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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2021 Kia Telluride Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
28about this part
Share
7%of 374 total for the year
Median mileage
15miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2021 Kia Telluride, 7% of the 374 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I drove my brand new Telluride off the lot with 11 miles on it. Before I gained speeds over 50mph my vehicle would jerk as it changed gears and the RPM increased. After I stopped at stop signs or red lights and then began to accelerate again, the car would jerk, the engine would rev up and no acceleration would happen. If I kept pressing the gas, eventually the car would jerk again, catch the gear and drive. This happened every single time I would stop and go again. Over speeds of 50-60mph I did not have this problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11414682, filed 2021-05, 11 miles

“There is a known issue with tellurides and hyundai palisade vehicles right now with excessive vibration when speeds reach 55mph - 70mph. Kia consumer assistance and dealers are not being helpful. They road forced balanced my wheels and sent me home...I told them it's not fixed and now they want me to take it back. There are multiple people on forum/messaging board with the same problem. Kia replaces driveshafts/awd couplers on some which resolves the issues but ignores others. They need a TSB to fix this universally. This piecemeal approach has gotten them in trouble with nhsta already.”

NHTSA complaint #11383704, filed 2020-12, 50 miles

“Was low on oil and check oil light don't go on have to put oil very 2 week because it get low and I don't have no oil leak at all I found out because the motor start shaking and making noise tow it home and mechanical came to check it out and didn't have oil he say I was lurking I was not in the highway because it could lock the mortar and cause a accident”

NHTSA complaint #11756506, filed 2026-08

“We were driving the car and it began lurching unpredictably. It was difficult to maneuver safely. It is now 3 weeks past that time and my Kia has been at the dealership this entire time. The dealer says that they cannot do anything without checking with Kia HQ and each time they do, Kia has them run another diagnostic.”

NHTSA complaint #11451474, filed 2022-02

“At around 40,000 miles my Telluride start to have issues shifting at low speeds and when cold. By the time I hit 50,000 miles it was happening all the time. It began sputtering almost everyone I accelerated causing it to hesitate on highways. After two trips to the dealership they said I need a whole new transmission. My car is only at 56,000 miles and is no longer considered driveable until it is replaced which of course, the part is on back order.”

NHTSA complaint #11512299, filed 2023-03

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2027622%
202597%
2024157%
20232512%
2022268%
2021287%
2020709%

Other parts of the 2021 Kia Telluride

Other or unknown
106 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
86 complaintsEngine
68 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsBody and structure
33 complaintsForward collision avoidance
22 complaintsSuspension
21 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsExterior lighting
10 complaintsSeats
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSteering
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 Kia Telluride

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology