Kia America has issued a recall for approximately 463,000 Telluride SUVs due to a fire hazard, prompting owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the issue is resolved. The recall affects Tellurides from the model years 2020-2024, with a specific concern regarding the front power seat motor.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the front power seat motor in the affected Tellurides may overheat due to a stuck slide knob. This overheating could potentially result in a fire while the vehicle is parked or in motion. The decision to recall the vehicles was made by Kia on May 29, following reports of one under-seat fire and six incidents of localized melting in the seat tilt motor between August 2022 and March 2024.

No injuries, crashes, or fatalities have been reported as a result of this issue. The recall report highlights that a strong external impact on the front power seat side cover or seat slide knob can cause internal misalignment, leading to overheating over time. Drivers experiencing this problem may notice difficulties adjusting the power seat, a burning or melting smell, or smoke rising from underneath the seat.

To rectify the issue, authorized dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs at no cost to the owners. However, until the necessary repairs are made, owners are advised to park their Tellurides outside and away from buildings as a precautionary measure.

Notification letters will be sent to affected owners starting on July 30, with dealers being informed a few days prior. It is unclear why the notifications will not commence until the end of next month. Kia America, based in Irvine, California, has yet to respond to queries about this matter.

In the meantime, affected drivers can verify if their specific vehicle is included in the recall and access additional information through the NHTSA site or Kia's recall lookup platform. The recall covers a total of 462,869 Tellurides manufactured between January 9, 2019, and May 29, 2024. Kia estimates that approximately 1% of these vehicles may have the defect.

This is not the only recall that has impacted Kia Telluride owners in recent times. In March, Kia recalled over 427,000 2020-2024 Telluride SUVs due to a defect that could cause the vehicles to roll away while parked. Furthermore, both Kia and Hyundai announced "park outside" recalls for 3.4 million other car and SUV models last fall, specifically due to the risk of engine compartment fires. Despite these recalls, there have been concerns about the delayed repairs, with many of the affected vehicles still on the road months later, raising worries among drivers and consumer safety advocates.