What 329 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Telluride

The sunroof won’t close properly, it looks like wind deflector is broken

NHTSA ODI 11747081

Windshield chipped and cracked. Causes a safety issue due to temperamental glass and vision impairment. McKenneys garage has viewed the damage and confirms the damage. No. No.

NHTSA ODI 11739016

The sunroof on my 2021 Kia Telluride broke and is stuck open. We had to take it to Kia to have the repair quoted and they want to charge $6k to have it replaced. This is a huge safety issue, as it is winter and we have rain/snow getting in the car, as well as the potential for someone to break into my car through the sunroof as well. I have read numerous reports online of other 2021 Kia Tellurides with this same issue. Please have Kia issue a recall to have this issue addressed.

NHTSA ODI 11733089

Windshield developed a multipronged crack that does not resemble a normal road hazard crack. After having tried a mobile windshield repair, the results are not successful as the cracks seem segmented and will not accept normal repair. Files include a photo of outside and inside vehicle pic of windshield.

NHTSA ODI 11714959

Sun roof opened and will not close. Wind detector became stuck causing window not to close

NHTSA ODI 11662949

My wife was driving with my kids when there sounded like an explosion and the sunroof exploded. There was nothing around that hit the glass and we haven't been involved in any accidents that may have compromised the integrity of the glass. The sound sounds like an explosion and luckily when it scared my wife while driving, she didn't jerk the wheel and flip the vehicle. Also, thankfully the sunroof shade was closed otherwise glass would have exploded everywhere inside the vehicle hitting my kids and wife. It appears that it explodes up and in the middle of the sunroof by looking at how the glass was missing. It seems this is a common occurrence with the 2021 kia telluride. There's no warning, no cracking, no signs of it going to bust; it just does it. I'm going rounds with Kia to get it fixed but the keep sending me down an endless rabbit hole, so I have in the meantime I paid out of pocket for it. Because I paid out of pocket for it after I was told I could by cooperate I could and then be reimbursed, which is not accurate, kia doesn't want to inspect the car. The only thing the dealerships tell us is yeah, they've seen this happen before.

NHTSA ODI 11661106

Sunroof/moonroof will no longer close. It is stuck in the open position and this will cause water to enter the cabin if it rains. The vehicle was examined by the dealer and they confirmed that a component is fault and will need to be replaced. No warning lamps or additional symptoms were noticed prior to the sunroof malfunctioning. The vehicle only has 44,100 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11620480

Sunroof track broken, causing it unable to be closed. Dealer covered with tape until parts able to be ordered approx. 5 days later. Tape flew off while driving on highway with potential for an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11617960

Track for sunroof broke and will not properly open or close. I was able to close it back but will not touch until the part can be repaired/replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11617369

Windshield cracked all the way across from a tiny rock. So small that I didn’t even see it when it happened.

NHTSA ODI 11610079

The panoramic sunroof hinges on my vehicle snapped and a part of the assembly fell and hit me in the head while I was driving.

NHTSA ODI 11604395

The vehicle had approx 10k miles and I simply tried to open the sunroof before leaving my driveway and something snapped. The Sunroof was then stuck in the open position, I could not close it. I called my regular dealership for help as it was under warranty and practically new. The dealership said they are too busy to help me, I have no garage and there was rain in the forecast. I called other dealerships and was able to find one who would take it in for a look. I was told it might take a few days and left the car. After a few days the dealership said they needed to order parts, that the entire sunroof track has to be replaced and it may take weeks. They were able to close the roof and I picked up the car, I had to take it back as wind was coming in as I drove and rain can too. I returned for repairs and issues approx 5 times until it was "repaired". I have not opened the sunroof again since, for fear of additional problems and no longer under warranty as many other Kia Telluride owners who have this issue with the sunroof. Being away from home and it breaking again would be a disaster and having to drive from a secluded area with unpredictable weather can be dangerous.

NHTSA ODI 11603612

Came outside and windshield had spontaneously cracked. No chip. No spider web. The windshield had just had several huge cracks in the middle of the windshield in front of the driver. The glass just fractured. Spontaneously. In my driveway. Not sure if due to temperature -- i had driven for an hour with the AC keeping the car comfortable at 70 degrees and parked, in my driveway, in the sun, and yes, it is 98 degrees outside. But whatever the reason, windshield just cracked! KIA dis-owning the problem. Despite many people here complaining of same problem.

NHTSA ODI 11600118

There was no visible crack or i dictation there was damage or an issue with the windshield and all of the sudden there is a 2 foot long crack going from the middle to the driver side of the windshield causing it to have to be replaced vs. if there was a chip indication I could just have that repaired. I am the only driver and never heard anything that would cause the crack

NHTSA ODI 11572489

Tried opening my sunroof and when I pushed the button I l heard a loud “pop” and or quit working. My sunroof is now stuck in the open position.

