2020-2025 Kia Telluride maintenance schedule

The Kia Telluride (2020–2025) pairs a 3.8L GDI V6 (Lambda II) with an 8-speed automatic, in front-wheel drive or AWD. Routine maintenance costs are moderate for its size: expect about $245–$490 per year for scheduled services at an independent shop under typical driving, with higher totals if you follow the severe-usage schedule.

This guide covers the 2020–2025 Kia Telluride. The main change across these years is the move from a 7,500-mile service grid in the 2020–2021 manuals to an 8,000-mile grid in the 2022–2025 manuals, and the 2020 manual differs again from 2021 on a few items. The figures below come from the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025 owner's manuals; the 2024 manual was not reviewed, and its values are assumed to match 2022, 2023 and 2025, which agree with each other.

Normal or Severe: Which Schedule Your Telluride Needs

Kia publishes two maintenance tracks for the Telluride. The normal schedule is the set of intervals for everyday driving. The severe schedule is a shorter set of intervals for vehicles used in harder conditions, and the owner's manual lists the qualifying conditions next to each severe item.

Severe service shortens the oil interval and adds a transmission fluid replacement that the normal schedule does not include. If your driving matches a condition on the manual's severe list, use the severe intervals for the items that condition covers.

Complete Maintenance Schedule

The table below lists the scheduled services from Kia's manuals for the 2020–2025 Telluride. Where the manuals list different intervals by model year, each figure is labeled with its years. A dash in the severe column means this guide lists no separate severe figure for that item; check the severe-usage table in your owner's manual. Shop costs are 2026 national averages for independent shops; DIY costs are parts-only estimates.

Oil Change: Type, Capacity, Interval, and Cost

The correct oil for a 2022–2025 Telluride is 5W-30 full synthetic meeting ACEA A5. The 2020–2021 manuals call for 5W-30, ACEA A5 or above, and do not use the words "full synthetic." Kia lists the capacity as 6.87 quarts for a drain and refill in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2025 manuals; the 2023 manual lists 7.08 quarts. After a change, fill to the full mark on the dipstick.

Kia's normal oil-change interval moved with the 2022 manuals to 8,000 miles / 12 months. The 2020–2021 manuals use 7,500 miles / 12 months. The severe intervals are 5,000 miles / 6 months (2022–2025) and 3,750 miles / 6 months (2020–2021).

Oil Change Cost Comparison (2026 estimates)

DIY notes: confirm the filter part number for your model year before buying. Expect 30–60 minutes for a DIY change if you have basic tools and ramps. Use the drain-plug torque from the service manual and dispose of old oil at a recycling point.

Brake Service

Telluride brake pads wear at a rate that depends on driving style and weight carried; expect 30,000–55,000 miles for typical owners. Heavier towing, city driving, or hard braking shortens pad life. Have the brakes checked at each tire rotation.

When pads reach about 2–3 mm of friction material, replace them. Signs you need service include grinding noises, vibration under braking, or a longer stopping distance.

Brake fluid follows the model-year split in the table above: replacement every 48,000 miles / 48 months on 2022–2025 models and every 60,000 miles / 48 months on 2021 models, while the 2020 manual schedules inspection only. If you feel pulsation under braking, have a shop measure rotor runout.

Tire Service

Rotate the tires on Kia's schedule: every 8,000 miles (2022–2025), 7,500 miles (2021), or 6,500 miles (2020). Tire sizes vary by trim; check the door placard before buying replacements. Rotations even out wear between the front and rear axles.

Signs it is time to replace tires: tread depth at or below 2/32", sidewall damage, cracking, or repeated punctures. Expect a set of four replacement tires to cost roughly $700–$1,200 depending on size and brand, or about $150–$320 per tire. A rotation at a shop runs $25–$50, and tire retailers commonly include free rotations with a tire purchase.

Fluid Section

Transmission fluid. The only transmission fluid service Kia schedules for the Telluride's 8-speed automatic is a replacement under severe use: every 56,000 miles (2022–2025) or every 60,000 miles (2020–2021). Under normal use the manual says no service is required. A drain-and-fill costs $180–$350 at a shop; DIY parts run about $60–$120.

Coolant. Kia schedules the first coolant replacement at 120,000 miles / 10 years in every manual reviewed. After that, replace it every 24,000 miles / 24 months (2022–2025) or every 30,000 miles / 24 months (2020–2021). Expect $120–$200 at a shop.

Spark plugs. Replace the spark plugs at 96,000 miles (2022–2025) or 97,500 miles (2020–2021), and more frequently under severe use.

Known Issues and Recalls

NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns and 2,059 owner complaints for 2020–2025 Kia Telluride model years (as of November 10, 2026).

Most recent recalls

The 5 most recent of 17 campaigns. Look up any vehicle by VIN with NHTSA's recall lookup.

