YearToAvoid

2021 Kia Telluride Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 15 brake complaints for the 2021 Kia Telluride, 4% of the 365 total complaints filed for the year, with 4 crashes and 2 injuries reported. No brake-related recalls are on file for this model year.

Brakes complaints
15
4% of 365
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
804 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report brake pedal going soft or dropping to the floor, with a total loss of stopping power that sometimes ends in a crash into a wall or garage.
  • Some describe brakes that fully depress but the vehicle keeps rolling forward at a stop sign or into an intersection.
  • Several report the vehicle rolling on its own after being placed in park, including cases where it shifted into reverse unexpectedly in a driveway.
  • A vacuum leak is described that makes the brake pedal go hard after the car sits overnight, requiring heavy pressure to start the vehicle.
  • One owner reports a caliper falling apart shortly after a dealer brake replacement, causing a complete loss of brakes.
  • Another reports missing bolts on a rear caliper that left it hanging, discovered only after the brakes failed.

When 2021 Kia Telluride brake complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 27, 2020, latest Jul 27, 2026.

2021 Kia Telluride brakes complaints: complaints filed per month1Sep 2020Aug 2022Mar 2023Feb 2024May 2024Jun 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to Jul 2026; peak Sep 2020 (1).

Brakes recalls for the 2021 Kia Telluride

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Telluride model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 202016 (2%)
  2. 202115 (4%)
  3. 202216 (5%)
  4. 20237 (3%)
  5. 202411 (5%)
  6. 20253 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2021 Kia Telluride?
NHTSA lists 15 brake complaints for the 2021 Telluride, making up 4% of all 365 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2021 Kia Telluride?
No related recalls are listed in the data for the 2021 Telluride's brake system.
Have the brake problems caused crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 4 crashes and 2 injuries linked to brake complaints on the 2021 Telluride.
At what mileage do brake problems tend to show up on the 2021 Telluride?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this brake complaint group is 804 miles.
How does the 2021 Telluride compare to other years for brake complaints?
The 2021 model's brake complaint share is 4%, close to the 2022 model's 5% and above the 2020 model's 2%, so this is a shared issue across multiple model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.