Buying a used Kia Telluride mostly means choosing between the 2020-2022 trucks and the refreshed 2023-2026 trucks, all with the same 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic. The 2027 redesign switched to a 2.5-liter turbo four and a hybrid, so it is a different SUV. Then check, by VIN, the power seat fire recall and its 2026 re-recall, the rollaway driveshaft recall, and whether the windshield and rotors have been replaced.
We decoded Telluride VINs in NHTSA's vPIC decoder on October 13, 2026, from a 2020 EX to a 2025 S. Every one started with 5XYP, came back as Kia Georgia in West Point, and returned the GDI Lambda-II 3.8 V6 with all-wheel drive on the patterns we tried. So the engine never changes in the used market. What changes is trim, equipment and recall status. For the other VIN positions, see our Kia VIN decoder.
2020-2022 or 2023-2026
The 2023 refresh is where the X-Line and X-Pro trims showed up. In its 2023 test, Car and Driver said both X trims get standard all-wheel drive and 8.4 inches of ground clearance versus 8.0 on other trims, and the X-Pro adds 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and a stronger cooling fan that raises max towing by 500 pounds to 5,500. The 2023 update also brought new tech, and prices rose $1,700 to $2,900 that year. MotorTrend's X-Pro test noted some vibration through the seat over rough pavement. So if you never leave the pavement, an X-Pro mostly buys you louder tires.
The 2020-2022 trucks are the value play, and they hold up well. Car and Driver ran a 2020 SX for 40,000 miles and averaged 21 mpg, with scheduled maintenance every 7,500 miles costing $120 to $161. In its long-term wrap-up, the only problems were warped brake rotors and a replacement windshield, and the magazine said Kia ran a customer satisfaction campaign to replace cracked windshields for free on early-build Tellurides. On an early 2020 truck, look at the glass and ask for the brake receipts. A pulsing pedal on the test drive is a negotiating point.
The recalls that matter, and the re-recall trap
The power seat fire campaign is the one that catches people. Recall 24V-407 covered about 462,900 2020-2024 Tellurides whose front power seat motor can overheat from a stuck slide knob and start a fire while parked or driving; owners were told to park outside. Then in July 2026 Kia filed 26V-430 for the same population, citing the same failure or an improper 24V-407 repair, with dealers installing an electronic fuse and owner letters expected around August 13, 2026. So a seller who says "the seat recall was done in 2024" may be telling the truth and still be selling you an open recall. Run the VIN again this month.
Recall 24V-214 covers about 427,400 2020-2024 trucks whose intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged, so the SUV can roll away in Park; Kia told owners to set the parking brake until dealers update the electronic parking brake software and replace damaged shafts. Recall 22V-626 covers about 36,400 2020-2022 trucks with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch wiring module whose circuit board can short and start a fire. That one applies to dealer accessories too, so check it even if the hitch looks aftermarket. Our post on whether CARFAX shows a tow hitch installation explains what the report can and cannot tell you there.
On 2024 models, recall 24V-077 covers about 2,900 trucks whose engine valve springs may break, and the fix is a new engine sub-assembly. It is small, but it is an engine. If you are worried about the wider Hyundai-Kia engine campaigns, our Hyundai-Kia engine recall check shows how to separate the 3.8 V6 notices from the four-cylinder ones. To run the VIN, see checking recalls by VIN.
Three-row shopping traps
Seat count varies, so count belts before you agree on a price. Car and Driver's 2020 long-termer had second-row captain's chairs, and its current Telluride page lists seven or eight seats depending on trim. A listing that just says "third row" tells you nothing. Fold every row, work the latches, and check the second-row seat motors on trucks that have them. Then read the ownership lines for rental or fleet use. If the Telluride is too pricey, the used Hyundai Santa Fe guide covers a smaller option.
History and price
CARFAX says its reports draw on DMV, insurer and service records, which is where salvage brands, odometer gaps and accident claims show up. Order it yourself, because a seller's PDF can be edited and a branded title is easy to crop out. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian.
Sources
- NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
- NHTSA: Kia recall report 24V-407 (power seat motor fire)
- NHTSA: Kia recall report 26V-430 (seat motor re-recall)
- NHTSA: Kia recall report 24V-214 (driveshaft rollaway)
- NHTSA: Kia recall report 22V-626 (tow hitch module fire)
- Car and Driver: 2020 Telluride 40,000-mile test
- Car and Driver: 2023 Telluride tested
- MotorTrend: 2023 Telluride X-Pro test
- Car and Driver: Kia Telluride
- CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports
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