Kia Motors on Friday issued a recall of some Telluride SUVs from the 2020 to 2024 model years and urged owners of the vehicles to park outside and away from structures because of a fire hazard, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
The problem stems from the front power seat motor, which can overheat “due to a stuck power seat slide button, possibly resulting in a fire and increasing the risk of injury,” NHTSA said in a statement.
“To resolve the issue, dealers will install a bracket for the rear power seat switch covers and replace the seat slide buttons, free of charge,” the statement said.
Kia advised drivers to park outside until repairs are completed.
About 460,000 vehicles could be affected by the recall, according to NHTSA, and notices informing owners of affected Tellurides are expected to be mailed beginning July 30.
Kia will also reimburse owners for repair costs already incurred, according to a Safety Recall Report the company posted online.
A timeline of Telluride power front seat problems shared by NHTSA shows that Kia North America’s Safety Office saw complaints of smoke and a report of a “driver’s seat catching fire while driving.” No injuries were reported from the fire, according to the document, and there were no injuries, crashes or deaths from the problem.
James Bell, a Kia spokesman, called the issue “very rare.”
In September 2023, Hyundai and Kia recalled nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the United States due to an engine compartment fire hazard caused by brake fluid leaks. At that time, car manufacturers also advised car owners to park their vehicles outside.
Hyundai is the parent company of Kia Motors, but the manufacturers operate independently.
