8 ON YOUR SIDE – CONSUMER ALERT: Kia recalls nearly 463,000 SUVs due to fire hazard and urges owners to park outdoors

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the power front seat motor on affected 2020-2024 Tellurides could overheat due to a stuck slide button.

According to CBS News, Kia America estimates that 1% of SUVs have the defect. The recall affects Tellurides built between January 2019 and May 2024, according to recall documents Kia filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Telluride’s power front seats feature tiny motors that allow passengers to adjust their position.

“A misaligned seat motor control switch with a stuck seat slide button can cause a seat motor to operate continuously,” Kia said in the recall. “Over time, this can cause a seat motor to overheat, increasing the risk of fire while driving or parked.”

This could potentially lead to a fire while the car is parked or driven. Kia made the decision to recall these vehicles on May 29, according to NHTSA documents. This came after the company received reports of an under-seat fire and six cases of local meltdown in the seat tilt motor between August 2022 and March 2024. No related injuries, accidents, or deaths were reported at this time.

Telluride owners can tell if their vehicle is at risk of fire if passengers cannot adjust their seats, if they smell burning under a seat or if they see smoke coming from that area, Kia said in the recall.

Kia said it plans to fix the problem by installing a bracket for the seat switch. Dealers will install a bracket free of charge for eligible owners who will be notified by mail from the company on July 30.

Kia said in the recall that the seat problem has already been fixed in all Tellurides manufactured after May 30.

Owners with questions about the recall can contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 and use recall number SC316. Owners can also contact the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

(Copyright 2024. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)