2023 Kia Telluride Power Train

The AWD couplers continue to fail. We are waiting for the dealer to get parts in so they can be replaced again. The tech stated KIA continues to install defective parts.

In July of 2024 (when the vehicle was a year old) our 2023 KIA Telluride was diagnosed with a faulty 4WD Coupler. We were told to go home with it (320 mile round trip) and return to have it repaired in August. We dropped it off on Aug 5th. On Aug 14th we were told that the new coupler was either faulty from the factory or failed immediately on their test drive. Again we were told to go home with the faulty 4WD Coupler and return in September to replace it again. We traveled back to KIA service Sep 10th and had another new coupler installed. The 4WD Coupler failed again in the early Summer of 2025. On July 9th we dropped the vehicle off for repair. On the 24th we traveled back to pick it up after they had installed the fourth 4WD Coupler this vehicle has had. I have negotiated with KIA Customer Care for a couple months now asking for a replacement vehicle since they are unable to find the underlying cause of these drivetrain failures. They have offered me a $2,199.99 compensation check if I would sign an agreement releasing them from any liability concerning this issue, as well as any other issue that might ever arise with this vehicle. I would also be forbidden to publicize this problem or reveal the settlement details. I am disinclined to accept it. The 4WD coupler is an important component in this vehicle's drivetrain. It is important in safe handling and control. KIA service has sent us on the long round trip home and back again knowing we were driving with a faulty drivetrain component. Judging for some online posts, this problem does not appear to be uncommon. It is reasonable to expect this issue to continue. KIA's plan seems to be to just get me past my warranty period (only about 8,000 more miles) and then any repair costs will be mine. The current and future safety issues obviously are of no concern to them. I currently have no good options. I don't like the idea of selling a vehicle with known safety issues. The repair history will show it to be a "Limon"

Vehicle began to shake when approaching 40mph or greater. Mechanic at dealership stated bolt from driveshaft to rear coupler was missing with two other bolts loose. Missing bolt threads were rusted as if bolt was never installed from factory as vehicle only has 12,000 miles. No warning messages displayed, only symptom was vibrations when approaching 40mph or greater.

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V214000 (Power Train) however, the contact believed that the recall repair did not address a fundamental issue with the transmission and that the transmission should have been the focus of the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had not performed a reasonable recall repair. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the recall repair was completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

When put into Snow Mode the car won't accelerate from a stop at normal speeds. It feels like the car is stuck in neutral and I'm just coasting. It won't accelerate normally until I switch it into another driving mode like Eco. This has caused a few close calls when turning out of driveways or onto busy streets.

THE CAR IS BRAND NEW. A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE, I WAS DRIVING IN SNOW MODE. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, TURNING LEFT. I PROCEDED FORWARD WTIH MY LEFT TURN. I LOST ALL ACCELRATION POWER, CREATING A RISK OF BEING HIT OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEURTAL. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PUSH THE GAS PEDAL. IT DOES NOTHING NOR DOES THE RPM'S MOVE. SWITHING OUT OF SNOW MODE, THE CAR ACCELRATED AS IT SHOULD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE THAN 5 TIMES. EVERY TIME, IT HAS BEEN ON LEFT HAND TURNS FROM A STOP, IN SNOW MODE. I HAVE SOME ON VIDEO. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, OTHER KIA TELLURIDE AND HYUNDAI PALISADE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY TEST DROVE IT BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. SCANNED FOR DTC'S, NONE PRESENT. THEY SAID THE CAR OPERATES AS IT SHOULD. NEVER HAS A WARNING LIGHT SHOWN. ON THE LAST 2 TIMES IT HAPPENED, AFTER ALL ACCELARATION LOST, I HEARD A "CLUNKING NOSE" AND THE CAR JERKED. I THEN SWITCHED OUT OF SNOW MODE AND THE CAR OPERATED AS IT SHOULD. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 100 MILES ON THE NEW CAR. I NOW HAVE AROUND 600.

Lack of acceleration when in snow mode. The car decreased speed and I couldn’t get it to increase The car is at dealership now It has happen 7 times and I haven’t even had my first payment. No warning was given I have a video of it. It will not let me upload it.