2022 KIA TELLURIDE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I was driving down the highway at 73 MPH and the sunroof shattered sending glass into the interior of the car, onto me, and into my clothes. It sounded like a gunshot and was terrifying.

After a long winter in northern ILLINOIS, we had a 70’ afternoon and I tried to open my sunroof and it stopped working. I heard a crunching sound and tried to reverse it and that may have made it worse. It had been working fine in the fall months September and October when I last used it. It did not cause a safety issue. No one was at risk. I’ve taken the car to the closest KIA dealer to me . Castle KIA in McHenry IL. The Kia dealer gave me an estimate on cost . There was no warning signs of it being broken until it actually happened.

Catastrophic rear differential failure at highway speed following recent warranty repair. Vehicle previously brought to Kia dealership for rear differential knocking noise. Warranty repair performed and vehicle returned. Within one week, original noise returned with additional whirling/ grinding sound.While traveling approximately 70 mph on the highway, vehicle experienced a sudden loud bang and immediate abrupt stop in traffic. At the time of failure, wife and two children were in the vehicle. Incident posed a severe and life-threatening safety risk.Visual inspection indicates complete rear differential mechanical failure, with fluid and component debris present underneath vehicle. Vehicle is currently unsafe to operate.Failure occurred immediately following manufacturer-authorized warranty repair.

We were driving in the left hand lane on i75 south about 15 miles south of [XXX] and about 10 miles from [XXX] . We were traveling about 75 mph with air conditioning on low. We heard a loud bang and pulled off at exit 328 to investigate. We pulled over at Myers carpet on dug gap road. We looked at the sunroof and it looked like it had exploded upward. 1/3 of the glass was gone and a cone like upward shattering appears in the edges of the blowout area. We had to go to the nearby tractor supply to find duct tape and plastic sheeting to tape over the whole sunroof to drive home to [XXX] . It just happened on 3/15/2026 at approximately 4pm. We have not yet been to a Kia dealer or called consumer affairs at Kia corporate yet. I am filing a ticket with Kia now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Child safety lock is failing. I get a failure message every day and the doors are not being locked. Causing a safety problem for families with children.

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that while entering the vehicle, the front passenger's seat had a burned spot, and the front passenger side visor was melted. In addition, the contact noticed brown residue throughout the interior of the vehicle. The fire had appeared to self-extinguish. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was unoccupied. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the inspection had not been completed. The fire department was scheduled to inspect the vehicle within the next few days. The contact stated that the inspection was ongoing. In addition, the contact stated that the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V407000 (Seats) was completed on 10/15/2024. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

Fire

Subject: Safety Concern – Backup Camera Failure Causing Complete Safety System Malfunction (2022 Kia Telluride) I am reporting a safety concern regarding a 2022 Kia Telluride related to the rear backup camera assembly. The backup camera failed due to water infiltration through the camera seal, which entered the camera housing and caused an electrical short. When this occurred, the failure did not only disable the backup camera but caused the entire vehicle safety system to malfunction, disabling multiple safety features until the issue was repaired. When we brought the vehicle to the dealership, they stated that this was not the first Kia Telluride they had seen with the same issue. The quoted repair cost from the dealership was approximately $1,200. I ultimately replaced the camera myself, which restored the safety systems to normal operation. I have retained the failed camera assembly, which clearly shows the location where the seal failed and water entered the unit. Because the failure of this component disables multiple vehicle safety systems, I believe this may represent a broader safety concern if it is occurring in other vehicles. I am submitting this report so the issue can be reviewed for potential defects affecting other vehicles. Vehicle information and additional details can be provided if needed. Thank you. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The auto cold error message was displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel violently jerked back and forth three times. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and turned off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The contact stated that the error code "Auto Cold" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle remained at the dealer for three weeks for a diagnostic test. The contact stated that in 2024, there was an unknown recall for the front drive shaft. The recall repair was performed in 2024, and the vehicle was inspected at the time and passed the inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

The windshield cracked for no apparent reason. The crack was on the driver's side, about 16 inches long, starting near the top and curving around the driver's view to the middle of the windshield.

Front sunroof suddenly shattered while going down highway. Remaining glass was pushed outward and no sign of impact was seen.

On January 28, 2026, I brought my vehicle to Kia of Fayetteville for brake pads, rotor replacement, and brake fluid service. I paid approximately $900 for these services and was provided a dealership loaner vehicle. Upon entering the loaner vehicle, I discovered a loaded firearm inside the vehicle as I was gathering my items. The firearm’s serial numbers appeared to be scratched off. Law enforcement was immediately notified. No apology, acknowledgment, or remedial action was taken by dealership management. During this incident, the service manager, Alex Prat, acted in an aggressive, disrespectful, and unprofessional manner. Shortly after retrieving my vehicle, my husband who was driving the vehicle experienced a complete loss of braking ability. The vehicle was towed to another authorized Kia dealership, Southern Pines Kia, where technicians documented that multiple brake system components were improperly installed and/or unsecured, including missing or improperly fastened hardware. The vehicle was deemed unsafe to operate.

Sunroof suddenly exploded while driving.

