The 2020-2024 Kia Telluride three-row SUV has been recalled for a risk of rolling away while in park, the NHTSA disclosed Monday.
The front passenger driveshaft may not be engaged to the intermediate shaft out of the transmission. This partial engagement can cause the splines to degrade over time, and result in unintended movement even when the SUV is in park. Until fixed, Kia urges owners to apply the electronic parking brake after putting the Telluride in park.
Owners may notice a grinding noise, vibrations, or less power than expected when accelerating. There could also be problems shifting the transmission into drive or reverse. If it moves while parked, the problem needs remedy. Kia acknowledged 16 instances of unintended vehicle movement of Tellurides in the field. Six of those cases had spline damage. Kia knows of no injuries or crashes related to the recall.
The recall afflicts 427,407 Tellurides, which have been a smash hit since Kia launched its largest vehicle for the 2020 model year.
Handsome, roomy, a value loaded with features, and a great warranty have resulted in The Car Connection Best Car To Buy category award three out of the past four years. Sales of the Telluride increased 11% in 2023, totaling 110,765 units, making it the brand’s third bestseller behind the Sportage compact crossover and Forte economy car, which was just redesigned and rebadged the 2025 Kia K4. Until the EV9 electric three-row crossover launched late last year, the Telluride was the brand’s largest and most expensive vehicle, averaging about $50,000.
This is the fifth recall for the Kia Telluride since 2020, which is below average for a new vehicle debuts. The only other serious recall was for a short-circuit in the tow hitch harness that could cause a fire.
Owners will be notified by mail as early as May 15 to bring their Tellurides into Kia dealers for an electronic parking brake software update that will automatically engage when the SUV is shifted into park and the engine is shut off. This should prevent the rollaway risk. Until then, Kia urges owners to press the electronic brake manually before shutting off the SUV. Tellurides built after Oct. 20, 2023, have a driveshaft assembly that’s fully engaged at all times.
For more info, contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 or visit Kia’s recall page here.