I have never owned a Kia, but I keep seeing more on the streets. I have heard people say they are cheaply made and have many problems, but are they improving now? The Telluride looks great, but is it actually a good SUV?
My wife has one right now. It has confirmed our choice to never buy a Kia or Hyundai again.
She used to have a 2005 Optima and it was a total disaster, but everyone claimed Kias were much better made now. Our local dealership had a good deal on Tellurides that we thought we’d try. We won’t do that again.
It is a nice looking SUV. My wife often says that’s the only good thing about it.
@Carmine
That sounds awful! Yes, it’s gorgeous inside and out! What made her so unhappy with it?
Alex said:
@Carmine
That sounds awful! Yes, it’s gorgeous inside and out! What made her so unhappy with it?
Lots of small issues. Overall, it has not broken down on us, so that’s a plus.
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The wireless charger in the center console rarely works. Your phone must be placed just right, otherwise it disconnects while driving.
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The Bluetooth connection drops often.
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Anything plugged into the USB port in the dash seems to lose connection too, which feels like the port is loose. We’ve tried many cords and phones but keep getting the same issue.
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Occasionally, the infotainment screen powers off while driving, only returning after switching off the car and restarting it. Super helpful when you need the GPS.
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The front radar is miscalibrated and slams on the brakes while on cruise control when going up a hill or around a curve.
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Three pieces of trim (two on the inside, one on the rear bumper) have never fit properly since we got it. The speaker grille on the center of the dash kept popping up, and even after the dealer replaced it, it still does the same thing. Another interior piece broke because it wasn’t attached correctly and got shut in the door.
We have shared all these issues with the dealer and none have been resolved. The front radar slamming on the brakes is our biggest worry, but the dealer just says it’s working fine, and they won’t help unless we pay hundreds for recalibration.
@Carmine
Wow, it can slam on the brakes out of nowhere? That sounds so dangerous! How have you not crashed yet? What if someone is behind you? What year is her Telluride?
Alex said:
@Carmine
Wow, it can slam on the brakes out of nowhere? That sounds so dangerous! How have you not crashed yet? What if someone is behind you? What year is her Telluride?
It’s a 2023. It doesn’t slam the brakes hard enough to lock up, just enough to be really annoying.
We’ve memorized the spots where it happens most often on our drive so we can try to go faster at those spots.
Strangely enough, we got it new. It makes sense if it had been in a collision before, but it hasn’t been in any accidents.
@Carmine
They should really fix that and recalibrate it so it doesn’t keep happening. How hard can that be? I see why they have a good warranty because they really should help you out.
Alex said:
@Carmine
They should really fix that and recalibrate it so it doesn’t keep happening. How hard can that be? I see why they have a good warranty because they really should help you out.
It’s frustrating because I work in collision repair on the insurance side. I’m I-Car platinum certified, and I know exactly what it takes to recalibrate the radar and how long it should take. It shouldn’t be too much to ask.
@Carmine
It shouldn’t be a big deal either. I’m guessing they want to save money so they ignore the problems. They better watch out for lawsuits regarding safety issues.
@Carmine
The other minor issues sound annoying, but the braking situation sounds unsafe. Is there a recall for that?
Dariel said:
@Carmine
The other minor issues sound annoying, but the braking situation sounds unsafe. Is there a recall for that?
Not yet, but there have been several recalls for other issues. The dealer said they couldn’t find anything wrong, and they refuse to help unless we pay out of pocket.
@Carmine
This seems like a situation where video evidence could be useful. It’s easily reproducible. Maybe share that on Twitter.
@Carmine
People claim Kia has improved a lot lately. Look at the first comment. Someone has zero issues after 70k miles? I’d hope so. Normal cars today should last 200k miles.
If Kia can go ten years without systemic engine failures or major theft issues, then you’ll know they are taking quality seriously.
Until then, quality clearly isn’t their priority. They are not the only company that prioritizes features and price over quality. If Toyota was not reliable, nobody would buy them. They are not the fanciest or cheapest either.
@Carmine
Did you get it new from a dealership? If so, you should be able to use lemon law for this car. It really sounds suspicious.
There used to be a year-long waiting list for the Tellurides. I’d be surprised if anyone who told you they are cheap has ever been in one. They’re really nice cars. My parents bought one and drove it for 70,000 miles without troubles. They travel all over the country pulling their camper.
@Bali
That’s good to hear!
Hyundai and Kia are terrible companies that don’t care about their customers and make average cars. There’s plenty of information about their issues out there.
They sell them cheap for a reason.
Caden said:
Hyundai and Kia are terrible companies that don’t care about their customers and make average cars. There’s plenty of information about their issues out there.
They sell them cheap for a reason.
I’ve read and heard that too, but I try to research well. I’m actually leaning towards getting the Acura SUV, but the Telluride is also very attractive.
@Alex
Toyota is the way to go.
Telluride won car of the year from a major media outlet a few years back. And if they do have issues (which they’ve improved a lot on in the last decade), they come with a solid 10 year or 100k mile warranty.