2022 Kia Telluride Electrical System Problems

Subject: Safety Concern – Backup Camera Failure Causing Complete Safety System Malfunction (2022 Kia Telluride) I am reporting a safety concern regarding a 2022 Kia Telluride related to the rear backup camera assembly. The backup camera failed due to water infiltration through the camera seal, which entered the camera housing and caused an electrical short. When this occurred, the failure did not only disable the backup camera but caused the entire vehicle safety system to malfunction, disabling multiple safety features until the issue was repaired. When we brought the vehicle to the dealership, they stated that this was not the first Kia Telluride they had seen with the same issue. The quoted repair cost from the dealership was approximately $1,200. I ultimately replaced the camera myself, which restored the safety systems to normal operation. I have retained the failed camera assembly, which clearly shows the location where the seal failed and water entered the unit. Because the failure of this component disables multiple vehicle safety systems, I believe this may represent a broader safety concern if it is occurring in other vehicles. I am submitting this report so the issue can be reviewed for potential defects affecting other vehicles. Vehicle information and additional details can be provided if needed. Thank you. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On January 28, 2026, I brought my vehicle to Kia of Fayetteville for brake pads, rotor replacement, and brake fluid service. I paid approximately $900 for these services and was provided a dealership loaner vehicle. Upon entering the loaner vehicle, I discovered a loaded firearm inside the vehicle as I was gathering my items. The firearm’s serial numbers appeared to be scratched off. Law enforcement was immediately notified. No apology, acknowledgment, or remedial action was taken by dealership management. During this incident, the service manager, Alex Prat, acted in an aggressive, disrespectful, and unprofessional manner. Shortly after retrieving my vehicle, my husband who was driving the vehicle experienced a complete loss of braking ability. The vehicle was towed to another authorized Kia dealership, Southern Pines Kia, where technicians documented that multiple brake system components were improperly installed and/or unsecured, including missing or improperly fastened hardware. The vehicle was deemed unsafe to operate.

Driver LCD screen went blank

Upon starting car, digital odometer cluster is blank. While the cluster is down, the gas tank cap is also unable to be opened. In researching on Google/kia forums, the fix has been to turn off the car, lock the doors and then unlock and restart the car. This is a 2022 and has happened approximately six times since purchase, the most recent time being today’s date again, the Kia forum suggested fix worked to remedy the problem today. Unable to “log these” with the dealership, unless it is brought in for service, but as the online remedy works, no service appointment is needed and therefore cannot on the spot replicate the issue as it randomly occurs. Unaware that these incidents could be logged on this site to establish potential patterns outside previous recalls for same issue.

The infotainment system, which also allows for use of backup cameras and safety alerts went black and has ceased working. Despite a technician diagnosing it to see if it was a simple fix. It looks like a complete malfunction of the unit.

My 2022 Kia Telluride is experiencing several serious safety-related defects. The backup camera does not work, the second-row bucket seats fold up on their own while driving, and the electronic parking brake becomes stuck on and will not disengage. The transmission hesitates and shifts harshly, creating a risk during acceleration and lane changes. The engine is consuming oil between changes. The heating and air conditioning stop working when the vehicle is idling at stoplights, and electrical components including the front phone charger and heated passenger seat have failed. The exterior window trim is deteriorating. These issues are ongoing and have not been resolved by Kia. Several of these failures match known defect and recall categories. These create a significant crash and safety risk for my family. I am requesting investigation and manufacturer action.

2022 Kia Telluride Issues: 1. **Sunroof:** Completely broken. 2. **Exterior Window Moldings:** Fading and discoloration. 3. **Axel Boots:** Need replacement with less than 60,000 miles on the odometer. 4. **Child Lock:** Malfunctioning. -

I am reporting a safety issue with my vehicle’s electronic door locking system. Vehicle: 2022 Kia Telluride SX Prestige with Nightfall Edition Issue: The door locks randomly unlock on their own multiple times without any input. This behavior happens specifically when the child safety lock is enabled. While driving or after locking the vehicle, the locks will unexpectedly unlock, creating a serious safety and security concern. Safety Concern: This issue poses a risk to passengers, especially children, because doors may unlock unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. It also creates a security risk when the vehicle is parked, as the car cannot be reliably kept locked. Additional Notes: I have seen multiple similar complaints from other Telluride owners reporting the same behavior. This appears to be a recurring defect rather than an isolated incident. I am requesting that this issue be investigated for a potential defect and safety recall.

The door locks will continually cycle to unlock on their own for up-to 90 seconds and then an error reads in the dashboard "child safety lock failure." Once that error occurs, the rear doors can be opened from the inside or outside of the vehicle when the child safety lock should be properly functioning. This error has been occurring for more than two years, and we have video of it occurring on many occasions. The dealership will not resolve the error unless they witness the error occurring. We've had it at service at least six times and they claim they cannot duplicate the error. The error occurs daily when the car is in our possession. I have researched this and found many Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade owners who have experienced the same problem and it is always traced to the rear door lock actuators being faulty.

