Kia recalls 463,000 Telluride SUVs because driver's seat can catch fire

CNN
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Kia is warning owners of nearly 463,000 of its popular Telluride SUVs in the United States to keep them parked outside and away from buildings because the front seats could start to burn.

SUV power front seat control switches can become misaligned and jam if they are hit hard by something, according to recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If this happens, a small electric motor that moves the seat may run continuously and overheat.

The recall affects Kia Telluride models from 2020 to 2024. The Telluride, a spacious SUV with three rows of seats, is an extremely popular model for the Korean automaker. Designed in California and built in Georgia, the Telluride was created specifically to appeal to Americans. When it was released, dealers were unable to keep enough stock for customers.

The problem was first noticed by Kia in 2022 when a customer reported smoke coming from under the driver's seat of their Telluride, according to a timeline provided by Kia to NHTSA. In 2023, another customer complained of a smoke smell coming from the passenger side power seat, which was not working.

Other similar cases were reported later that year. In 2024, at least one Kia owner reported that the driver's seat caught fire while driving. There have been no accidents or injuries as a result of this issue, according to Kia.

An investigation by Kia concluded that the problem was with the power seat switches which could be damaged in a way that could cause the engine to overheat.

Starting in late July, Kia will send owners of recalled vehicles letters asking them to bring their SUV to a Kia dealership for repair, free of charge. Service technicians at dealerships will install upgraded bolsters and switches to prevent seats from burning. Owners who suspect their Telluride may be involved can also call Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.

Kia recalled more than 400,000 Tellurides earlier this year for a separate problem that could allow them to roll while in park.