YearToAvoid

2023 Kia Telluride Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 24 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Kia Telluride, 12% of its 207 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 46,000 miles. A related recall (24V214000) covers driveshaft engagement that can let the vehicle roll away in PARK.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
24
12% of 207
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
46,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of acceleration power specifically when the vehicle is in Snow Mode, especially while turning left from a stop.
  • Several drivers describe the vehicle feeling like it is stuck in neutral, with the accelerator pedal producing no response and RPMs not moving.
  • Some owners say switching out of Snow Mode into Eco or another drive mode restores normal acceleration.
  • Rough or jerky shifting between 1st and 2nd gear at low speeds was reported shortly after purchase, along with lower than expected fuel economy.
  • One owner reported a rear differential replacement for continued loud noises and wheel slippage, though the issue was not resolved.
  • One incident involved the vehicle rolling forward slightly at a stop light before failing to gain speed despite pressing the gas.

When 2023 Kia Telluride transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 29, 2023, latest Aug 28, 2026.

2023 Kia Telluride transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month5Jan 2023May 2023Jan 2024Jun 2024Oct 2025May 2026
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2023 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2024 (5).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2023 Kia Telluride

  1. NHTSA 24V214000Mar 20, 2024Transmission & Powertrain427,407 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away while in PARK.

    Risk: A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to manually engage the emergency parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC303.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Telluride model year

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

  1. 202070 (9%)
  2. 202128 (8%)
  3. 202226 (8%)
  4. 202324 (12%)
  5. 202414 (6%)
  6. 20258 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2023 Kia Telluride have?
NHTSA lists 24 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Telluride, which is 12% of the 207 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a transmission or powertrain recall for the 2023 Kia Telluride?
Yes. Recall 24V214000 covers 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles where the intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not fully engage, which can let the vehicle roll away while in PARK.
At what mileage do transmission problems appear on the 2023 Telluride?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2023 Telluride is 46,000 miles.
Did the 2023 Telluride's powertrain issues cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries linked to the 24 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2023 Telluride.
Is the powertrain complaint rate higher for 2023 than other Telluride years?
The 2023 Telluride's Transmission & Powertrain complaints are 12% of its total complaints, higher than the 2020 model's 9%, 2021's 8%, 2022's 8%, 2024's 6%, and 2025's 7%.

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.