Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Kia Telluride owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Continues to have issues with dealership to remedy/correct recalls. Have waited for 60+ days since recall remedy was initiated in August 2024 Headlights continue to be a hazzard and due to this we had unfortunate incident of a deer running out and inability to see in the dusk of 6am due to lack of head lights. This has caused immense hardship regarding finances and maintaining a job as we are down one car and Kia has not offered and:or received all parts for any repairs of the recall. Advised if we attempted to fix one recall (power seat) then our "ticket will be closed and you will need to pay out of pocket for the headlights". However this is not consistent or within the regulations of Recalls and good faith attempts. I have already contacted an attorney to pursue legal counsel. …
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while his fianc was driving at an undisclosed speed, she attempted to close the sunroof however, the sunroof became inoperable. The contact stated that upon inspection, he noticed that the sunroof was off track and in a bind. As a result, he was unable to close the sunroof cover. The contact was concerned that the glass would shatter and cause an injury. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was able to schedule an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was able to leave a voicemail but had not yet received a response. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000. The contact stated that since the sunroof is not securely attached, it could fly off the vehicle at any moment regardless of the speed.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to close after being opened. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the cables for the sunroof had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer secured the sunroof using duct tape as a temporary fix. The contact found information on Technical Service Bulletin, NHTSA ID: 10239743 (Visibility, Structure), which was related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield cracked without impact. The vehicle was taken to the local glass repair shop and the windshield was replaced. The contact stated that the failure recurred approximately six months later. During the failures, there was no impact to the windshield to cause the crack. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.
My wife and I purchased a 2020 KIA Telluride in November of 2019. A few weeks after we took delivery we received the attached letter dated 12-9-2019 from KIA stating there may be an issue with the windshield cracking and that they would replace the windshield if this happened. This did happen and KIA replaced the windshield on 03-26-2020 at no charge as they had stated in the letter we received. On the morning of 6-5-2021 I moved the Telluride out of the garage to the driveway, when I went to move it back in a couple of hours later the windshield was cracked across the drivers field of vision. We called the dealership (Moritz) and made an appointment for 6-22-2021 (we were on vacation from 6-9-2021 until 6-19-2021) to have the windshield replaced. …
I have replaced the windshield twice. A small pebble hit it in both incidents. It went from an invisible nick to cracks over 1 foot in length after driving no more than 5 miles to my destination. The cracks continued to grow to about 2 feet in length overnight. Kia sent me a letter which I did not realize until a few months after the first replacement acknowledging there was an issue and was gracious enough to reimburse me for the first one. I assumed they also fixed the manufacturing process of the windshields as well but ended up with the same issue with the first replacement. I find this to be a safety issue outside of the inconvenience and the second one I did not get reimbursed for. The structural integrity of the windshield is immediately compromised. You are not given a chance to get off the road before something worst could occur like the windshield fully shattering. …
High beam lights do not work. It shows them on but they never turn on. We found out driving on a mountain road in NM that had no street lights. We had to slow down to 10 miles an hour because it was so dark and we couldn't see. It was scary and dangerous. We wouldn't have been able to react in time if a deer or other animal ran into the street. We looked it up and saw it was a known problem. We checked it numerous times, and it never worked. The driver's side window won't close all the way. It has a 1/2 in gap. The only way to get it to stay closed when we are not in the car is to hold the window lever up, turn off the car, and open the door. However, as soon as you start the vehicle, it drops down again. It also doesn't open all the way when you click the down level. It stops about a 1/2 inch left showing. …
It took 8 months to repair the Recall #SC299B HALOGEN HEADLAMP-BOTH. Repair was done 04/03/2025, which appears to have not last long as high beam is low again and I am afraid to drive in early morning, dusk, or evening due to the timid, low bearing high beams. This is very unsettling as we have made three complaints due to negligence and lack of efficiency for recall repair, being in an accident due to not seeing a deer run across and we hit it, as well as, failed state inspection due to light issues (twice) that negatively impacted financial stability and job security as one driver has to have a clear safety inspection in order to work. Kia corporate has been contacted 6 times via email and called back to discuss ongoing issues, however, there does not appear to be any resolution and/or willingness to discuss ongoing issues with our car. …
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned? The windshield wiper system failed. The design of the cowl area (under the hood) allows snow and sleet to accumulate and become compacted. This creates a physical obstruction that prevents the wiper linkage from moving, leading to total wiper failure. Availability: The system is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was safety put at risk? Safety was compromised due to a sudden loss of visibility during inclement weather. The inability to clear snow and sleet from the windshield while driving created a blind operating environment, significantly increasing the risk of a crash or striking an unseen hazard. 3. Has the problem been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealership or independent service center. 4. …
basically the windshield is defective this model and Dan Obrien Kia Concord New Hampshire (lynn/ in service took pictures and said it would be two days to order it in ? says that they're not gonna handle it basically even though they have for others? I got this info from Kia consumers affairs case# 14813171 Mike and Kayla . I've talked to Kia consumer affairs and haven't got an answer but they were quicker to respond. Dan O'Brien never responded back to me. so the window started with a 4 to 6 inch crack now it's been two weeks no answers other than no and Kia directly said that the Vin is within the guidelines of the letter that they circulated so they replaced it for others but they can't do this one? I keep getting the phone tag game transferred to different states and also they're not covering their warranty that they promised. On drive train
Window & Wiper complaints in other Telluride years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2020 Kia Telluride?
NHTSA has 151 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2020 Kia Telluride, 19% of the model year's 776 complaints. The component named most often is sun/moon roof assembly (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Kia Telluride window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2020 Kia Telluride, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Kia Telluride window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 5,000 miles, and 94% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.