YearToAvoid

2021 Kia Telluride Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 49 Electrical System complaints for the 2021 Kia Telluride, 13% of its 365 total complaints that year. No related recall is listed, and the median mileage at failure was 2,950. One injury and zero fires or crashes were reported.

Electrical System complaints
49
13% of 365
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
2,950 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Headlights and high beams lose visibility on dark or hilly roads, with some owners reporting total blackout while turning at night.
  • LED headlight housings fog up with condensation and frost in cold weather, reducing light output even after a service attempt.
  • Instrument cluster gauges or the speedometer stop working while driving, leaving the driver unable to see current speed.
  • Power windows get stuck partway open or stop responding to switches, sometimes while driving at highway speed.
  • Interior lights and high beams fail intermittently, which one owner's mechanic attributed to a wiring issue.
  • The alternator fails and drains the battery while driving, triggering multiple warning lights and a loss of vehicle power.

When 2021 Kia Telluride electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 30, 2020, latest Sep 17, 2026.

2021 Kia Telluride electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2020Dec 2021Mar 2023Oct 2023Jun 2024May 2025May 2026
49 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Apr 2023 (4).

Electrical System recalls for the 2021 Kia Telluride

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Telluride model year

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

  1. 2020233 (31%)
  2. 202149 (13%)
  3. 202275 (23%)
  4. 202350 (24%)
  5. 202447 (22%)
  6. 202523 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does the 2021 Kia Telluride have?
NHTSA lists 49 Electrical System complaints for the 2021 Telluride, which is 13% of the 365 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Kia Telluride's electrical system?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for this issue on the 2021 Telluride.
At what mileage do electrical problems appear on the 2021 Telluride?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 2,950 miles.
Did the electrical issues cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows zero crashes and zero fires tied to these complaints, but one injury was reported.
How does 2021 compare to other Telluride years for electrical complaints?
The 2021 Telluride's 13% share is lower than 2020's 31%, 2022's 23%, 2023's 24%, and 2024's 22%, based on NHTSA's per-year share figures.

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.