in snow mode the vehicle loses acceleration after coming to a stop and demanding acceleration again. The vehicle will roll using idle power however there is no increase to the RPM's. The vehicle has to be stopped and moved to ECO mode for the vehicle to go back to working. KIA Dealership has been notified however stated if there is no Check Engine Light and no snow on the ground they will not be able to replicate the issue. In addition, they have stated that snow mode is for when the vehicle is stuck in the snow only. This issue will repeat itself almost every time the vehicle is in snow mode and has been for a few miles. It has become a danger as it can happen without notice while making left turns across oncoming traffic.

Filed Jan 31, 2024 · Acceleration, Fuel system · MT

On 4 separate occasions my 2023 Kia Telluride has failed to accelerate from a stop. First occurrence was [XXX] while turning left at a light. RPMs went at high as 3,000 while car slowly idled about 5-8mph through the intersection and would not accelerate. Same thing occurred 2 days later after trying to accelerate from a stop sign. Most recent occurrence was [XXX]. 3/4 occurrences vehicle was in "Snow" mode. Brand new winter tires were placed 12/18/23. Most recent occurrence vehicle was not in thick snow but in "Snow" mode. No warning lights or messages ever came on with any of the 4 occurrences. After repeated attempts of stepping on and off the gas peddle vehicle eventually accelerates. Acceleration delays have lasted as long as 90 seconds. I am VERY grateful that first left turn when this happened no cars were coming through the intersection as it may have resulted in a T-bone accident where by baby was in the back seat passenger side. Car is going to the dealer at Campbell, Missoula MT tomorrow but they already told me if they cannot reproduce the occurrence then there's nothing they can do which seems like a MAJOR liability to Kia and even greater SAFETY concern to drivers and their families. Similar complaint can be found with ODI#11560843. Here is a link to Kia Telluride drivers all with the same complaint. [XXX] Please help us get Kia to rectify this major safety issue! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 24, 2024 · Acceleration, Transmission · CO

The issue concerns my 2023 Telluride SX X-line (AWD) when driving in the "snow mode" setting. The issue has occurred on several occasions, approximately 2-3 times last winter when I was driving the vehicle and at least one time this winter when my wife was driving in snowy conditions. The issue is that the vehicle accelerator basically becomes unresponsive when driving in snow mode under a set of conditions that are not easily defined. The issue seems to occur fairly randomly. When this issue has occurred, the vehicle either will not accelerate at all when the accelerator is depressed or the power will severely be limited and the vehicle will slow down if moving. This has happened to me in parking lots (thankfully) but did happen to my wife on the road, which could cause a huge safety risk when trying to maneuver with traffic or making a left turn against oncoming traffic. The ways in which I have found to resolve the issue are to either switch the drive mode to another setting using the selector or turning the vehicle off and on again. Shifting from park back to drive does not resolve if snow mode remains engaged. I have not taken the vehicle to a dealership to look into this issue as I have found information on forums that have indicated Kia dealerships do not acknowledge the issue. It is also not easily reproducible. There are no warning indicators on the instrument cluster to notify the driver that anything is wrong. As I said before, the issue arose immediately after the purchase of the vehicle in Dec. 2022 and within the first few thousand miles of the vehicle life. Also, true Michelin snow tires have been equipped on the vehicle when this issue has occurred. I switch between all season tires and the snow tires in between the summer and winter months.