Kia is recalling 463,000 Telluride crossovers from model years 2020 through 2024. The power seat motor can overheat and cause a fire. The defect stems from a stuck power seat slide knob or improper repair during a previous recall attempt. Kia is aware of seven actual fires and 11 melted seat motors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the alert on July 10.
This is the second recall for the same problem. Kia attempted a fix in 2024. The repair failed in some cases. Owners are now advised to park their vehicles outside, away from buildings and other cars until the new remedy is applied. Kia will install an electronic fuse assembly free of charge. Notifications to owners start August 13.
Why This Matters Now
A stuck seat knob can trap current flowing through the motor. Over time the motor heats up. If the safety system doesn’t catch it, the seat catches fire. Kia knows this happened at least seven times. Seven confirmed fires. That’s not a theoretical risk. That’s a known hazard with actual incidents. The company has an obligation to fix it.
The 2024 recall was supposed to solve this. It didn’t work in all cases. The new fix adds an electronic fuse that cuts power if it detects overheating. That’s a better solution than the previous one, but it also means Kia missed the problem the first time. That’s the frustrating part of recalls. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts to get it right.
What Owners Need to Know
If you own a 2020-2024 Telluride, park it outside until you get the repair done. Don’t park it in your garage or next to other cars. Kia will notify owners starting in August. The repair is free. It’s a dealer visit, probably an hour of work. You’ll get your car back safer than it was.
This specific issue affects the Telluride’s front power seat. The seat itself isn’t dangerous. The wiring and motor are. Most owners will never experience the problem. Seven incidents across 463,000 vehicles is a small percentage. But a small percentage of a fire is still a fire. That’s why recalls exist.
The Recall Process
NHTSA reviews recalls for validity. Kia provided data showing the defect, the known incidents, and the fix. NHTSA agreed it was serious enough to warrant action. The timeline for contacting owners and scheduling repairs is designed to be manageable for dealerships. Most owners can get their cars fixed within weeks of being notified.
No recall is good news, but if your car gets one, Kia’s taking it seriously this time with a more robust fix.
