YearToAvoid

2023 Kia Telluride Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 36 engine complaints for the 2023 Kia Telluride, 17% of its 207 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 20,000 miles, and one fire was reported. No related recalls are listed for this problem area.

Engine complaints
36
17% of 207
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
20,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of acceleration or power while pulling into traffic or turning left, with the vehicle refusing to respond to the gas pedal for several seconds.
  • Several complaints describe the issue happening specifically in Snow Mode, where the vehicle rolls or idles but will not gain speed when the accelerator is pressed.
  • One owner reported a ticking engine noise starting around 7,500 miles that led to extended dealer diagnostic time.
  • A separate report describes multiple warning lights activating at once, along with loss of power steering and power brakes, before the engine shut off completely while driving.
  • One owner reported a fire near the rear exterior of the vehicle at 20,000 miles that extinguished on its own with no warning lights illuminated.

When 2023 Kia Telluride engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 29, 2023, latest Aug 10, 2026.

2023 Kia Telluride engine complaints: complaints filed per month6Jan 2023Jun 2023Jan 2024Oct 2024Jun 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2023 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2024 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2023 Kia Telluride

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Telluride model year

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

  1. 2020160 (21%)
  2. 202170 (19%)
  3. 202237 (11%)
  4. 202336 (17%)
  5. 202434 (16%)
  6. 202547 (42%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2023 Kia Telluride?
NHTSA has logged 36 engine complaints for the 2023 Telluride, making up 17% of the 207 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2023 Kia Telluride engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine problem area on the 2023 Telluride.
At what mileage do engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints for the 2023 Telluride is 20,000 miles.
Did the engine issue cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 0 injuries tied to engine complaints for the 2023 Telluride, though 1 fire was reported.
How does the 2023 Telluride compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2023 model year's engine complaints make up 17% of its total complaints, compared to 21% for 2020, 19% for 2021, 11% for 2022, 16% for 2024, and 42% for 2025.

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.