NHTSA ODI 11571979

Sunroof spontaneously shattered.

NHTSA ODI 11570150

The front wiper blades get stuck when in use. This most often occurs when they are at their upper most point, but happens in a lower position as well. I had a previous issue where the left blade components had to be replaced because of stripped nuts/gears. This does not appear to be the same issue. I’ve taken it to the dealer and to another mechanic, neither of who could recreate the problem. This is quite dangerous as it impedes my visibility while driving in precipitation. The other issue is with buttons on the steering column that either do not work or miscommunication. This has been repaired/replaced but with the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11562706

As I was driving down the interstate heading to a doctor’s appointment the unexpected happened with my Kia Telluride. My Telluride is a 2021 and only had roughly 37,000 miles on it, and I believe it is important to notate that I’ve never had any issues with this car since purchasing it. However, on this particular day, as I was driving down the interstate the entire window located on the drivers side at the rear back seat shattered. I thought someone may have hit me but as I pulled over there was no evidence of any damage besides the window shattering. There was no sign of rocks, material, or anything that would have caused the shatter. I called the police prior to examining the vehicle who stated that the window appeared to have shattered at its own discretion and therefore they could not file a police report. I did however pay to have the window replaced, and pay to have glass removed from every inch of my car as the glass shattered everywhere. The biggest concern was that the chunks of glass/shatters were mostly in my one year old daughters car seat. The police stated that if she was in her car seat at the time of the window “explosion” she would have been severely injured or even possibly death due to the large amount of glass. As a driver of the vehicle, I myself had pieces of glass fly into my arms while I was driving, but I thank God my Duaghter was not in the car with me that day. Not only is this harmful to the driver or passengers but also harmful to other drivers as it could have caused an accident. I am still nervous to this day about having my kids in my telluride as I never know if the window may shatter. This is a worry I never had before and believe this is worth investigating. I never had any signs, warning lights, or any warning of this event, as I was simply driving, heard a loud boom and realized the window had shattered and glass was everywhere.

NHTSA ODI 11558024

The sunroof got stuck in the open position. It is available for inspection. Wind/rain/foreign objects are able to enter stuck sunroof and cause injury and or vehicle damage. Kia dealership confirmed that this has happened to others with the same male and model. Others have reported issue causing whole sunroof glass to crack/break/explode. No warning lights or signs.

NHTSA ODI 11554332

The sunroof track assembly broke when the sunroof was opened. Causing the sunroof to be stuck in the open position

NHTSA ODI 11533129

I was pulling out of a parking lot going about 3 mph. There were no other vehicles around and the windshield cracked right in front of me. I called my insurance and explained to them the strange event that just took place, and they said that it would be a deductable of $500.00 or around $1000.00. Reasearch has proven that quote. The next day I went out to the car to start it up so the kids wouldn't be so hot. I watched the 6 inch crack from the day before, turn into a a 3.5 foot crack. Kia dealer says it's a rock chip so outside of warrenty. There is absolutly no way that a rock hit my windshield with no other cars around, and me going 3 MPH. I contacted Kia customer service, and was told that the dealer said it was a rock chip, therefore it was out of warrenty. At this point I am so terrifed to put my kids in that car, because look what happened when going at very sluggish speeds. On top of all of that, the replacment windshields are also prone to cracking, so all of us Telluride owners are between a rock, and a hard place. Someone, please look into this and force Kia to make it right to all of us who just bought a new family vehicle. I do have pictures of the windshield, however I cant upload them due to the very low upload space on this NHTSA website. Please reach out with an email and ill get them to you ASAP. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11529494

Windshield cracked overnight with no visible chips or damage to windshield

NHTSA ODI 11528254

2021 Kia Telluride. Driving home from work 6/8/23. Small crack developed in the windshield on passenger side lower corner. Has spread quickly across windshield. Left message with service department of local KIA dealership in Murfreesboro Tennessee inquiring about Kia "Customer Satisfaction Initiative" concerning windshield cracking. No call back after 8 days. Left email on KIA Corporate Customer Service Website on 6/12/23 inquiring about windshield "Customer Satisfaction Initiative". No response from Kia after 6 days. The Kia Web Site claims they will respond to inquiries within 48 hours but have not. Because this defect affects driver visibility I would consider this a safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11527597

The front windshield is pitting. There are many divots in the windshield. I purchased the car brand new and have noticed new marks over the 2 years of ownership.

NHTSA ODI 11523965

My windshield has suffered a crack and several knicks from road debris hitting it. The windshield does not seem as resistant to damage from small pebbles/road debris as it should be.

NHTSA ODI 11519100