KiaTelluride2023Overview/kia/telluride/2023/base/

2023 Kia Telluride

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Telluride.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2023 Kia Telluride is paired with an automatic (S8) transmission and EPA fuel-economy ratings of 18/24/21 mpg. Reliability data for this model year shows 196 owner complaints, with “Unknown Or Other” logged as the top complaint area and six recalls issued. Set against the Telluride’s 2020–2027 complaint history—where the 2020 model year peaks at 736 complaints and the 2027 model year registers the lowest total at 10—the 2023 model sits in the middle of the range, reflecting a more moderate complaint load than the launch year while remaining above the lows recorded for later model years.

Model year20252023202220212020

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy18/24/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

Tail / brake / turnEXTOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length196.9 in
Overall width78.3 in
Overall height69.3 in
Wheelbase114.2 in
Curb weight4343 lb
Track (front / rear)66.9 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 24 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume157 cu ft
Cargo volume21 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular 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.

6.7–7.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.70 sec — 2023 SX Prestige
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2023SX Prestige 3.8L V66.70 sec15.10 sec291 hpAWD
2023SX Prestige X-Line 3.8L V66.80 sec15.10 sec291 hpAWD
2023SX Prestige X-Line 3.8L V66.90 sec15.20 sec291 hpAWD
2023SX Prestige X-Pro 3.8L V66.90 sec15.20 sec291 hpAWD
2023SX Prestige X-Pro 3.8L V67.00 sec15.20 sec291 hpAWD
2020S 3.8L V66.90 sec15.20 sec291 hpFWD
2020SX 3.8L V67.00 sec15.30 sec291 hpAWD
2020SX 3.8L V67.10 sec15.40 sec291 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7-9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14-17 ft-lbs

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70.0-75.0 psi

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 96,000 mi; coolant every 24,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 24,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 8,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 8,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 16,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 24,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 40,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level)
At 48,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 48,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
Every 56,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 96,000 miSpark 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 2023 Kia Telluride shows a clear downward trend in federal complaints, dropping to 196 from a peak of 736 in 2020, reflecting progressive refinements in its first generation. Recalls remain relatively stable at six for 2023, consistent with the 5–7 range seen annually since launch, while investigations and crash-related complaints (five) remain low. Complaint categories for 2023 are diffuse, with no single issue dominating—"Unknown or Other" leads at 34, followed by visibility/wiper and electrical system concerns, none of which suggest systemic failures. Compared to 2024’s slight uptick in complaints (203) and ongoing recalls, 2023 sits near the generation’s maturity phase, benefiting from early production corrections without the uncertainty of a full model-year refresh. Fire-related complaints are minimal (two), aligning with the broader safety record. **This positions the 2023 Telluride as a strong used buy, offering improved reliability and lower risk than earlier model years.**

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
69
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
196
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 2 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

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 196 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other34
Visibility/Wiper19
Electrical System17
Structure9
Power Train8
Engine7
Suspension7
Unknown Or Other,Visibility5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

23V035000Air Bags:Side/WindowReported 29/01/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact…

23V298000Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/PanelReported 26/04/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing… Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 69 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
WTY045_TSB2026-06-04EngineTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET…
TSB_ELE4222026-05-27Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM…
TSB_CHA1292026-05-22Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin…
WTY045_REIMB2026-04-30EngineWARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY045) - This document is a…
WTY045_OWNR2026-04-30EngineWARRANTY 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.

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 Telluride have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Telluride get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 24 highway / 21 combined mpg.