Kia Telluride Reliability: Better Than Ford, Nowhere Near Toyota

The Kia Telluride has just been completely redesigned for the 2027 model year, but its predecessor was on sale from 2020 to 2025, and it became a very popular three-row SUV thanks to its premium interior feel, great pricing and family-friendly practicality. While reliability data for the new model will only start coming in once the vehicle has been on sale for a few years, we have a far more accurate picture of what to expect from the first-generation models.

Introduced in 2020, the mid-size Telluride was offered solely with a 3.8-liter V6 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and powering all four wheels. Regular updates saw the introduction of the rugged X-Pro and X-line packages in 2023, along with a refresh that updated the interior screens and added a few exterior visual enhancements. Despite strong competition from rivals like the Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Grand Highlander, and the platform-sharing Hyundai Palisade, the Telluride was often considered the benchmark in its class, and nearly new examples are still very popular on the used car market.

We looked back at its reliability figures to assess just how durable this SUV has been, and to do so we used the predicted reliability scores collated by Consumer Reports (CR). Thanks to its independence from manufacturer influence, and reliance on actual owner feedback, these scores represent real-world data.

Kia Telluride Historical Reliability Data

Over its six years of production, the Telluride has had somewhat of a roller coaster ride in terms of predicted reliability. As expected with most new models, the first model year revealed some niggling issues that kept its overall score low, but the next two years saw meaningful gains showing that Kia had been working to resolve customer complaints.

However, the 2023 redesign must have introduced some new issues, as for the next two model years the scores were way lower. The owner complaints for the 2023/2024 MY vehicles tended to center around build quality issues, especially poor interior panel fitment. The final year of production ended on a high note as the Telluride achieved the highest reliability score across all model years, with an improvement in reliability across every area assessed by CR.

As of 2026, there are three recalls listed by the NTHSA for the Telluride. These are for seat back frame issues, trim pieces that can become detached, and problems with the anti-lock braking system and/or traction control systems. While the Telluride may not have had a stellar reliability record, the regular updates and recalls have helped in reducing customer complaints, and aside from the 2020 model year, there have been very few issues with the powertrain, suspension and electronics, all areas that can be both pricey and frustrating to resolve. So, how does it compare to its rivals?

Telluride Vs. Rivals:

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Looking at the predicted reliability scores of some of the most popular mid-size three-row SUVs currently on sale, the Telluride fits into the middle of the pack. The Hyundai Palisade has, despite sharing most of its core components with the Telluride, scored slightly lower and this is primarily due to more issues with the infotainment system. It too has been completely redesigned, so hopefully those electronic glitches won't resurface in the new model.

The Volkswagen Atlas, delivered very similar reliability figures although it, too, has been recalled a number of times, and it is also debuting with a completely new model for the 2027 MY. Then there are the outliers. The Ford Explorer is one of the most popular three-rows in this class and regularly outsells the competition. It offers strong performance, great value and plenty of space, but with a 22/100 reliability score, it is most likely to require unplanned repairs or maintenance. It's electronics systems and build quality have come in for the most criticism, and the 2025 MY Explorer has 18 recalls listed by the NHTSA.

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Compared against these rivals, the Telluride comes off as a solid and dependable offering, close to the head of its class. And while it certainly is more reliable than most, the Toyota Grand Highlander delivered an almost faultless reliability score that really blew the competition out of the water. Considering that it was released relatively recently (2024), the Grand Highlander has proven that using proven mechanical components and an obsessive attention to detail can result in a superbly reliable vehicle from day one.

The first generation Telluride may not be able to boast that kind of reliability, but it does well against the rest of its peers, and it remains a solid high-value offering if you are looking for a capable nearly new family-sized SUV.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 10:30 AM.