Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the KIA Telluride?

Based on our data, the GMC Acadia is more reliable with an average score of 69/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the GMC Acadia or the KIA Telluride?

The KIA Telluride has more recalls (27) compared to the GMC Acadia (17). 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 GMC Acadia or the KIA Telluride?

The GMC Acadia has fewer owner complaints (770) versus 1600 for the KIA Telluride. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the GMC Acadia or the KIA Telluride?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Telluride is cheaper to maintain at $573/year versus $734/year for the GMC Acadia.

Is the GMC Acadia or KIA Telluride safer?

Both the GMC Acadia 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.

Last updated: 2026-05-15

GMC Acadia vs KIA Telluride: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

GMC Acadia

Good

KIA Telluride

Good

Choosing between the GMC Acadia 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 GMC Acadia currently leads with an average score of 69/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the GMC Acadia and KIA Telluride Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the KIA Telluride is in its first generation, which debuted in 2019 and received a significant facelift in 2023. Being late in its generation cycle, the Telluride benefits from a mature platform, which typically means most initial issues have been addressed, enhancing its reliability. The GMC Acadia, on the other hand, is in its third generation, which began in 2024. With the Acadia being early in its generation, there may be initial production quirks that could affect its reliability. The second generation saw multiple updates, including a facelift in 2020 and further updates in 2021 and 2022, which helped refine its reliability over time.

Verdict

The GMC Acadia is more reliable than the KIA Telluride, scoring 69/100 vs 66/100.

The KIA Telluride and GMC Acadia both sit in the midsize SUV segment, but they show notable differences in reliability. The Acadia edges out with a higher reliability score of 69/100 compared to the Telluride’s 66/100, and it has fewer recalls over a longer period (17 recalls in 8 years versus 27 in 6 years). However, the Telluride's owner complaint rate is lower at 23.3 per 10,000 units sold, suggesting it may experience fewer issues relative to its sales volume. Additionally, the Telluride offers a lower estimated annual repair cost of $573 compared to the Acadia’s $734, making it a slightly more cost-effective choice for maintenance.

Key Differences

1KIA Telluride costs $161 less per year to repair
2GMC Acadia has 10 fewer total recalls
3GMC Acadia scores 3 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2GMC Acadia

—

1KIA Telluride

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

GMC Acadia vs KIA Telluride: Which Is More Reliable?

GMC Acadia vs KIA Telluride at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	GMC Acadia	KIA Telluride
Reliability Score	69/100	66/100
Years Tracked	8	6
Total Recalls	17	27
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	770	1600
Annual Repair Cost	$734/yr	$573/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.4/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	4	2

What Are the Common Problems With the GMC Acadia and KIA Telluride?

The KIA Telluride exhibits a higher volume of complaints overall, with significant issues in categories such as UNKNOWN OR OTHER and VISIBILITY/WIPER, which are less prevalent in the GMC Acadia. Notably, the Telluride's SERVICE BRAKES complaints, although fewer, have a relatively high crash-link rate, indicating potential safety concerns. The GMC Acadia, while having fewer total complaints, shows a pronounced issue with the POWER TRAIN and a notable rate of crash-linked complaints in its AIR BAGS category, suggesting a specific area of concern. Both models have a comparable number of crash-linked complaints in the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, but the Telluride's issues are more distributed across various components.

GMC Acadia vs KIA Telluride common problem areas comparison
Component	GMC Acadia	KIA Telluride
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	106	301
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	139	191
POWER TRAIN	200	114
VISIBILITY/WIPER	2	288
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	6	172
ENGINE	37	127
SERVICE BRAKES	70	31
STEERING	55	19
STRUCTURE	2	59
AIR BAGS	12	12
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	23	—
SUSPENSION	4	18
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	8	11
VISIBILITY	—	19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	7	11
SEAT BELTS	9	5
SEATS	3	3
FUEL SYSTEM	4	—
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	4	—
LANE DEPARTURE	2	—
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	2	—

Raw complaint counts aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports. Counts vary with sales volume.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: GMC Acadia or KIA Telluride?

The KIA Telluride incurs an annual repair cost of $573, while the GMC Acadia costs $734 per year, leading to a $161 difference annually, which amounts to $805 over five years. Both vehicles share a repair frequency of 0.4 visits per year. However, a significant distinction lies in the major repair risk, with the GMC Acadia bearing a 19% chance of requiring a major repair, whereas this risk is not applicable to the KIA Telluride. For cost-conscious buyers, the KIA Telluride presents a better value, offering lower annual repair expenses and potentially fewer costly repairs in the long run.

How Does GMC Acadia vs KIA Telluride Reliability Compare by Year?

GMC Acadia vs KIA Telluride year-by-year reliability scores
Year	GMC Acadia	KIA Telluride	Edge
2025	76/1000R / 51C	78/1002R / 32C	KIA Telluride
2024	76/1000R / 51C	69/1004R / 180C	GMC Acadia
2023	64/1004R / 37C	68/1005R / 161C	KIA Telluride
2022	66/1003R / 44C	63/1006R / 280C	GMC Acadia
2021	68/1002R / 134C	63/1004R / 280C	GMC Acadia
2020	62/1006R / 84C	55/1006R / 667C	GMC Acadia

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 GMC Acadia scored 76/100 and the 2025 KIA Telluride scored 78/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the GMC Acadia vs the KIA Telluride?

If you prioritize lower annual repair costs and are concerned about frequent repairs, the KIA Telluride might be the better choice for you. With an estimated annual repair cost of $573 and a repair frequency of 0.4 per year, it offers a more budget-friendly maintenance profile compared to the GMC Acadia. However, keep in mind that the Telluride has 27 total recalls and a slightly higher number of owner complaints per 10,000 sold, which could suggest potential issues, particularly with visibility, wipers, and the electrical system. On the other hand, if you value a higher reliability score and fewer recalls, consider the GMC Acadia. With a reliability score of 69/100 and 17 total recalls, it presents a slightly more reliable option. However, its estimated annual repair cost is higher at $734, and there's a noted 19% risk of major repairs, which might be a concern if you're risk-averse. The Acadia's main issues are related to the power train and electrical system, so weigh these factors based on your priorities.

GMC Acadia vs KIA Telluride: Common Questions

Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the KIA Telluride?: Based on our data, the GMC Acadia is more reliable with an average score of 69/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the GMC Acadia or the KIA Telluride?: The KIA Telluride has more recalls (27) compared to the GMC Acadia (17). 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 GMC Acadia or the KIA Telluride?: The GMC Acadia has fewer owner complaints (770) versus 1600 for the KIA Telluride. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the GMC Acadia or the KIA Telluride?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Telluride is cheaper to maintain at $573/year versus $734/year for the GMC Acadia.
Is the GMC Acadia or KIA Telluride safer?: Both the GMC Acadia 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.

More GMC Acadia comparisons

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More KIA Telluride comparisons

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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.

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