2021 Kia Telluride Safety Rating — 5 Stars Overall
NHTSA rates the 2021 Kia Telluride 5 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. Check a specific Telluride’s crash and title history below.
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2021 Kia Telluride— By the Numbers
- Overall rating
- 5★
- Frontal crash
- 4★
- Side crash
- 5★
- Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
- 14.3%
- Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
- 5
Overall rating
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
Quick Answer
- What is the 2021 Kia Telluride safety rating?
- NHTSA rates the 2021 Kia Telluride 5 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
- Did NHTSA test every part of the 2021 Kia Telluride?
- Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD.
- Does the 2021 Kia Telluride have recalls or complaints on file?
- NHTSA's record for this version lists 5 recall campaigns, 357 owner complaints and 0 investigations. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
2021 Kia Telluride crash-test ratings
Top marks in the side and pole tests; frontal and rollover came in lower, though driver and passenger scored alike up front.
NHTSA rates the 2021 Kia Telluride 5 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover.
The frontal crash is the only test where this Telluride fell short of the top, for driver and passenger alike, whether the example is front-drive or all-wheel drive. Its complaint file also runs far longer than its recall list, so read the owner complaints before a test drive.
Recalls, complaints and investigations
NHTSA keeps these alongside the crash-test results for the 2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD. They answer a different question: not how the vehicle was built to perform in a crash, but what owners and the agency have reported since.
A recall campaign covers a range of vehicles; whether the repair was done on a particular car is a per-VIN question. Check open recalls by VIN.
What NHTSA did — and did not — test
A star rating is only as complete as the tests behind it. This is which of NHTSA's four crash tests the 2021 Kia Telluride actually went through.
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD.
The rating is for the TellurideNHTSA crashed. Check the one you’re buying.
Salvage and rebuilt brands, reported accidents and odometer records follow the VIN.
Inspecting a used 2021 Telluride
The ratings describe the Telluride as it left the factory. A car that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt, or had its airbags replaced is no longer the car NHTSA tested.
Go over the front structure for signs of repair: uneven hood and fender gaps, paint overspray on the rubber seals, and wrench marks on the fender and bumper bolts. The frontal crash is the weaker test here, so the quality of any front-end repair matters most.
Forward collision warning and lane departure warning are listed as standard, so test them on the drive. The cluster should show no driver-assist warnings, and the lane alert should respond when you drift toward a clear painted line without signalling.
Rollover also came in below the side results. Sight along the roof from behind for ripples, and check the windshield edges for messy or uneven adhesive, since roof damage often takes the glass with it.
Every rated version of the 2021 Kia Telluride
NHTSA rates body styles and drivetrains separately, and the results are not always the same. Match the version to the car you are looking at.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 14.3% |
| 2021 Kia Telluride SUV FWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 15.5% |
How NHTSA's current ratings work
NHTSA announced new NCAP crash tests and rating criteria in July 2008, including a new overall rating that combines the frontal, side and rollover results. It then postponed the change by a year: the new criteria apply to vehicles tested beginning with model year 2011, not 2010 as first announced.
In NHTSA's own words, its rollover resistance ratings “estimate the risk of rollover if a vehicle is involved in a single-vehicle crash.”
One limit applies to every vehicle here. NHTSA notes that the frontal crash rating “depends on vehicle mass, and cannot be compared across vehicle weight classes” — a full-size truck's frontal stars and a compact car's are not the same measure.
- Federal Register, 73 FR 79206 (Dec. 24, 2008) — new NCAP criteria begin with model year 2011
- Federal Register, 73 FR 40016 (July 11, 2008) — NCAP testing and rating changes, including the overall rating
- Federal Register, 68 FR 59250 (Oct. 14, 2003) — NCAP rollover resistance ratings
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Compare and keep going
Nearby model years and the same make, rated by NHTSA.
5 stars overall
5 stars overall
Rated before the current program
4 stars overall
Whether a recall was repaired on one specific car.
Reported crashes and damage after the car left the factory.
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2021 Kia Telluride Safety FAQ
What NHTSA’s record shows for this model year, and what it cannot tell you about one car.
What is the 2021 Kia Telluride safety rating?+
NHTSA rates the 2021 Kia Telluride 5 out of 5 stars overall — 4 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
Did NHTSA test every part of the 2021 Kia Telluride?+
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2021 Kia Telluride SUV AWD.
Does the 2021 Kia Telluride have recalls or complaints on file?+
NHTSA's record for this version lists 5 recall campaigns, 357 owner complaints and 0 investigations. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
Can I compare the 2021 Kia Telluride's stars with a newer model?+
Yes, with other vehicles rated under NHTSA's current program (model year 2011 onward). Stars from before then came from different tests.
Does a good safety rating mean a used Telluride is safe to buy?+
A rating describes the vehicle as it left the factory. A used Telluride that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt from salvage, or had an airbag replaced is no longer the vehicle NHTSA tested. A VIN check reads its title brands, salvage and accident records from NMVTIS.
Five stars at the factory. What about since?
A crash rating can’t see a salvage title, a rebuilt frame or a replaced airbag. The VIN record can.
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