Atlanta, Georgia – Kia has issued an urgent recall for nearly 50,000 SUVs after reports surfaced of power seats potentially catching fire, posing a safety risk to consumers. The recall affects 462,869 Telluride SUVs manufactured between the model years 2020 and 2024.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the front power seat motor in these vehicles is at risk of overheating due to a malfunctioning power seat slide knob, which could lead to a fire. As a precaution, Kia has advised customers to park their vehicles outside if their seats show signs of potential fire hazards.
Owners have been warned to be alert for signs such as the inability to adjust the seat, the smell of burning under a seat, or visible smoke. Those affected will be notified by mail starting July 30, and dealers will provide necessary repairs at no additional cost, installing a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replacing the seat slide knobs.
This is not the first recall for Kia’s Telluride SUVs, as the company previously recalled about 400,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a problem that could result in the vehicles rolling away when in park. The recent recall affects some 427,407 Telluride vehicles with model years ranging from 2020 to 2024.
The safety concern in the previous recall was related to issues with the driveshaft assembly, leading to possible unintended vehicle movement if the parking brake is not engaged. To address this issue, affected owners are advised to visit a Kia dealer for a software update to ensure proper engagement of the driveshaft.
Owners of affected Kia Telluride SUVs are urged to take immediate action by scheduling a visit to their nearest Kia dealership for the necessary repairs to prevent any safety risks associated with the power seats and driveshaft assembly. Thank you for reading and stay updated for more information on automotive safety recalls.