Infotainment screen is blank most of the time. Backup camera works intermittently. Dealer confirmed head unit failure and stated software updates cannot be performed. Quoted approximately $7,500 for full replacement. Issue has been occurring for over two years, beginning while vehicle was still relatively new. Creates unsafe reversing conditions due to unreliable federally required backup camera display. Dealer classified as infotainment module failure. No recall issued despite widespread owner reports of similar failures.

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver's side seat belt buckle failed latch immediately, causing the seat belt warning to activate. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side seat belt buckle unlatched unintendedly, causing the seat belt warning to activate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the seat belt buckle was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.

Our Kia Telluride caught fire after sitting for about 3 hours. My husband had driven it that day with no issue. After it sat in our driveway for 3 hours, we noticed that it was on fire. The fire started in the back/underneath part of the vehicle. It was a complete loss.

Fire

Driver LCD screen went blank

Upon starting car, digital odometer cluster is blank. While the cluster is down, the gas tank cap is also unable to be opened. In researching on Google/kia forums, the fix has been to turn off the car, lock the doors and then unlock and restart the car. This is a 2022 and has happened approximately six times since purchase, the most recent time being today’s date again, the Kia forum suggested fix worked to remedy the problem today. Unable to “log these” with the dealership, unless it is brought in for service, but as the online remedy works, no service appointment is needed and therefore cannot on the spot replicate the issue as it randomly occurs. Unaware that these incidents could be logged on this site to establish potential patterns outside previous recalls for same issue.

Was driving heard a noise and then lost power to gas peddle and bunch of smoke and then flames coming from front of car got out and there were flames coming from hood eventually flames died down and was just smoking police &fire department were called. Piston blew through engine block these engine have a known oil consumption issue and I have kept up with oil .

Fire

My wife must use a cushion or pillow to sit in the passenger seat. This causes the Passenger Occupancy Seat Sensor to fail. The seat does not recognize that she is there. The seat belt alert does not chime and the air bag is turned off. I have called KIA and they have no fix. I have talked to the dealer and they have no fix. I can not override the air bag and turn it on manually. We have tried multiple cushions and pillows. It does work without the cushion but this is not an option for her body. How can this be safe??

I am reporting a safety issue with my vehicle’s electronic door locking system. Vehicle: 2022 Kia Telluride SX Prestige with Nightfall Edition Issue: The door locks randomly unlock on their own multiple times without any input. This behavior happens specifically when the child safety lock is enabled. While driving or after locking the vehicle, the locks will unexpectedly unlock, creating a serious safety and security concern. Safety Concern: This issue poses a risk to passengers, especially children, because doors may unlock unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. It also creates a security risk when the vehicle is parked, as the car cannot be reliably kept locked. Additional Notes: I have seen multiple similar complaints from other Telluride owners reporting the same behavior. This appears to be a recurring defect rather than an isolated incident. I am requesting that this issue be investigated for a potential defect and safety recall.

The infotainment system, which also allows for use of backup cameras and safety alerts went black and has ceased working. Despite a technician diagnosing it to see if it was a simple fix. It looks like a complete malfunction of the unit.

The oil filter housing cracked on the car, causing all the oil to leak out. In researching this, I have found that this is a common problem with the Kia Telluride and Kia Sorrento. The problem is that the oil filter housing is made of cheap plastic and not durable material such as aluminum or steel. This allows the oil filter housing to easily crack under stress. In speaking with the dealership, this is not an uncommon problem. I feel that this should be covered under the Powertrain warranty or through a recall. A quick Google search will show that the problem is widespread in the Sorrento and Telluride models. This repair cost me a total of $425. If I had not replaced or repaired oil filter housing, the engine would have locked up as all the oil at escaped onto the pavement.

While driving our 2022 Kia Telluride under normal operating conditions, the panoramic sunroof glass suddenly and spontaneously shattered outward with a loud explosion-like noise. The sunroof was fully closed at the time of the explosion. There was no impact with any object, no debris strike, no road hazard, and no external cause observed. Weather conditions were clear, traffic was normal, and the vehicle was traveling at a normal speed. The failure occurred without warning. There were no prior cracks, chips, noises, warning lights, or messages before the incident. A large hole immediately formed in the sunroof glass, and glass fragments fell into the vehicle and were caught by the shade. The sudden shattering and loud noise scared the driver and passengers and created an immediate safety hazard, requiring us to pull over right away. Occupants were placed at risk of injury from falling glass and sudden driver distraction. For safety reasons, loose and hanging glass was removed after stopping the vehicle. At the time of this report, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by a Kia dealer, manufacturer representative, or independent service center, as the incident occurred recently (we have an appointment in two days). The remaining sunroof components and vehicle are available for inspection upon request. This appears to be a sudden and spontaneous glass failure occurring during normal vehicle operation.

I had noticed a 1" wide crack had formed in the center of the windshield after first night of cold weather (~10°F). There was no prior damage to the windshield before the crack formed. I'm concerned that the crack will continue to spread as we progress into the winter in the upper Midwest, ultimately shattering while I'm driving.

Plastic oil filter housing cracked after oil change around 100k miles.

