2021 Kia Telluride Service and Repair Manual
Written against the 2021 Kia Telluride as Kia built it, this factory service and repair manual is tied to the exact year, engine and trim sitting in your driveway, so the clearances, torque figures and service sequences it gives are the ones Kia published for this vehicle rather than values carried over from an adjacent model year.
Engines covered
- 3.8L V6 (231 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sport utility
Trims covered
- EX
- LX
- S
- SX
- SX Limited
Known issues on the 2021 Telluride. Four recalls are on federal record for this model year. The first covers the driveline: the intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, which can result in vehicle roll away, and a vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury. The second covers vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness, installed as original equipment or purchased as an accessory, where a fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. The third covers the Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit, which may not detect the presence of a child restraint, so in the event of a crash the front passenger air bag can deploy with a child in that seat. The fourth covers the front power seat, where the seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire, and a fire increases the risk of injury. Owners have filed 402 complaints for the year and Kia has issued 94 technical service bulletins. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems are here.
From verifying front driveshaft engagement to tracing a power seat circuit or working through a scheduled service on the 3.8L V6, it keeps you on Kia's own procedure and the correct specification for your 2021 Telluride.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.
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.
A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC316.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles. The front power seat motor may overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an improper recall 24V407 repair, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC374. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 24V407. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Vehicle Identification
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET REPLACEMENT (WTY045) - This bulletin provides information regarding the Warranty Extension Program (WTY045) for the inspection and, if necessary, replacement
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updat
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT) - CLOSED & SUPERSEDED BY CHA129 - This bulletin is now closed and superseded by CHA129. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the 4-Wheel Drive 4WD system s
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the 4-Wheel Drive 4WD system software on some 2020-2025MY Telluride (ON) vehicles produced from January 08, 2019 throu
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY045) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to th
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY045) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for certain repairs related to an engine oil leak fr
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY045) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to all owners
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY045) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to all owners for certain repairs related to a
Showing the 8 most recent of 95 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
The contact owned a 2021 Kia Telluride SX. The contact stated while the wife was driving 70MPH the vehicle was stuck on the rear driver's side and crashed into a tree. No warning lights were noticed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an impound yard. The vehicle could possibly be totaled. There was a police report. The driver sustained injuries to the face, head, knee, chest, and shoulder. The passenger sustained back injuries. The spouse drove the passengers in a separate ve
On February 16th at about 6 AM, I was in a collision. I was first hit in the front by a pickup truck impacting my frontside, from right to left. I expected my Kia Telluride to engage it's safety features such as, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, and at the very least the Airbags, which none of them deployed at anytime during this collision. I was then rear-ended by an 18-wheeler; smashing my entire back window. The 18-wheelers' trailer that it was holding then slide down o
09/26/2020, 2:30PM CST, WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN STATIONARY 'AUTO HOLD' POSITION, STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD VIOLENTLY, RESULTING IN A REAR-END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF TELLURIDE. FILED UNDER PROGRESSIVE CLAIM #201457380, 09/26/2020.
The brakes on my 2021 Kia Telluride failed while pulling into my side entry garage. The Telluride's brakes went limp, losing pressure and dropped to the floorboard. The Telluride crashed into the interior of the garage, coming to a complete stop after slamming into the foundation of the house. Once stopped, the Telluride could be put in park and braking was restored. Home surveillance captured the event and it is available for viewing at: https://youtu.be/AdJ6tXyK57k
While driving in a parking garage and going down a ramp to the next level, all of the lights on my dashboard popped on and the brakes stopped working. The emergency brakes failed to work, and we crashed into a wall/air conditioning unit. Luckily, we were going slow since we were in a parking garage and did not hit another car, but if we were on a highway and/ my entire family were in the car, someone could have died not only in my car but in other cars. The vehicle has been inspected by the
I was broadsided by a chevy cobalt traveling over 40mph. The impact was so great it spun my vehicle. No airbags deployed at all and the rear passenger door took the brunt of the impact.
There were 2 lanes going in the same direction and I was on the right. The road was turning to the right and ended up hitting a car in the lane on the right. Road conditions were wet but no puddling. I depressed the brake pedal to reduce my speed for the turn, but and I kept going as if I hadn't hit it at all. By moving from the right to the left lane, the car was going up a slight bank. There was no skidding, no rumbling from the anti-lock, just a steady forward motion. I was so caught off gu
First there are holes in the block from a rod bearing coming off. It was leaking oil and started on fire. There are many recalls and law suits regarding this matter and we shouldn’t be on the hook for putting a new engine in.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH there was a loud rattling sound that came from under the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact then pulled over safety. The contact stated there were parts of the vehicle that fell onto the highway. When the contact was on the side of the vehicle they checked under the hood, and located smoke and fire from the engine. The contact exhausted the flames with liquid from a nearby dri
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine located on the rear driver's side had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was not provided. The cause of the failure was not yet been determined. A Police report was not filed. There were no occupants at the time of the failure. The
Driving on the highway when all the lights on the dashboard came on and heard a loud sound. Pulled over and noticed flames coming out. The front part of the car 911 was called. An incident report was made. The flames were out quickly. The car was towed and is at the dealership.
Children helping to unload groceries from trunk. 2 different kids have burnt their legs on exhaust pipe while leaning into car to reach.
Closed rear hatch door with button on dash (because button on hatch door only works if key is in hand)/walked back to rear of car to walk around/door was still closing and landed forcefully on my head, hitting it 3 times, with no ‘obstacle in path’ safety response, and knocking my feet out from under me, landing me on my butt/door hit head so hard I saw stars, became light-headed, shot pain through my neck/left three bumps on my head, and a headache that has lasted for 3 days/If this had hit a c
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.
Here are some basic facts on what has happened: On August [XXX] I was in my driveway, in Mt Pleasant, SC, when my car rolled down my driveway with my two kiddos inside, resulting in me reacting and getting knocked over by the driver side door and the car running over my chest. I had 5 broken ribs, 4 are now titanium, several broken bones, a punctured lung and a torn acl. There is a police report but do not have to upload right now This was reported and Kia had my car for about a month to inv
Showing the 15 most serious of 351 complaints filed with NHTSA.