• NHTSA Campaign 26V430000 (2026-07-02). Component: Seats: front assembly: power adjust

  • NHTSA summary: "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. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed."
  • Affected model years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

• NHTSA Campaign 26V105000 (2026-02-24). Component: Seats: front assembly: recliner

  • NHTSA summary: "Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash."
  • Remedy: "Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat back frame assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning April 24, 2026."
  • Affected model years: 2025

• NHTSA Campaign 25V745000 (2025-10-31). Component: Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire

  • NHTSA summary: "The vehicles are equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, “Tire Selection and Rims.”"
  • Remedy: "Dealers will replace the spare wheel and tire assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2025."
  • Affected model years: 2025

• NHTSA Campaign 25V494000 (2025-07-29). Component: Structure: exterior trim

  • NHTSA summary: "The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle."
  • Remedy: "Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025."
  • Affected model years: 2023, 2024, 2025

• NHTSA Campaign 24V407000 (2024-06-06). Component: Seats: front assembly: power adjust

  • NHTSA summary: "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."
  • Affected model years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Owner-Reported Complaints

• Unknown / Other: 386 complaints (4 crashes, 12 injuries)

  • Owners report a range of miscellaneous issues (trim and interior plastic failures, paint peeling, sunroof mechanism breakage) that do not fall cleanly into other categories; examples include sunroof mechanism plastic snapping and large paint flakes peeling from body panels.
  • Connection to maintenance: Reports in this group are largely cosmetic or body/interior items handled by dealer repair or body-shop work; keep repair records and inspect for recurring failures when scheduling service.

• Visibility / Wiper / Glass: 310 complaints (0 crashes, 0 injuries)

  • Complaints include panoramic sunroof glass failures, spontaneous windshield cracking, and wiper/visibility problems reported by owners.
  • Connection to maintenance: Glass or seal failures typically require replacement; report installation or delamination issues to the dealer for inspection and potential warranty coverage.

• Electrical System: 263 complaints (4 crashes, 4 injuries)

  • Owners report instrument-cluster warnings, infotainment freezes, lighting failures, and airbag warning lights; a subset of reports corresponds with the instrument-cluster recall (NHTSA Campaign 23V298000).
  • Connection to maintenance: Electrical items in this group may be addressed by dealer software updates or part replacement under warranty; thorough diagnostics can require dealer time and occasional module replacement.

• Engine: 220 complaints (0 crashes, 0 injuries)

  • Reports include excessive oil consumption and persistent oil leaks on individual Telluride examples, with multiple owners reporting frequent oil top-offs.
  • Connection to maintenance: Monitor oil level at regular intervals and document consumption; individual cases may require warranty or repair shop intervention depending on diagnosis.

• Exterior Lighting: 194 complaints (1 crash, 0 injuries)

  • Owners describe sudden LED headlamp or daytime-running-light failures and internal headlamp electrical failures.
  • Connection to maintenance: Headlamp module or assembly replacement is commonly needed; individual owners report dealer coverage under warranty or prior service campaigns for related lighting issues.

Annual Maintenance Cost

A realistic annual maintenance budget for a Telluride driven 12,000–15,000 miles per year at an independent shop under normal use is $245–$490. That covers routine oil and filter changes, two tire rotations, filter changes on their intervals, and small repairs.

Example year under normal use (15,000 mi/year, 2022–2025 intervals):

Add periodic items (coolant, spark plugs, transmission service under severe use) on their intervals. Unexpected repairs raise totals.

How to Stay on Schedule

1. Find your model year's manual edition: 2020, 2021, or 2022–2025. The intervals differ between them.
2. Change the oil every 8,000 miles / 12 months on 2022–2025 models or every 7,500 miles / 12 months on 2020–2021 models, and rotate the tires at the same visit (the 2020 manual says every 6,500 miles).
3. Replace the cabin filter every 16,000 miles (2022–2025), 15,000 miles (2021), or 7,500 miles (2020), and the engine air filter every 24,000 miles (2022–2025) or 30,000 miles (2020–2021).
4. Log the long-interval items: brake fluid at 48,000 miles (2022–2025) or 60,000 miles (2021), coolant at 120,000 miles / 10 years, and spark plugs at 96,000 miles (2022–2025) or 97,500 miles (2020–2021).

Frequently Asked Questions

What oil does the Kia Telluride take?

The 3.8L V6 takes 5W-30 meeting ACEA A5. The 2022–2025 manuals specify full synthetic 5W-30, ACEA A5, while the 2020–2021 manuals call for 5W-30, ACEA A5 or above. Capacity is 6.87 quarts for a drain and refill (7.08 quarts in the 2023 manual).

How often should I change the oil on a Telluride?

Follow Kia's normal schedule: 8,000 mi / 12 months for 2022–2025 manuals (7,500 mi / 12 months for 2020–2021). If your driving matches a condition on the manual's severe list, use the severe interval: 5,000 mi / 6 months (2022–2025) or 3,750 mi / 6 months (2020–2021).

Does the Telluride require transmission fluid changes?

For normal driving, Kia lists no scheduled fluid service for the 8-speed automatic. Under severe use, Kia specifies replacement every 56,000 miles (2022–2025) or every 60,000 miles (2020–2021). A drain-and-fill at a shop runs about $180–$350.

How long do Telluride brake pads last?

Expect 30,000–55,000 miles depending on driving style and load. City driving and towing push you toward the lower end of that range. Replacement costs are roughly $250–$450 per axle at an independent shop, and pads with rotors cost more.

What is the coolant service interval?

Kia schedules the first coolant replacement at 120,000 miles / 10 years. After that, replace it every 24,000 miles / 24 months per the 2022–2025 manuals, or every 30,000 miles / 24 months per the 2020–2021 manuals.

How long does the Telluride battery last?

Typical battery life is 3–5 years, shorter in very hot climates or with a lot of short trips. This is a general estimate, not a Kia interval. Battery replacement costs $130–$260 including installation at most retailers.

Track your Telluride's maintenance schedule with Pinion. It loads Kia's recommended intervals by VIN and sends reminders before each service is due.