2025 Kia Telluride Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting off unexpectedly while driving or idling, usually accompanied by a dash message asking them to shift to park or neutral and restart; many say dealers could not reproduce the event or find stored codes. A second recurring theme is the panoramic sunroof glass breaking, often with a loud report and no apparent impact, along with windshield and wiper complaints. Because the model year is recent, most sample complaints are filed in the first year of ownership and at low mileage.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine shuts off while driving (stall / restart message)

   • 58 complaints (48%)
   • median 18,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out unexpectedly while driving, idling at a light, or pulling away from a stop, with the dash lighting up and a message telling them to shift to park or neutral and restart. Several note that power steering and brake assist feel reduced while the engine is off. According to the complaints, dealers often said they could not duplicate the condition and found no stored codes, and in some cases the vehicle was returned without repair. Reported across a wide mileage range from a few thousand to about 25,000 miles, often within the first year of ownership and at low speeds.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Take an extended test drive that includes idling in gear and low-speed stops, and ask the dealer whether any stored codes or prior shop visits for a stall exist. Ask whether the emissions software campaign was completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am reporting multiple life-threatening safety defects with my 2025 Kia Telluride. The vehicle has experienced Sudden Unintended Acceleration, where it accelerates to excessive speeds without driver input. During these episodes, the braking system fails to respond, only allowing the vehicle to stop once its internal safety systems intervene. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11725364, filed 2026-03

   “The engine randomly turns off and I get a warning that says Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine This happened recently as my mother in law was making a left hand turn on a busy intersection. If there were other cars coming she would've been hit. There are no prior warnings or indications that the car is having any issues. The car has been inspected by the dealership, which has been unable to reproduce the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11766464, filed 2026-09
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Panoramic sunroof glass shatters

   • 10 complaints (8%)
   • median 5,899 mi at 1.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners report a loud bang followed by glass breaking from the front panoramic sunroof, most often at highway speed with nothing visible striking the roof. Glass fragments are described landing in the cabin and on rear seats, and in several cases the glass appeared to push outward. Complaints state that dealers sometimes confirmed no coverage for the glass, and some owners say the repair was not performed. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 22,000 miles, commonly at highway speeds.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass for chips, repairs, or replaced panels and ask for any service history related to the roof glass. Confirm what the warranty or glass coverage would apply to a roof panel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle has 300 miles on it and I owned it for 5 days. I was driving when the front sunroof glass exploded and blew glass up and out of the vehicle. It scratched my roof, panoramic glass and multiple other panels. Kia of Chattanooga was very unprofessional when I brought this to their attention. The sales manager, Kevin Williams, told me my claim with Kia was denied before I had even reported a claim to Kia. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11644931, filed 2025-02

   “On 9/18/2025, I was driving on the highway my son and I and out of nowhere I hear a loud explosion and glass shattering. I was terrified, fearing for my life not knowing or understanding what happened. Trying not to wreck. My sunroof was closed but when I pulled over and looked on top of the truck, my whole sunroof had shattered. I called 911 they came and examined the incident. I was directed to contact KIA asap being that they didn’t see any thing that could’ve caused the impact. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11688286, filed 2025-09
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks and poor wiper operation

   • 13 complaints (11%)
   • median 1,762 mi at 0.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe windshields developing long cracks starting from the lower edge, sometimes after minor road debris or cold weather, without a clear impact point. Others report front wipers that stop working intermittently in rain or snow, in both automatic and manual modes, and say dealers could not reproduce the fault or attributed it to something else. Reported from very low mileage (under 100 miles in one case) up to a few thousand miles, often in rain, snow, or cold conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look closely at the windshield edges for chips or sealed cracks and test the wipers in every mode, including a spray test, before buying. Ask whether any wiper motor or switch work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After diving in the snow my 2025 Telluride was parked in the garage overnight. Next morning I observed a crack in the windshield running from bottom of passenger side to middle of the windscreen. Upon inspection saw a small chip on the windshield. A chip would not cause the crack to extend to the middle of the windshield. These windshields are made very poorly, can crack and break with minor road debris that other brands windshields can handle easily. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11659077, filed 2025-05

   “The car randomly has inoperable wipers. Both in auto and non auto mode. Doesn’t happen every time but it has happened to my family on rainy days. The back wipers work fine. We took the car to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong, they blamed it on my cars window tint. Which makes no sense considering it’s not functioning in the non-auto position. After doing my own research it seems to be that multiple other owners have had similar issues, yet no recall has been issued.”

   NHTSA complaint #11751344, filed 2026-07
4. 4
   Seats

   Front seatback recall remedy not available

   • 10 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2026

   Owners of this model year describe being notified of the front seatback frame recall but finding the repair part unavailable, with some vehicles left at the dealer for extended periods awaiting the remedy. Most of these complaints state no failure had been experienced; the concern was about the open recall and the wait for parts. Complaints cluster in the months after the recall was announced, with vehicles at low mileage.

   Recall 26V105000

   What to check: Check the VIN against the recall lookup to see whether the seatback remedy has been completed, and ask the dealer for a written status if it is still open.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2025 Kia Telluride is subject to safety recall SC362A / NHTSA Recall 26V105 involving the front seatback assemblies. On March 24, 2026, I left the vehicle with an authorized Kia dealer for the recall repair. The dealer documented “REMEDY NOT AVAIL” and also documented that the vehicle would remain at the dealer until the recall was performed. As of September 14, 2026, the vehicle remains unrepaired and NHTSA’s VIN recall lookup still shows this recall as unrepaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11764126, filed 2026-09

   “We first heard about the recall and it was listed on NHTSA on 2/23/2026. Today is 2/22/2026, and we have not received any information from Kia. I attempted to call Kia numerous times. It lists that there is a safety malfunction with the front seats, which could be dangerous if the vehicle is involved in a collision. This is a safety issue, not a convenience issue, and needs to be addressed by Kia emergently. It has already been 2 months since the recall date, and there is ZERO information from Kia”

   NHTSA complaint #11726198, filed 2026-03
5. 5
   Engine

   Misfire, tapping noise and rough running

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • filed 2025–2026

   Some owners describe the engine running rough, trembling on acceleration, or misfiring with a check engine light and codes indicating a critical engine error. Others mention a tapping or grinding noise when accelerating in gear, and one report describes an overheating warning with the air conditioning blowing hot air. Reported at low mileage, in some cases within the first few thousand miles and shortly after purchase.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the full service history and any check engine codes that were stored or cleared, and check the oil level and condition at purchase. Ask whether the oil filter housing gasket warranty extension applies to the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this new vehicle in March of 2026. The vehicle has 6,800 miles. While idle, I started to get a warning the engine was overheating with the ac only blowing hot air while the engine smelt like it was overheating. This put me at risk of being stranded in the heat with my toddler and new born or the vehicle malfunctioning in the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11763075, filed 2026-09

   “Headlights does not display full visibility. It seems as if the headlights are cut off with blind spots. Headlights doesn't have full visibility. Headlight projection is not 100 percent. Dealership technician have said Kia doesn't have a fix for it. When its very dark outside their are blind spots. Vehicle smokes from the exhaust. Upon acceleration it feels rough with trembling effect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11686484, filed 2025-09

Buying note. Ask for the complete service history and confirm the status of the open seatback recall before purchase, and take a long test drive that includes idling in gear and highway speeds to watch for a stall or a rough-running engine. Glass and wiper complaints are worth inspecting directly, since a sunroof or windshield replacement is a real cost if not covered.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.