Kia recalls 463,000 Telluride SUVs over front seat fire risk

Kia is advising owners of nearly 463,000 Telluride SUVs in the U.S. to park them outside and away from buildings due to a potential fire risk associated with the front seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents reveal that the seat control switches on the front power seats can become misaligned and stuck if impacted. This misalignment can cause a small electric motor that moves the seat to run continuously and overheat, leading to a potential fire hazard.

The recall affects Kia Telluride models from 2020 through 2024. The Telluride, a popular three-row SUV, was designed in California and manufactured in Georgia to cater specifically to American consumers. Upon its release, demand for the Telluride was so high that dealerships struggled to maintain adequate stock.

Kia first became aware of the issue in 2022 when a customer reported smoke emanating from under the driver’s seat. In 2023, another customer reported a smoke smell from the passenger-side power seat, which had stopped functioning. Additional similar incidents were reported, and in 2024, at least one driver reported that the driver’s seat caught fire while driving. Fortunately, no accidents or injuries have been reported due to this issue.

Kia’s investigation identified that the problem originated from the power seat switches, which could be damaged and cause the motor to overheat. Starting at the end of July, Kia will notify owners of the recalled vehicles and request that they bring their SUVs to a Kia dealership for free repairs. The service will involve installing reinforcements and improved switches to prevent the seats from overheating. Owners can also contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 for further assistance.

Earlier this year, Kia recalled over 400,000 Tellurides for a separate issue that could cause the vehicles to roll away while in park.