Noise over bumps from the rear

This is a very well known issue among all model years of the Kia Telluride. The plastic filter housing is made out of plastic and over time it ends up failing causing an oil leak. I ended up having to pay out of pocket for a aftermarket housing that was metal and not plastic that won’t fail.

My 2022 Kia Telluride is experiencing several serious safety-related defects. The backup camera does not work, the second-row bucket seats fold up on their own while driving, and the electronic parking brake becomes stuck on and will not disengage. The transmission hesitates and shifts harshly, creating a risk during acceleration and lane changes. The engine is consuming oil between changes. The heating and air conditioning stop working when the vehicle is idling at stoplights, and electrical components including the front phone charger and heated passenger seat have failed. The exterior window trim is deteriorating. These issues are ongoing and have not been resolved by Kia. Several of these failures match known defect and recall categories. These create a significant crash and safety risk for my family. I am requesting investigation and manufacturer action.

The vehicle intermittently fails to shift gears and loses acceleration without warning, creating a serious safety hazard. The problem began in October 2024 when the check-engine light first appeared and has continued since. Despite multiple repair attempts by the Kia dealership—including replacement of the fuel pump, fuel pressure sensors, and ECU—the root cause remains undiagnosed, and the defect persists. When the vehicle was brought back in August 2025, the dealer’s latest recommendation on 9/30/25 was to replace the injector harnesses and front wire assembly, but they cannot guarantee this will resolve the issue.

My daughter was trying to get into the backseat of our Kia Telluride. She had one leg raised with her knee resting on the stepping area inside the rear passenger door. While in this position, she pressed the handle to fold the rear seat. The lower portion of the seat suddenly swung forward and closed with fast, strong force onto her folded knee joint, pinning it between the moving seat and the vehicle floor. She screamed immediately in pain and could not free her leg. I had to run around to the opposite side of the vehicle (the rear passenger side) and physically lift the seat off her knee to release her. The impact left a noticeable bruise just above her left knee. The folding seat mechanism appeared to move too quickly and with excessive force, and it did not stop or slow down once it encountered her knee. This presents a potential safety hazard, especially for children or passengers entering the vehicle who may accidentally activate the seat handle.

1 injured

The vehicle intermittently fails to shift gears and loses acceleration without warning, creating a serious safety hazard. The problem began in October 2024 when the check-engine light first appeared and has continued since. Despite multiple repair attempts by the Kia dealership—including replacement of the fuel pump, fuel pressure sensors, and ECU—the root cause remains undiagnosed, and the defect persists. When the vehicle was brought back in August 2025, the dealer’s latest recommendation on 9/30/25 was to replace the injector harnesses and front wire assembly, but they cannot guarantee this will resolve the issue.

The passenger side headlight randomly goes off. An alert comes on on the dashboard to check the headlight. The headlight comes back on randomly. I made several appointments to get it checked, but would be back on again when at the appointment. Diagnostic check showed no issues. The dealer replaced the bulb (not under warranty) and it worked for 1 year. The issue started again, another diagnostic was done, and a found no issues because the headlight came back on. A few weeks later it was out again and the whole lamp assembly was replaced. Not covered by warranty.

Borescope inspection of the engine shows multiple signs of internal mechanical failure involving oil control, piston ring integrity, coolant intrusion, and cylinder wall damage. Excessive oil buildup is visible above the oil control ring, far beyond what is expected at 59k miles. Cylinder walls show heavy polishing where cross-hatching should be visible, indicating loss of lubrication and abnormal wear. Carbon deposits are extremely thick; in several areas carbon has flaked off and been pulled downward into the cylinder, creating scoring. Straight vertical scoring marks cut through the normal diagonal honing pattern, confirming blow-by and damage to the cylinder sleeves. Evidence of coolant intrusion is present, including orange discoloration consistent with rust/coolant contamination, excessive moisture, and steam-cleaned areas of the combustion chamber. The intake valve and combustion surfaces appear abnormally clean, consistent with coolant steam-washing. This suggests head-gasket failure, a block or head casting defect, or ring damage (possible cracked scraper ring). Coolant in the cylinders can wash away oil from the bore, leading to rusted pistons and accelerated scoring. Multiple pictures show severe scoring and loss of lubrication. This compromises the ability of new pistons or rings to seal, meaning the cylinder walls would continue to allow blow-by, oil burning, coolant intrusion, and friction. Even attempting to polish or recondition these bores would enlarge them, causing piston flutter, noise, and long-term failure. Based on the level of damage, the engine is no longer safe or reliable. A seized piston could cause sudden loss of power at highway speeds, creating a safety risk. The observed defects indicate a potential manufacturing or casting issue that may affect other engines. The dealership and KIA Consumer Affairs have been notified but there has been no replacement or resolution after 3 months of ongoing issues, and 8 weeks of holding my vehicle.

Sunroof glass exploded

2022 Kia Telluride Issues: 1. **Sunroof:** Completely broken. 2. **Exterior Window Moldings:** Fading and discoloration. 3. **Axel Boots:** Need replacement with less than 60,000 miles on the odometer. 4. **Child Lock:** Malfunctioning. -