Check a VIN

Kia Telluride no deployment problems

10 of the 2,089 owner complaints about the Kia Telluride describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2022 model year.

owner complaints
10
worst model year
2022
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2024
    1
  • 2023
    1
  • 2022
    5
  • 2021
    2
  • 2020
    1

What owners say

Filed Oct 17, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · CO · crash · 1 injury

I was involved in a rear end collision, with the SUV behind me going 65mph and my vehicle only at approx. 20mph. I was then pushed into the car, which I struck in front of me. My airbags did not deploy and though I was wearing my seat belt I was still propelled upward cutting my eye on the visor and bruising on my chin and lower lip from the steering wheel. I am concerned as to why the air bags did not deploy or the seatbelt lock. The damage was significant and my vehicle including the one that rear ended me are both totaled. Can this be looked into?

Filed Sep 9, 2025 · Driver assistance · CO · crash

We were departing [XXX]in Barnstable, Mass on [XXX]. As he entered the main road from the parking lot, my husband thought the driver on his left on the main road had a stop sign so he pulled out onto the street. The other driver did not have a stop sign and my husband hit him. We were going under 10mph so the air bags did not deploy. The “forward collision warning” did not activate nor did the “emergency braking system” function yet the plastic front end of our car was totally smashed and the side of the other car had just a large scratch and a flat tire. We had the car shipped back to Denver where we live and Emich Kia declared it a “total” because they said the frame might be bent. I have contacted Kia Corporation and their CEO repeatedly to point out that their car malfunctioned and did not stop when it was supposed to stop. They do not care and did state that the car had only sustained damage to “crushable material”. Since the damage was to crushable material and the air bags did not deploy, it is obvious that it was a slow speed crash and the emergency braking system and the warning system should have functioned. This 2024 Kia was our second 2024. The first new one we purchased stuttered violently and the check engine light illuminated each time we drove down from the Colorado mountains. Once again, Kia took no responsibility for this issue for over a year so our local dealer finally bought back that lemon and sold us the one that malfunctioned in the crash. Two faulty Kia Tellurides in one year points to serious problems with this car and the Kia corporation because they will not acknowledge problems nor attempt to solve them in a timely manner. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 8, 2025 · Airbags, Seat belts · CA · crash · 1 injury

I was rear ended at a high rate of speed, causing me to fly down a 15 foot embankment, where I sideswiped a telephone pole. The latter causing damage to the passenger side front quarter panel. The airbag did not deploy after either impact, nor did the seatbelt stop me from hitting the steering wheel multiple times.

Filed Nov 8, 2024 · Airbags · WI · crash

A deer ran into my vehicle while I’m traveling at 55MPH and my airbags did not deploy. My vehicle is leaking fluids and smoking.

Filed Aug 21, 2024 · Electrical, Transmission · 46,000 miles · IL · crash

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idle and in park(P) in the driveway, the vehicle jerked forward while his wife was in the front driver seat. As the contact's wife checked the gear shifter, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into the contact's garage door without warning. The garage door, garage rail, and garage opener were all damaged as a result of the crash. The air bags did not deploy upon impact; there were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was immediately notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2024 · Airbags · TX · crash

Vehicle struck drivers side rear passenger door going at least 30mph and side air bags did not deploy. Upon inspection and door removal for repair, it was found that in the crash, the air bag sensor was struck and broke. The door and everything in it has to be replaced as well as the unibody sections surrounding each side door. This was a significant impact where the side air bags should have deployed.

Filed Aug 22, 2023 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while her grand-daughter was driving with adaptive cruise control (ACC) mode set at 40 MPH, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and the steering wheel seized, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a road sign. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the diver was able to veer to the side of the road as the steering wheel became operable. The vehicle was towed to an autobody repair shop, who informed the contact that the EDR failed to display crash data. The grand-daughter went to the hospital later, and was informed that she had sustained a minor concussion, a disc in the back and the neck. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure, The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 17, 2023 · Brakes · 30,000 miles · CA · crash

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving 3-5MPH and making a left turn, the brake pedal was depressed but bounced back immediately and failed to respond. The traction control, the Auto Hold feature, and the forward collision avoidance warning lights were illuminated. The message "Forward Collision Sensor" was displayed. The contact depressed the brake pedal for a second time but the failure persisted, causing the vehicle to hit the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated it was a fender-bender. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The contact was unsure whether the occupants of the other vehicle sustained injuries. There was no police report filed. The contact was able to drive to his nearby residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would send an investigation team to investigate the failure. However, the investigation team investigated the failure remotely. The dealer later informed the contact that the rear wheel speed sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Filed Apr 21, 2022 · Airbags · 21,000 miles · OH · crash · 2 injuries

The contact owned a 2021 Kia Telluride SX. The contact stated while the wife was driving 70MPH the vehicle was stuck on the rear driver's side and crashed into a tree. No warning lights were noticed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an impound yard. The vehicle could possibly be totaled. There was a police report. The driver sustained injuries to the face, head, knee, chest, and shoulder. The passenger sustained back injuries. The spouse drove the passengers in a separate vehicle to the hospital where they received medical attention. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,000.

Filed Mar 23, 2022 · Airbags · MO · crash

I was broadsided by a chevy cobalt traveling over 40mph. The impact was so great it spun my vehicle. No airbags deployed at all and the rear passenger door took the brunt of the impact.

Related recalls

Air bags: side/windowReported January 29, 2023 · 31,943 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC262.

Recall number 23V035000 · Recall details

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passengerReported March 11, 2021 · 142 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Recall number 21V164000 · Recall details

Questions about the Kia Telluride no deployment

Which Kia Telluride years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2022 (5 complaints), 2021 (2 complaints) and 2020 (1 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Kia Telluride?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history