Kia America has announced a recall affecting approximately 463,000 Telluride SUVs, urging owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures due to potential fire risks. This recall, which was made public this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), comes after reports of fires occurring in vehicles that had undergone previous repairs.
The affected models include certain Tellurides from the 2020 to 2024 production years. The NHTSA has indicated that the issue may arise from an overheating front power seat motor, which can occur if a slide knob becomes stuck. This condition poses a fire risk whether the vehicle is parked or in operation.
Despite Kia's earlier remedy implemented in 2024, there have been multiple complaints from customers regarding fires under the passenger seat. An investigation revealed sporadic issues with dealer workmanship related to the previous repairs, prompting the new recall.
Between October 2024 and April 2026, Kia's safety office documented 18 incidents involving either localized seat fires or melting of the seat motor. Fortunately, no injuries or crashes have been reported in connection with these incidents.
To mitigate the fire hazard, Kia plans to provide a fix that includes the installation of an electronic fuse assembly at no cost to owners. This assembly is designed to prevent the seat motor from operating if its switch is dislodged or damaged. The remedy is expected to be available in early August, and Kia will begin mailing notification letters to owners starting August 13.
In the interim, the NHTSA strongly advises owners of the affected vehicles to park outside and away from any buildings until the necessary repairs are completed.
For further information, vehicle owners can check the NHTSA website or Kia's recall lookup platform to verify if their vehicle is included in this recall.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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