Kia Recalls 460,000 Telluride SUVs Due to Fire Risk; urges owners to park outside

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

0 1 minute read

Kia is recalling approximately 460,000 Telluride SUVs from model years 2020 through 2024, asking car owners to park outside due to a “fire hazard while parking or driving,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration .

The fire risk stems from a problem with the front power seat motor, NHTSA said in a statement released Friday. An internal control switch may become dislodged if the car is hit by an external impact, causing the seat motor to continue running and overheating. Vehicle fires are typically preceded by a burning or melting smell and smoke coming from under the driver's seat, NHTSA said in a separately released safety recall report.

The agency said it was not aware of any associated injuries, although a timeline released by NHTSA shows the current recall was caused by a passenger who noticed and reported a burning smell.

The problem can be fixed by replacing the slide button and installing a bracket, NHTSA said. Dealers are offering this fix for free and will reimburse car owners for all repair costs.

This is not the first time Kia has reported a fire risk. In 2020, Hyundai and Kia recalled more than 600,000 Sorento and Santa Fe SUVs due to brake fluid leaks that could cause an engine fire, according to the Associated Press. In a different September 2023 recall, the two companies issued a “park outside” order for more than 3.3 million vehicles, also citing brake fluid leaks.

Kia will notify car owners by mail starting July 30 and provide them with recall number SC316 to determine if their vehicle is included. Vehicle owners can contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542 or use an online search tool to determine if their vehicle is subject to a recall.