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2020 Kia Telluride

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Telluride.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2020 Kia Telluride launched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 19/24/21 mpg city/highway/combined, establishing the baseline for what would become a multi-year model run. It also holds the unenviable position of being the most complaint-heavy year across the 2020–2027 span, with 736 total owner complaints — led by exterior lighting issues — and seven recalls to its name. With complaints falling to as few as 10 by 2027, the 2020 stands as the model's early trouble spot, meaning anyone researching this vehicle should weigh its first-year growing pains against the steady improvement that followed.

Model year2025 2023 2022 2021 2020

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy19/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire size245/50R20 102VOEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	196.9 in
Overall width	78.3 in
Overall height	69.3 in
Wheelbase	114.2 in
Curb weight	4343 lb
Track (front / rear)	66.9 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 24 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	157 cu ft
Cargo volume	21 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Telluride of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.9–7.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.90 sec — 2020 S

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2020	S 3.8L V6	6.90 sec	15.20 sec	291 hp	FWD
2020	SX 3.8L V6	7.00 sec	15.30 sec	291 hp	AWD
2020	SX 3.8L V6	7.10 sec	15.40 sec	291 hp	AWD
2020	SX 3.8L V6	7.20 sec	15.40 sec	291 hp	AWD
2020	SX 3.8L V6	7.20 sec	15.40 sec	291 hp	AWD
2020	SX 3.8L V6	7.30 sec	15.50 sec	291 hp	AWD
2023	SX Prestige 3.8L V6	6.70 sec	15.10 sec	291 hp	AWD
2023	SX Prestige X-Line 3.8L V6	6.80 sec	15.10 sec	291 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 79-94 ft-lbs.

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	87.0-104.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	53.0-56.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	15.0-23.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

79-94 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity	2.04-2.14 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	7.06-7.76 oz

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)

70.0-75.0 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 19.0-
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	72.0-87.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor Torque	Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: 1.024; Rear: .354
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	Front: NS, Rear: .0002
Maximum Rotor Runout	.0016

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

28-30.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 118-122°, Step 3: 88-92°, Step 4: External Head Bolt: 13.7-17.5

28–30 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 97,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 30,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 37,500 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Kia Telluride occupies the peak of the generation's complaint arc, registering 736 federal complaints—more than double the 334 seen in 2021—with a steady downward trend continuing to just 89 by 2025. It also carries the generation's highest volume of Technical Service Bulletins (145) and the only federal investigation (1), whereas recalls remain relatively consistent across all model years. The 2020 model's primary trouble spots are Exterior Lighting (163 complaints), Visibility/Wiper (121), Unknown or Other (89), and Engine (85), alongside 8 crash and 8 fire complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. As the inaugural model year absorbing the steepest early-generation teething problems, the 2020 Telluride carries a disproportionate reliability burden compared to its immediate successors. Given this stark first-year risk profile, you should skip the 2020 model and opt for a 2021 or newer version to ensure a significantly more trouble-free ownership experience.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

145

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

736

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 8 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’20’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’27

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 736 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting163

Visibility/Wiper121

Unknown Or Other89

Engine85

Structure39

Power Train33

Suspension20

Electrical System12

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V594000Seat Belts:Rear/OtherReported 13/08/2019

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… 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…

20V436000Electrical System:WiringReported 28/07/2020

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 145 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
WTY045_TSB	2026-06-04	Engine	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET…
TSB_CHA128_CLSD	2026-05-22	Power Train	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT) - CLOSED &…
TSB_CHA129	2026-05-22	Power Train	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin…
WTY045_REIMB	2026-04-30	Engine	WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY045) - This document is a…
WTY045_OWNR	2026-04-30	Engine	WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY045) - This document is the owner…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Telluride. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 Telluride have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Telluride get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.