2020 Kia Telluride maintenance schedule

The 2020 Telluride is part of the ON generation (2020-2026), sold as an SUV. Below: its service intervals with the source behind each one, the fluids it takes, the problems owners report for this year, and the NHTSA recalls issued for it.

Service schedule

What the 2020 Telluride needs, and when

All 12 of these items come from Kia's own published schedule. Manufacturer rows link to Kia's own schedule, Independent rows to a service shop or parts retailer's published guide.

ServiceIntervalSource
Engine oil and filter

5,000 miles severe

7,500 mi / 1 yearManufacturer
Engine air filter

Inspect at 15,000

30,000 mi / 2 yearsManufacturer
Cabin air filter

More frequent in dust

15,000 mi / 1 yearManufacturer
Tire rotation

Crucial for AWD

7,500 mi / 6 monthsManufacturer
Brake fluid

Inspect every 8,000 miles

48,000 mi / 4 yearsManufacturer
Engine coolant

Then every 24,000 miles / 24 mo

120,000 mi / 10 yearsManufacturer
Transmission fluid

Inspect at 60,000; replace severe

Inspect, replace as neededManufacturer
Spark plugs

Platinum / Iridium

97,500 miManufacturer
Serpentine belt

Inspect; replace if worn

60,000 mi / 4 yearsManufacturer
Differential and transfer case fluid (AWD)

AWD Severe

72,000 miManufacturer
PCV valve

Inspect at 15,000

Inspect, replace as neededManufacturer
12V batteryInspect, replace as neededManufacturer

Intervals are for normal driving; towing, short trips, extreme heat or dust shorten them.

Fluids and engines

What goes in it

Engine oil
5W-30, 6.9 qt
Coolant
Ethylene Glycol
Transmission fluid
SP-IV-RR

Powertrains in this generation

  • 3.8L 6-cyl (Lambda II GDI), 291 hp, 8AT, FWD / AWD

Confirm the exact spec against the owner's manual or the label under the hood; capacities vary by engine and drivetrain.

Known problems

What 2020 Telluride owners run into

Problems reported for this model year, with the mileage they tend to show up at. Buying past a window is not automatically a pass - it just needs to be priced in.

High oil consumption

high severity

60,000-130,000 mi · $4,000-$6,000 to fix

Burning 1 qt per 500 mi

Source: reddit.com

Timing chain tensioner

high severity

80,000-120,000 mi · $1,500-$1,884 to fix

Rattle at startup

Source: copilotsearch.com

Transmission delay/shudder

medium severity

30,000-70,000 mi · $1,000-$3,500 to fix

Torque converter hesitation

Source: usedcaryear.com

Safety recalls

7 NHTSA recalls for the 2020 Kia Telluride

From NHTSA's recall database, matched by model and year. Recall repairs are free at Kia dealers, and a given car may already be fixed or fall outside a campaign, so check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

July 2026

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.

Remedy: 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 Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.

June 2024

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.

Remedy: 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.

Power train

NHTSA 24V214000

March 2024

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.

Remedy: 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.

Exterior lighting

NHTSA 24V148000

February 2024

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The high beam headlights may fail.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the high beam headlights, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC299.

Trailer hitches

NHTSA 22V626000

August 2022

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.

Remedy: 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.

Forward collision avoidance

NHTSA 20V436000

July 2020

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC). When a trailer is connected to the vehicle, the trailer brake lights will not illuminate when the SCC applies the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wire harness to the main fuse box to signal the trailer brake lights, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC194.

Seat belts

NHTSA 19V594000

August 2019

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Telluride vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second, and/or third row seats may not tightly secure a child restraint system in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies. The repair will also include replacing the driver's seat belt which has a non-U.S. specified label, with a U.S. specification seat belt. The repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC181.

Running costs

What maintenance typically costs

A typical year of maintenance
$542
Five years of maintenance
$2,710
The major service near 100,000 mi
$900

Typical US independent-shop estimates for this generation; they vary by region and condition.

Other Telluride model years

ON (2020-2026)

Shopping new? The Kia Telluride guide covers the current model, with what it costs to keep for 1 to 15 years.

Sources

Researched 2026-09-16. Modeling, not mechanic advice - always confirm against your car's owner's manual and service records.

Running a Telluride for income?

Carlyle scores the exact listing on cost per remaining mile and projected Turo income, so you know what a 2020 Telluride earns before you buy it.

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