Kia recalls nearly 463,000 Telluride SUVs; front seats can catch fire – WGAU

Kia is warning some Telluride owners to park their SUVs outside and away from other vehicles and buildings because of the fire risk, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday.

The problem affects 462,869 Telluride vehicles from model years 2020 through 2024, officials said, and is due to a problem with the power front seat motor.

In a safety recall report, authorities said a sharp impact could cause the rear cover of the power seat switch to come loose, potentially causing the seat motor to run continuously.

“Over time, this can cause the seat motor to overheat, increasing the risk of fire while driving or parking,” officials said.

Kia first learned of the problem in December 2022, when a dealer received a complaint about smoke coming from under the driver’s seat of a 2021 Telluride, according to a timeline published by the NHTSA. In March 2023, a second complaint was received, this time reporting that the passenger seat of a 2022 Telluride had stopped working and was emitting a “burning smell.”

The company received two more complaints about smoke and determined that the problem was due to “seat switches getting stuck during continuous engine operation.” In March, an owner complained that the driver’s seat of a 2023 Telluride caught fire while driving. No injuries were reported.

In vehicles affected by the recall, Kia dealers will install a bracket to reinforce the rear covers of the power seat switch and replace the seat adjustment knobs at no charge. The company will notify owners by mail starting next month.

Owners of affected vehicles can contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. The internal callback number for the issue is SC316.

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