HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

Hyundai Palisade vs Kia Telluride

OUR VERDICT
The Kia Telluride is the stronger buy(5 of 6 categories)
OPTION A

Hyundai Palisade

20202026 · suv

63/100 · Fair
3.0
Recalls / yr
216.1
Complaints / yr
21
Lifetime recalls
1,513
Lifetime complaints
OPTION B

Kia Telluride

20202026 · suv

67/100 · Good
2.0
Recalls / yr
175.0
Complaints / yr
14
Lifetime recalls
1,225
Lifetime complaints

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Every metric is normalized per model year so a long-running nameplate isn't unfairly penalized against a newer rival. The greener cell wins each row.

MetricPalisadeTelluride
Reliability Index
Higher is better
63/10067/100
Best Year Buyer Score
Higher is better
75/100 (2022)80/100 (2021)
Recalls per Year
Lower is better
32
Complaints per Year
Lower is better
216.1175
Injuries + Deaths / Year
Lower is better
6.65
Crash-Involved Complaints
Lower is better
2.2%2.5%
Categories won05

Best Year to Buy — Each Model

Hyundai Palisade
TOP PICK
2022
Buyer Score 75/100
3 recalls · 193 complaints
Full Palisade buyer's guide →
Kia Telluride
TOP PICK
2021
Buyer Score 80/100
1 recall · 221 complaints
Full Telluride buyer's guide →

Most-Reported Problems

Palisade
SEAT BELTS
194
SERVICE BRAKES
174
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
169
ENGINE
143
VISIBILITY/WIPER
138
Telluride
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
220
VISIBILITY/WIPER
181
ENGINE
125
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
106
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
96

Complaint counts across all model years, from NHTSA owner filings. Frequency indicates how often an area is reported, not severity.

The Bottom Line

On the data, the Kia Telluride is the safer used-car bet, winning 5 of 6 categories. It carries a 67/100 Reliability Index versus 63/100 for the Hyundai Palisade, and averages 2.0 recalls and 175.0 complaints per model year (vs 3.0 and 216.1). Whichever you choose, run the specific VIN — a single car's accident and title history can outweigh the model-level averages.

Narrowed it down? Verify the actual car.

This compares models. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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