2021 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Kia Telluride | 2021 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 362 | 512 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 95 | 180 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–23 | 23–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 3,950 mi | 29,055 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Telluride | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 27 | 219 |
| Engine | 62 | 44 |
| Structure | 33 | 51 |
| Service Brakes | 14 | 66 |
| Visibility/wiper | 63 | 9 |
| Electrical System | 41 | 26 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 42 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 19 | 19 |
| Oil consumption | 19 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 25 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 19 |
| Check engine light | 12 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 33 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 8 |
2021 Kia Telluride
2021 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Kia Telluride vs Toyota Highlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.