Kia has announced a recall affecting approximately 463,000 vehicles in the United States, urging owners to park their cars outside and away from structures until the necessary repairs are made. This precautionary measure comes in response to fire risks linked to overheating front power seat motors.
The recall targets Kia Telluride SUVs from model years 2020 through 2024. The automaker reported instances of underseat fires, melting seat motors, and smoke or burning odors within the vehicle compartments. Although there have been no crashes or injuries reported, the issue has raised significant safety concerns.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has advised affected vehicle owners to heed Kia’s warning and park their cars outside until repairs are completed. According to the NHTSA, the front power seat motor can overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, posing a potential fire hazard whether the vehicle is parked or in motion.
To address the issue, Kia dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs. This solution aims to prevent the overheating of the power seat motors. Kia will begin notifying owners about the recall starting July 30.
Kia’s proactive recall aims to ensure the safety of its customers by addressing the fire risk associated with the affected vehicles. Owners are urged to follow the parking instructions and await further communication from Kia regarding the necessary repairs.
