Last updated: 2026-05-15
Chevrolet Blazer vs KIA Telluride: Reliability Compared
Chevrolet Blazer
KIA Telluride
Choosing between the Chevrolet Blazer and the KIA Telluride? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Chevrolet Blazer currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Chevrolet Blazer and KIA Telluride Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Chevrolet Blazer is more reliable than the KIA Telluride, scoring 74/100 vs 66/100.
The Chevrolet Blazer outperforms the Kia Telluride in terms of reliability, with a higher average reliability score of 82/100 compared to the Telluride's 71/100. The Blazer also has a significantly lower owner complaint rate of 2.1 per 10,000 units sold, while the Telluride reports 23.3 complaints per 10,000 units. Additionally, the Blazer has fewer recalls over a longer period and slightly lower estimated annual repair costs at $521 versus the Telluride's $573. These factors make the Chevrolet Blazer a more reliable choice in the midsize SUV segment.
Key Differences
- 1Chevrolet Blazer costs $52 less per year to repair
- 2Chevrolet Blazer has 21.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Chevrolet Blazer scores 8 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Chevrolet Blazer vs KIA Telluride: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Chevrolet Blazer | KIA Telluride |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 74/100 | 66/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 6 |
| Total Recalls | 19 | 27 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 2.1 | 23.3 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $521/yr | $573/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.4/yr |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 5 | 1 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Blazer and KIA Telluride?
The Kia Telluride exhibits a higher volume of complaints, particularly in the categories of visibility/wiper and electrical system, with the latter having more crash-linked incidents compared to the Chevrolet Blazer. The Blazer, while having fewer total complaints, shows a concentration of issues in the power train and electrical system categories, though with fewer crash-linked incidents than the Telluride. Both vehicles have notable concerns with their power train and service brakes, but the Telluride has a higher number of crash-linked complaints in the service brakes category. Overall, the Telluride's visibility/wiper issues and crash-linked electrical system complaints are areas of concern, whereas the Blazer's primary issues are less crash-centric.
| Component | Chevrolet Blazer | KIA Telluride |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.3Very Low | 4.4Average |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 4.2Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | 2.8Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 2.5Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.4Very Low | 1.7Low |
| ENGINE | 0.2Very Low | 1.9Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.3Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| PARKING BRAKE | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Blazer or KIA Telluride?
How Does Chevrolet Blazer vs KIA Telluride Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Chevrolet Blazer | KIA Telluride | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77/1004R / 26C | 78/1002R / 32C | KIA Telluride |
| 2024 | 70/1006R / 99C | 69/1004R / 180C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2023 | 78/1002R / 29C | 68/1005R / 161C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2022 | 79/1001R / 33C | 63/1006R / 280C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2021 | 74/1001R / 104C | 63/1004R / 280C | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 2020 | 71/1003R / 178C | 55/1006R / 667C | Chevrolet Blazer |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer scored 79/100 and the 2025 KIA Telluride scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Blazer vs the KIA Telluride?
Chevrolet Blazer vs KIA Telluride: Common Questions
- Is the Chevrolet Blazer more reliable than the KIA Telluride?
- Based on our data, the Chevrolet Blazer is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Blazer or the KIA Telluride?
- The KIA Telluride has more recalls (27) compared to the Chevrolet Blazer (19). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Blazer or the KIA Telluride?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Blazer has a lower complaint rate at 2.1 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 23.3 for the KIA Telluride. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Blazer or the KIA Telluride?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Chevrolet Blazer is cheaper to maintain at $521/year versus $573/year for the KIA Telluride.
- Is the Chevrolet Blazer or KIA Telluride safer?
- Both the Chevrolet Blazer and KIA Telluride received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Chevrolet Blazer and KIA Telluride? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue