The Telluride is big, heavy and often loaded with kids, gear and a trailer. All of that is hard on brakes. If yours is squealing, grinding or the pedal feels soft, here's what you're looking at, model year by model year.
Two generations, one name
| Generation | Model years | Brake notes |
|---|---|---|
| First gen | 2020-2025 | V6, four-wheel discs, electronic parking brake |
| Second gen | 2027 and up | 2.5-liter turbo or 2.5-liter turbo hybrid; four-wheel discs; hybrid adds regenerative braking |
Kia skipped the 2026 model year to bring the second-gen 2027 Telluride out sooner, per Kelley Blue Book. The turbo hybrid makes 329 hp and the gas turbo 274 hp. The hybrid's regenerative braking means the electric motors slow the SUV and recharge the battery, so the friction brakes do less of the work. Toyota hybrid owners commonly report very long pad life for the same reason, though nobody has long-term data on the new Telluride yet.
What a Telluride brake job costs
| Job | Estimated cost | Source / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pads, one axle (2023-2025) | $378-$435 | RepairPal |
| Pads plus rotors | Pad price plus rotors and extra labor | Get a written quote |
| Dealer pads, rotors and fluid | One 2022 owner reported paying about $900 | NHTSA complaint, single owner |
| Worn pads under Kia warranty | $0 only within 1 year/12,000 miles and only if defective | Kia Brake and Clutch Linings coverage |
RepairPal's numbers are fair-price estimates and vary by zip code. RepairPal didn't show a separate 2027 figure when checked.
What owners have reported (2020-2025)
NHTSA complaints for first-gen Tellurides include:
- Spongy or soft pedals and brakes that needed pumping (2020).
- Rear pads and rotors worn out at about 38,000 miles on a 2020, found during a dealer inspection.
- A brake pedal that went to the floor on 2024 models, in a couple of reports.
- The parking brake setting itself whenever the SUV goes into Park, which owners link to the software fix from the rollaway recall (see our rollaway recall guide). That's by design, not a brake failure, but it surprises people.
Complaints are owner reports, not confirmed defects. Still, a soft pedal on any Telluride is a park-it-now problem.
Recalls that affect braking
- 22V509000 (2022 Telluride) and 25V745000 (2025 Telluride): some SUVs shipped with the wrong spare tire, which can impair the ABS and traction control when installed. Free fix at the dealer.
- 20V436000 (2020 Telluride with Smart Cruise Control): trailer brake lights may not light when cruise control applies the brakes.
- 2027 Telluride: NHTSA's list shows seat belt recalls (26V135000 and 26V356000), but nothing for brakes as of October 2026.
Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall work is always free.
Easy things to check first
- Look at the pads through the wheel. Thin pads or a lip on the rotor edge mean it's time.
- Check the brake fluid level under the hood. A low reading can mean worn pads or a leak.
- Notice the pattern. Squeal only on damp mornings is usually surface rust. Grinding every stop is wear.
- Hybrid owners: brake firmly now and then on a safe road. Brakes that rarely work hard can build rust on the rotors.
DIY or shop?
Front pads are doable for a confident DIYer with a torque wrench and jack stands rated for a heavy SUV. Rear pads involve the electronic parking brake, which needs a scan tool service mode. Hybrid models add a high-voltage system and brake-by-wire behavior, so 2027 hybrid owners are better off at a shop that knows Kia hybrids.
What to ask the shop before paying
- "Is this front, rear or both? Pads only or rotors too?"
- "Will you put the electronic parking brake in service mode with a scan tool?"
- "Did you check my VIN for the spare tire ABS recall?"
- "Is my brake fluid due per Kia's schedule?"
- "For my hybrid, are you familiar with Kia's brake service steps?"
Is it worth fixing?
Absolutely. A Telluride is worth far more than any brake job, and a three-row family hauler needs every bit of stopping power. Fix soft pedals right away, replace pads before they hit metal, and let the free recalls handle the rest.
More Telluride help is on our Kia Telluride repair page. Prices checked October 14, 2026.
