Kia Telluride Reliability & Rating Overview

The Kia Telluride reliability scores are consistently among the highest in the class. To give you a taste, the 2025 Telluride earns an 85 out of 100¹ for reliability from automotive connoisseur J.D. Power. This rating alone outpaces the 2025 Hyundai Palisade,¹ the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe,¹ and the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder.¹ Add in its impressive KBB® awards,² a high resale value, and some of the most innovative safety features to help you avoid collisions, and it's easy to see why the 2025 Kia Telluride is an SUV worthy of your consideration.

If dependability is on your must-have shopping list, let this page be your guide. We explore 2025 Kia Telluride reliability, of course, but we also dive into scores and awards since the Telluride debuted for the 2020 model year, as well as maintenance costs and reliability issues. When you're ready for a closer look at the Telluride, a Consumer Reports Recommended SUV,³ our team can give you an in-person tour. Schedule your visit to Wallace Kia of Bristol today.

What Determines Kia Telluride Reliability?

SUV reliability is determined by multiple factors, the most important being engine design, frame materials, and safety systems. The new Telluride hits the mark in all three categories.

First, the Kia Telluride engine has remained consistent since its 2020 model-year launch. A naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V-6 joins forces with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission to churn out 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. What's more, RepairPal.com reports zero problems with the Kia Telluride engine reliability,⁴ so you can expect your powertrain to have a long and healthy life provided it's well maintained.

The 2025 Telluride is also built on a steel unibody frame, a design that has proven to be safer in accidents than body-on-frame SUVs. Unibody vehicles can better absorb impact energy through their crumple zones, and their lower centers of gravity make them less likely to roll. This is further supported by Consumer Reports. The Telluride scores 92 out of 100 in its Road Test category, which evaluates emergency handling, as well as braking capabilities, headlight function, and more.³

In addition to the SUV's numerous driver-assistance systems, which we review below, the 2025 Telluride is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+,⁵ with particularly good scores in crash prevention.⁵ Fewer collisions mean less time in the body shop and less money spent on repairs!

A Quick Look at Kia Telluride Reliability Scores, Ratings & Awards

Kia Telluride Reliability Issues & Maintenance Costs

As you can see in the chart above, the Telluride SUV has wildly encouraging ratings and scores, but every vehicle has its problems. For 2025, Kia did recall certain vehicles to fix one Kia Telluride reliability issue: The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach, posing a road hazard.¹⁷ This is the sole recall at the time of this writing.

As for Kia Telluride maintenance costs, you can expect to save quite a bit of money compared to other three-row SUVs in the same segment. RepairPal.com estimates that new Kia vehicles for sale have an average repair cost of only $474¹⁸ and a 10% probability that a repair will be more intensive,¹⁸ making this automotive brand a dependable investment.

Safety & Driver Aids Are Part of Kia Telluride Reliability

Part of what crafts the reliability of Kia Telluride SUVs is how the model uses next-gen technologies to provide a more dependable ride. For example, every 2025 Kia Telluride comes standard with passive and active driver aids to assist with parking, visibility, and awareness. Plenty of additional driver-assistance features also get unlocked as you move up the trim lineup.

This long list of equipment is just the standard array that you can rely on with every 2025 Kia Telluride:

• Rearview Monitor with Dynamic Parking Guidance
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Forward Collision Warning
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Park Distance Warning-Rear
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Following Assist
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• Rear Occupant Alert with Ultrasonic Sensors
• Safe Exit Assist

Incredible Machine Learning technology is available with Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go on higher-tier trims, as are a 360-Degree Surround View Monitor, a Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Parallel Exit Blind-Spot Collision Warning.

Meet the 2025 Kia Telluride in Bristol, TN

We're not just any Kia dealer in Bristol, TN. We're a group of committed automotive professionals who care about helping you drive home in the best possible vehicle. That's why we create guides like this one. If you and your family need a roomy, comfortable, safe, and reliable SUV, we think you will love the 2025 Kia Telluride – or any model year, for that matter.

Schedule a test drive on the Wallace Kia of Bristol website or stop by our showroom to meet our in-stock Telluride trims in person. Want a sneak peek at the other 2025 Kia Telluride highlights? Here's a snapshot of what you can expect:

• Seat seven or eight occupants and enjoy 21 cubic feet of standard cargo space
• A sunroof is equipped in every trim except the base model, with upper Telluride variants featuring a dual sunroof to let even more of the Bristol blue sky pour into your cabin
• Eight Telluride trims offer a 5,000-pound towing capacity,¹⁹ while the EX X-Pro and SX Prestige X-Pro can tow 5,500 pounds¹⁹
• Need a winter-ready SUV? Numerous variants come with standard all-wheel drive, a center-locking differential, and Snow Mode – three other trims can upgrade from front-wheel drive to these features, too

While you're on our lot for your tour of the latest release, consider asking about our Kia Telluride deals for leasing or financing. These can provide you with tremendous value on your next dream three-row SUV.

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the Kia Telluride?

The Kia Telluride has received high reliability marks from J.D. Power every year since it appeared on the market for the 2020 model year.¹ The Telluride SUV is well-known for its dependable build and engineering, extensive safety systems, and high resale value. It has also been deemed an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ vehicle for three years running.⁵

How does the Kia Telluride compare to other SUVs in terms of reliability?

Next to its top competitors, the Kia Telluride reliability rating from J.D. Power is higher. For example, the Telluride earns an 85 out of 100 score for 2025,¹ with these competitors scoring lower:

• 2025 Hyundai Palisade: 84 out of 100¹
• 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe: 81 out of 100¹
• 2025 Nissan Pathfinder: 84 out of 100¹
• 2025 Toyota Highlander: 84 out of 100¹

How does the Telluride perform in long-term reliability?

With regular maintenance, quality care, and good driving habits, the Kia Telluride can be expected to last up to 200,000 miles or more. It has excellent safety features and a robust design, supporting its impressive reliability scores and other general ratings from reputable sources. For a more in-depth look at Kia Telluride reliability, get in touch with our team today.

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¹Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.jdpower.com/cars/.

²Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.kbb.com/kia/telluride/.

³Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, Consumer Reports members can visit https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/kia/telluride/2025/overview/.

⁴Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://repairpal.com/cars/kia/telluride/2025.

⁵Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this award, visit https://www.iihs.org/.

⁶Reference to this third-party review/claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.edmunds.com/kia/telluride/.

⁷Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.kbb.com/kia/telluride/2024/.

⁸Reference to this third-party review/claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.edmunds.com/kia/telluride/2024/.

⁹Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.kbb.com/kia/telluride/2023/.

¹⁰Reference to this third-party review/claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.edmunds.com/kia/telluride/2023/.

¹¹Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.kbb.com/kia/telluride/2022/.

¹²Reference to this third-party review/claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.edmunds.com/kia/telluride/2022/.

¹³Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.kbb.com/kia/telluride/2021/.

¹⁴Reference to this third-party review/claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.edmunds.com/kia/telluride/2021/review/.

¹⁵Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.kbb.com/kia/telluride/2020/.

¹⁶Reference to this third-party review/claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For more details, please visit https://www.edmunds.com/kia/telluride/2020/review/.

¹⁷Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

¹⁸Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://repairpal.com/kia.

¹⁹Towing requires additional equipment. See Owner's Manual for towing capacity, additional instructions and warnings. Always use caution while towing.