The brand new 2025 Kia Telluride I’m leasing has repeatedly stalled and immediately stopped without warning while driving. When this happens, you lose control of the vehicle, cannot steer and must shift into park. All while hoping no one slams into you and also keeping your fingers crossed that it starts again. This has happened at least 12 times from May 2026 to October 2026. The vehicle has been to the dealer for “repairs” three different times. However they have never been able to recreate the problem and therefore have not been able to fix it. I’m extremely worried that when this happens again it could result in an accident. I have contacted the manufacturer and dealership multiple times asking that they make this right. They have offered no options to replace or buy back the vehicle
The worst 2025 Kia Telluride problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine52
- Electrical23
- Visibility22
- Steering9
- Transmission9
- Seats8
- Driver assistance7
- Acceleration6
- Body6
- Brakes4
- Fuel system4
- Seat belts3
- Airbags2
- Lights2
- Suspension1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2025 Kia Telluride
Stalling 18Sunroof shattered 10Windshield crack 9Loss of power 6Adaptive cruise 5Check engine light 5Engine failure 5
Recalls 3
Seats: front assembly: recliner
- What is wrong
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride vehicles, equipped with power front seat(s). Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash.
- Risk
- A seat back frame that fails to properly restrain an occupant during a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat back frame assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning April 24, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC362. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on on March 9, 2026.
Recall number 26V105000 · Recall details
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
- What is wrong
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Risk
- Anti-lock braking or traction control systems that do not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the spare wheel and tire assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC355. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning November 13, 2025.
Recall number 25V745000 · Recall details
Structure: exterior trim
- What is wrong
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
- Risk
- A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC347.
Recall number 25V494000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2025 Kia Telluride 27
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Oil filter housing gasket replacement (WTY045)
- Owner notification (WTY045)
- Reimbursement form (WTY045)
- Question and answer (WTY045)
- Dealer principal memo (WTY045)
- Dealer parts and service manager memo (WTY045)
- Excessive engine oil consumption (rev 1)
- Excessive engine oil consumption
- AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (Revision 1)
- Cluster software logic improvement for lower than actual fuel level indication
2025 Kia Telluride fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | FWD | 20 | 26 | 22 |
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 23 | 20 |
What 2025 Kia Telluride owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Multiple times while driving I'm getting an alert on the dash about engine off. The dashboard alarms go off and it says, "Enging OFF! Shift to P or N. then start engine". This has happened 4x while driving in the past month. Each time, I was driving about 25 mph. The service/dealer is unable to replicate or understand what's going on. I've read that this has been a complaint by a number of Kia telluride owners. This is incredibly alarming for the enging to just shut down WHILE DRIVING.
Formal Safety Complaint – 2025 Kia Telluride I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my 2025 Kia Telluride due to ongoing mechanical issues that have now escalated to a serious and potentially life-threatening situation. Multiple warning lights are illuminating on my dashboard, and the engine is now shutting off while I am actively driving the vehicle. This is completely unacceptable and puts my safety and the safety of others on the road at risk. I have already made multiple attempts to address ongoing mechanical issues with this vehicle, including a persistent shudder while driving. Despite seeking assistance from Kia dealerships and involving the companies responsible for my vehicle’s accessibility conversion, the issues remain unresolved and have now escalated. My Telluride has been converted with a rear-entry wheelchair ramp through Freedom Motors, but I have been advised that the conversion is unrelated to the drivetrain concerns. I need Kia to take these complaints seriously and conduct a thorough investigation into the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems. I purchased this vehicle expecting it to be safe and reliable, especially given that it is an accessible vehicle used to accommodate my family’s needs. Instead, I am now dealing with a vehicle that is shutting off while in motion, which creates an extremely dangerous situation. I am requesting immediate escalation to Kia Consumer Affairs, a comprehensive safety inspection, and a clear resolution to these ongoing problems. I also want this complaint formally documented due to the severity of the safety concerns. I should not have to fear that my engine will shut off while I am driving a vehicle I recently purchased. This is a serious safety issue, and I expect Kia to take responsibility, investigate the cause, and provide a prompt resolution before someone gets hurt.
Vehicle: 2025 Kia Telluride, VIN [XXX] Description: While driving, the engine shuts off without warning. An alarm sounds and the dash reads “Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine.” Power steering and power brakes are lost until the engine restarts. This has happened 5 times: [XXX]: about 25 mph in creeping traffic. [XXX]: low speed, slowing down on a slight downhill. [XXX]: three times within minutes on [XXX]. The first was in creeping traffic while slowing, the second while changing into a slower lane, and the third while slowing for merging traffic. Traffic was on all sides, and losing steering and brakes nearly caused a collision. Every event happened at low speed or while slowing, braking or changing lanes. There was no warning beforehand. Kia case number [XXX]. The vehicle is going to for warranty diagnosis at a dealership INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The car shuts down and displays the same message a lot of the other complaints are saying. Engine shut off, please put in P or N and restart engine. It shuts down while driving! I have 2 kids under [XXX] and I bought this for safety. It seems Kia is aware of this issue and none of the dealerships across the U.S. have a fix for it yet. And they keep sending the vehicles back out on the roads since they can’t fix it! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine shut off while idling. Had to shift into Park and restart engine.
The sunroof on my 2025 telluride spontaneously exploded this morning. It sounded like a gunshot went off. No other vehicles were around and wasn’t near anything that could fall on the vehicle
I have a 2025 Kia Telluride, purchased in Jan 2025. Almost right away, I started having issues with my windshield wipers where they wouldn't work when the lever was pushed - in any setting (High, low, intermittent, etc.). The rear wipers have always worked. After several visits and holding onto my car for several weeks, this was fixed in February 2025, by replacing the wiper motor, by a Kia service center at a dealership. Things were fine for a year and a half. They stopped working again in August 2025. Again, I took it to a Kia dealership where they were able to replicate the problem and also replaced the motor. Now, on October 11th, they did not work on a rainy night when I went to use them.
Vehicle is shutting down while driving or idling.
2025 Kia Telluride engine shut down on highway in construction zone with no shoulder. Engine shut off, alarms sounded and it displayed to put the vehicle in park or neutral and restart. I had to coast to an exit ramp. Vehicle did restart and seems to be intermittent.
Compare the 2025 Kia Telluride
Telluride vs Ford ExplorerTelluride vs Dodge DurangoTelluride vs Kia SorentoTelluride vs Honda PilotTelluride vs Nissan PathfinderTelluride vs Toyota HighlanderTelluride vs GMC AcadiaTelluride vs Chevrolet Traverse
Other model years
Questions about the 2025 Kia Telluride
Is the 2025 Kia Telluride reliable?
Owners have filed 126 complaints about the 2025 Kia Telluride, fewer than a typical Telluride model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2025 Kia Telluride?
Engine and cooling, with 52 complaints. Next is electrical (23).
How many recalls does the 2025 Kia Telluride have?
3 recalls, covering seats, tires and structure.
What year does the Kia Telluride have bad engine?
The Kia Telluride model years with the most engine complaints are 2020 (160 complaints), 2021 (70 complaints) and 2025 (52 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2025 Kia Telluride get?
Official estimates for the 2025 Kia Telluride range from 20 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 20 city and 26 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2025 Kia Telluride?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history