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2025 Kia Telluride Unexpected Engine Shutdown Problems
Class Action Investigation
Lemberg Law is launching a class action investigation into an unexpected engine shutdown defect affecting 2025 Kia Telluride vehicles. Owners report the engine shutting off without warning while driving, accompanied by an alarm and a dashboard message reading “Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine.” The defect has occurred at intersections and at highway speeds, creating a serious and immediate safety risk.
I’m Sergei Lemberg, a consumer protection attorney who has spent more than two decades representing vehicle owners in lemon law and defect cases. This is not the first time we have looked at the 2025 Kia Telluride. When we wrote our overview of common problems with the 2025 Telluride in April 2026, engine stalling was already emerging as the most frequently reported issue. The complaints have continued to come in since then, and the pattern has become clear enough that we decided to launch a dedicated investigation.
What follows is based on those complaints and our ongoing research into this issue.
What’s the Problem with the 2025 Kia Telluride?
On 2025 Kia Telluride vehicles, the engine shuts off without warning while the vehicle is in motion. An audible alarm sounds and the dashboard instructs the driver to shift to Park or Neutral and restart the engine. Shutdowns have happened mid-turn, in traffic, and on the highway. Dealers have repeatedly been unable to reproduce it.
Owners are reporting similar symptoms:
- Engine shuts off suddenly without warning while driving
- Audible alarm sounds at the moment of failure
- Dashboard displays “Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine”
- No advance warning lights or symptoms before shutdown
- Issue recurs after dealer inspection and repair attempts
- No diagnostic trouble codes stored, leaving dealers unable to identify the cause
- Dealers consistently unable to reproduce the failure
What Are Owners Experiencing?
Here is what Telluride owners are reporting:
“When driving, the vehicle will randomly shut off. Every warning light and alarm goes off. A message displays on the dash to put the vehicle on P or N to turn it back on. This happens unexpectedly. It’s happened about 16 times on the road and 2 times on the highway. This is a huge safety issue. We notified Kia in February of 2026, it’s gone to the service department three times for this specific issue, but they are unable to recreate it and no codes are stored for them to see what it is. We have recorded the vehicle acting up once it’s shut off. This is very dangerous that a new vehicle randomly shuts off, and no one knows what is causing it. Now, it’s at the shop for the fourth time. This time the Kia engineers have asked the service shop to replace the engine harness along with some sensors and send it to them. We have recordings from Kia Corporate stating they dont know what it is. We even have a service tech stating that there are others with this issue but no solution has been uncovered.”
“Twice I was making a right hand turn through a green light and an alarm sounded and the dash displayed an ”Engine Off” message. I was able to pull over and restart the car. I took it to the dealership but they were not able to replicate the incident. They told me that they tightened a few connections and sent me on my way. About three weeks later, I was driving straight at about 45mph and it shut off again. Fortunately I was again able to safely pull over and restart the car. This time I recorded it. I will return it to the dealership ASAP. I am afraid this will happen again while I am on the freeway or in heavy traffic and I won’t be as lucky as I have been.”
“While driving, car alerted “Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine”. I had to immediately pull to the side of the road and follow instructions. Due to previous unresolved issues car has had I recorded the message car was giving.”
“The engine randomly turns off and I get a warning that says Engine Off! Shift to P or N, then start engine This happened recently as my mother in law was making a left hand turn on a busy intersection. If there were other cars coming she would’ve been hit. There are no prior warnings or indications that the car is having any issues. The car has been inspected by the dealership, which has been unable to reproduce the issue.”
Is There a Recall, TSB, or Federal Investigation?
There is currently no recall, technical service bulletin, or NHTSA investigation covering this defect. Owners are relying on dealer visits with little success. One owner reports that after four visits, Kia engineers requested a replacement engine harness and sensors for analysis, while Kia corporate acknowledged it does not know the cause.
What Can You Do?
If you own a 2025 Kia Telluride and have experienced an unexpected engine shutdown, here are the steps to take:
- Document every incident with dates, mileage, speed, and road conditions.
- If you can do so safely, record the dashboard warning message when the failure occurs.
- Save all repair orders and service invoices, including documentation of any dealer inability to reproduce the issue.
- File a complaint using NHTSA’s online safety complaint form.
Get a Free Case Evaluation
An engine that shuts off without warning in traffic is not something any owner should have to deal with, let alone repeatedly. If you own a 2025 Kia Telluride and have experienced unexpected engine shutdowns, we want to hear from you. We will evaluate whether you may be part of our class action investigation or have an individual lemon law claim. There is no cost and no obligation.
Our firm works on a contingency-fee basis. You do not pay legal fees unless a recovery is obtained.
Sources:
- NHTSA 2025 Telluride Complaints
- KIA Telluride Complaints Group (Facebook) 9/11/2026
- KIA Telluride Complaints Group (Facebook) 6/19/2026
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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