Kia Telluride Owners Urged To Park 2020 to 2024 Model Year Vehicles Outside Due to Fire Risks

Nearly half a million newer Kia Telluride SUVs have been recalled, amid reports of the power seat motors overheating and catching the driver seat on fire.

Federal safety officials have announced a recall impacting more than 460,000 Kia Telluride SUVs, warning that the vehicles should be parked outside and away from structures due to a risk that the driver’s seat may catch on fire, either while the vehicle is in motion or when parked.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Kia Telluride recall on June 7, following reports of problems where the front power seat motor overheated due to a stuck power seat slide knob, which could cause certain model year 2020 to 2024 vehicles to catch on fire suddenly.

Officials indicate that the Kia Telluride fire risk poses a threat to vehicle occupants and nearby structures, potentially leading to life-threatening injuries.

Kia first learned of the problem in December 2022, when a dealer reported a case involving a 2021MY Telluride vehicle emitting smoke from underneath the drivers seat. Since the initial complaint, Kia has become aware of six overheating reports, including one incident reported in March 2024, where the driver seat of a 2023MY Telluride caught on fire while the vehicle was in motion.

Due to the growing number of overheating events and the risk of potential vehicle fires, Kia is instructing consumers to park their vehicles outside and away from other vehicles and structure until the recall repair is complete.

The recall includes 462,869 model year 2020 through 2024 Telluride vehicles that were distributed for sale throughout the U.S. at licensed dealers.

Kia announced that owners will begin receiving recall notifications by mail starting on  July 30, 2024, that will include instructions on how to schedule a free repair at their local dealer, where dealers will be instructed to install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs at no cost.

Customers with additional questions or concerns regarding the recall are encouraged to contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542, and reference the recall number SC316.

Kia vehicle owners can also visit NHTSA.gov/recalls or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. By entering their license plate number or 17-digit vehicle identification number, they can check if their vehicle is under recall. NHTSA also recommends downloading the SaferCar app to stay updated on current recalls.