Kia Telluride maintenance schedule
The Kia Telluride maintenance schedule calls for an oil and filter change every 8,000 miles or 12 months, or every 5,000 miles or 6 months under severe use such as towing. Tires get rotated every 8,000 miles, the cabin filter is replaced every 16,000 miles, and brake fluid every 48,000 miles. The automatic transmission fluid has no change on the normal schedule, but Kia calls for one every 56,000 miles under severe use.
On this page (8 sections)
How Kia schedules Telluride service
Kia prints a fixed schedule in the owner’s manual: a normal table by miles and months, and a severe-use list that shortens some items. You do each item at whichever limit comes first. If the cluster on your Telluride has a service reminder, set it to the schedule and reset it after each visit. For Kia’s approach across its lineup, see Kia maintenance schedule.
Service intervals
The 2020–2022 and 2023-and-later Telluride share most intervals. The visible difference is the rear axle oil inspection on all-wheel-drive models.
1st generation, 2023 update (2023–2026)
Reminder system: Kia normal and severe schedules in the owner’s manual.7 Oil changes: every 8,000 miles or 12 months (severe use: every 5,000 miles or 6 months).
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation | every 8,000 miles7 |
| Climate control (cabin) air filter | replace every 16,000 miles or 24 months7 |
| Engine air filter | replace every 24,000 miles or 36 months (more often in dust or on rough roads)7 |
| Brake fluid | inspect every 8,000 miles or 12 months; replace every 48,000 miles or 48 months7 |
| Automatic transmission fluid | no service required on the normal schedule; severe use: replace every 56,000 miles7 |
| Rear differential oil (AWD) | inspect every 40,000 miles or 48 months7 |
| Spark plugs | every 96,000 miles (more often in severe use)12 |
| Engine coolant | first at 120,000 miles or 120 months, then every 24,000 miles or 24 months7 |
1st generation (2020–2022)
Reminder system: Kia normal and severe schedules in the owner’s manual.3 Oil changes: every 8,000 miles or 12 months (severe use: every 5,000 miles or 6 months).
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Tire rotation | every 8,000 miles3 |
| Climate control (cabin) air filter | replace every 16,000 miles or 24 months3 |
| Engine air filter | replace every 24,000 miles or 36 months (more often in dust or on rough roads)3 |
| Brake fluid | inspect every 8,000 miles or 12 months; replace every 48,000 miles or 48 months3 |
| Automatic transmission fluid | no service required on the normal schedule; severe use: replace every 56,000 miles3 |
| Rear axle oil (AWD) | inspect every 32,000 miles or 48 months3 |
| Spark plugs | every 96,000 miles (more often in severe use)3 |
| Engine coolant | first at 120,000 miles or 120 months, then every 24,000 miles or 24 months3 |
Towing puts the Telluride on the severe schedule
Kia lists towing a trailer among the severe-use conditions, along with mountain driving, heavy traffic, short trips, and dusty roads. For a Telluride that tows a camper or a boat, that means:
- Oil and filter every 5,000 miles or 6 months instead of 8,000 miles or 12 months.
- Automatic transmission fluid replaced every 56,000 miles; on the normal schedule it isn’t changed at all.
- Spark plugs sooner than the 96,000-mile normal interval; your manual gives the severe figure.
More on choosing a column: normal vs severe maintenance. Transmission service in general: transmission fluid change.
All-wheel drive: the rear differential
All-wheel-drive Tellurides have a rear differential with its own oil. Kia’s 2022 manual has it inspected every 32,000 miles or 48 months; the 2023 manual moves that to every 40,000 miles or 48 months. Inspection means checking for leaks and the level; replace the oil if the manual or the technician calls for it. See differential fluid.
Long intervals that are easy to miss
Coolant on the Telluride is first replaced at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 24,000 miles or 2 years. Spark plugs on the V6 go 96,000 miles in the 2025 manual. On a used Telluride, ask for proof of both. Guides: coolant flush, spark plug replacement, brake fluid flush.
Keep the record
Log the date, odometer, and work at every visit, and note whether you were towing in between. That record tells you which column you’re really on, and shows the next owner the work was done. Start with a car maintenance log.
FAQ
How often does a Kia Telluride need an oil change?
Every 8,000 miles or 12 months on the normal schedule, or every 5,000 miles or 6 months under severe use such as towing.
Does the Kia Telluride need transmission fluid changes?
Not on the normal schedule. Under severe use, including towing, Kia calls for new fluid every 56,000 miles.
When does a Kia Telluride need spark plugs?
Every 96,000 miles under normal use, per Kia’s 2022 and 2025 manuals, and sooner under severe use.
How often should the rear differential oil be checked on a Telluride?
Every 40,000 miles or 48 months in the 2023 manual, and every 32,000 miles or 48 months in the 2022 manual.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by Kia America. Kia and Telluride are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the vehicles.
Sources
- 2022 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Recommended lubricants and capacities (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2022 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Tires and wheels (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2022 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Scheduled maintenance service (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2022 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, If you do decide to pull a trailer (trailer weight) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2023 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Recommended lubricants and capacities (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2023 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Tires and wheels (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2023 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Scheduled maintenance service (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2023 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, If you do decide to pull a trailer (trailer weight) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2023 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Fuel requirements (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2025 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Recommended lubricants and capacities (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2025 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Tires and wheels (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2025 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, Scheduled maintenance service (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2025 Kia Telluride Owner’s Manual, If you do decide to pull a trailer (trailer weight) (checked November 12, 2026)