My Kia Telluride backup camera and screen has become unusable with random colors, screen dark spots, blacking out, and pixelation. This is becoming a widespread problem according to multiple message board posts for Tellurides. I cannot use the backup camera. Most users are reporting Kia refuses to cover as a safety issues and is charging over $8000 to replace the entire infotainment system. There were no warnings, just starting happening randomly and is now seemingly permanent.

Sunroof is stuck in an open position unable to be closed. Upon attempting to open the sunroof, the deflector snapped off the assembly and the sunroof track broke. Took car to dealership (Raceway Kia, 4044 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728) for service. Dealership indicated the sunroof is beyond repair and requires installation of an entirely brand new sunroof assembly at a cost of $5730 because it occurred outside the warranty (warranty expired at 60,000 miles and the car had 70,463 miles when sunroof broke). They were unable to manually close the sunroof as a temporary solution. Therefore, the sunroof remains open due to the broken track and is covered with plastic to avoid the elements. There were no prior symptoms indicating that the sunroof would break in this way. In fact, in three years of ownership, the sunroof was rarely used and only opened a handful of times before breaking. At this time of this writing, the sunroof is available for inspection while I look for more economical means of repair versus the dealership's plan to replace the entire assembly.

The sunroof broke while being opened which required immediate repair since it was propped open. The only fix according to the dealer was to replace the entire unit which cost more than $5k with parts and labor

Recall repairs done at original dealership(bought new). Passenger seat components that were repaired started an electrical fire under the passenger seat while vehicle was driving. There was a horrible smell inside the car and coming thru the air vents so I turned the ac off and smoke started billowing from under the seat. Immediately pulled over and removed children from car. Vehicle is available. Incident happened with 1 adult 3 kids in car driving. Dealership towed from side of road and kept in service for 54 days(rental provided) and returned with over 1600 new miles on it with no usage of the vehicle told to me and now the affected seat is not connected into the electrical system of the vehicle. Manufacturer did not choose to inspect. No warnings prior.

Infotainment screen is blank most of the time. Backup camera works intermittently. Dealer confirmed head unit failure and stated software updates cannot be performed. Quoted approximately $7,500 for full replacement. Issue has been occurring for over two years, beginning while vehicle was still relatively new. Creates unsafe reversing conditions due to unreliable federally required backup camera display. Dealer classified as infotainment module failure. No recall issued despite widespread owner reports of similar failures.

The dashboard display went blank while driving down the highway. I could not see my speed, fuel level, or and engine performance indicator lights. I called Kia and found there was a recall for this problem but NOT FOR MY VIN. Well, I have the same dangerous issue as those included in the recall, so I think my vehicle should be recalled immediately. Thank you.

Battery indicator began intermittently flashing on the dash. Then the car shut off mid turn in an intersection with my young kids in the car. Everything shut off without warning including power steering, ABS and so on. Luckily no one crashed into the car

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the tailgate safety sensor failed causing an inadvertent closing of a liftgate on the contact. As a result, the contact received a head concussion and injuries to the neck and spine. The contact received medical attention was the Emergency Room and currently visits a spine interventional pain doctor for neck injections. A dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

The LCD screen in the instrument cluster/combimeter went blank. The LCD display contains information such as digital speedometer, gear selection, odometer, distance-to-empty, and all ADAS information. Problem cannot be reproduced. The phenomena has only presented itseld twice (11/2023 and 3/2024). Certified Kia dealer stated there weren't any signs of failure. Service proceeded to perform a hard restart on the system. There is a similar recall for this phenomena (21V577000).

On two occasions, so far, I have experienced a blank instrument cluster display screen that did not show critical information, including the odometer, transmission gear position, and digital speedometer which could increase the risk of a crash and fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101 The first picture is of the first incident which occurred on [XXX] which shows the blank screen. The second picture was taken on the same date after the screen came back on after driving a short distance and shutting off and restarting the vehicle. The third picture was taken earlier this month on [XXX] showing a new occurrence of a blank screen. Both incidents were reported, including the dates and pictures, when the vehicle was taken to the dealer (Destination Kia in Albany, NY) but the dealer stated that they could do nothing as the problem was not present at the times the vehicle has been there for service and the manufacturer (Kia) indicates that there is no applicable repair or recall to this vehicle. Three pages of a post to a Kia Telluride Owners Facebook page in which an owner posted a picture of a black screen an owner posted yesterday [XXX] showing a picture of the black screen she experienced on her 2022 Telluride and asking if others have experienced this problem. Other forum members responded with their experiences with some saying a cluster replacement was necessary as called for in Recall [XXX] which another responded that a software update resolved the problem per Recall [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash. Same as the 2023 Telluride recall affecting my 2022 (NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V298000)