Disaster after disaster has hit the company. Hyundai, the part owner, is also used to shocks to their system as of late.
Kia America is recalling nearly 463,000 Telluride SUVs due to a defect in the power seats that could potentially cause a fire, federal highway safety regulators warned on Friday. The recall affects Telluride models from 2020 to 2024, and the company urges owners to park their vehicles outside as a precaution.
🚨🇺🇸KIA RECALLS 1/2 OF A MILLION SUVS FOR FIRE RISK
Kia has recalled 462,869 Telluride SUVs in the U.S. due to a fire risk from overheating front power seat motors.
The recall affects models built between 2020 and 2024.
The issue stems from a stuck power seat slide knob, which… pic.twitter.com/0J5uDIFbw0
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 7, 2024
The issue involves the motor that controls the power seats, which can overheat. Kia America estimates that about 1% of the SUVs may have this defect. The recall applies to Tellurides built between January 2019 and May 2024, as noted in the documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The front power seats in these vehicles have small motors that allow for seat adjustments. These adjustments are controlled by a switch encased in a cover. Kia explained in the recall documents that the switch can become dislodged if it is hit too forcefully. This can cause the seat to lock in position while the motor continues to run, leading to overheating and increasing the risk of fire.
“A misaligned seat motor control switch with a stuck seat slide knob can lead to continuous operation of a seat motor,” Kia stated in the recall notice. “Over time, this can result in overheating of a seat motor, thereby increasing the risk of a fire while driving or while parked.”
Kia reported receiving one complaint of an under-the-seat fire and six reports of seat motors melting. Fortunately, there have been no reported crashes or injuries related to this issue.
RECALL ALERT: Kia America is recalling nearly 463,000 Telluride SUVs — and urging owners to park their cars outside and away from other structures until an issue posing a fire hazard is fixed. https://t.co/obqAK74GMp
— ABC News (@ABC) June 7, 2024
Owners can identify if their vehicle is at risk by noting if passengers are unable to adjust the seat, if they smell something burning under the seat, or if they see smoke coming from the area. To address the problem, Kia plans to install a bracket for the seat switch at no cost to the owners. Eligible owners will be notified by mail starting on July 30.
Vehicles manufactured after May 30 have already had this seat issue corrected, according to Kia. Owners with questions about the recall can contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 using the recall number SC316. Alternatively, they can reach out to the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
This recall is not the first to impact Kia Telluride owners. In March, Kia recalled over 427,000 Tellurides from the same model years due to a defect that could cause the vehicles to roll away while parked. This power seat issue marks Kia’s second major recall of 2024. Earlier this year, Hyundai and Kia recalled a combined 147,110 electric vehicles due to a part that could stop charging the batteries.
Kia recalls nearly 463K Georgia-built SUVs due to fire risk; https://t.co/82vZf3tfHC
— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) June 8, 2024
Last fall, both companies issued “park outside” recalls for 3.4 million other car and SUV models due to the risk of engine compartment fires. Despite the recall, many of these vehicles remained on the road for months due to long-delayed repairs, raising concerns among drivers and consumer safety advocates.
Major Points:
- Kia America is recalling nearly 463,000 Telluride SUVs from model years 2020-2024 due to a defect in the power seat motors that could cause overheating and fires.
- The issue involves the seat adjustment switch potentially dislodging and causing the motor to run continuously, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Kia has received one report of an under-the-seat fire and six reports of seat motor melting, but no crashes or injuries have been reported.
- Owners will be notified by mail starting July 30, and dealerships will install a bracket for the seat switch at no cost to resolve the issue.
- This recall follows another in March for over 427,000 Tellurides due to a rollaway defect and is Kia’s second major recall of 2024.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
