Recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration state that if the front power seat control switches on the SUVs are struck forcefully, they may become misaligned and locked. A tiny electric motor that moves the seat may run constantly in that scenario and overheat.

Kia Telluride cars from 2020 to 2024 are included in the recall. The Korean automaker’s Telluride, a spacious SUV with three rows of seats, has been a huge hit. The Telluride was expressly designed to appeal to Americans, and it was constructed in Georgia after being built in California. Dealers could not maintain enough in stock for clients when it first came out.

According to a chronology Kia provided NHTSA, the problem was initially discovered by Kia in 2022 when a client reported smoke coming from behind their Telluride’s driver seat. Another client reported in 2023 that the passenger-side power seat was malfunctioning and emitted a smoke odor.

Later that year, further cases resembling this one were documented. At least one Kia owner claimed in 2024 that the driver’s seat caught fire while they were at the wheel.

After looking into the matter, Kia found that the power seat switches may have been harmed in a way that led to the engine overheating.

Beginning at the end of July, Kia will mail letters to owners of recalled vehicles requesting that they bring their SUVs to a Kia dealership for free repairs. To stop the seats from burning, dealers’ service experts will add stronger switches and reinforcements. Calling Kia customer support at 1-800-333-4542 is another option for owners who think their Telluride may be impacted.

Earlier this year, Kia recalled over 400,000 Tellurides due to a different issue that may cause them to roll away while in a park.

Kia is recalling 463,000 Telluride SUVs due to the possibility of fire in the front seats.

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