Kia America is recalling practically 463,000 Telluride SUVs — urging homeowners to park their automobile exterior in case the seat spontaneously catches hearth, federal freeway security regulators warned Friday.
The South Korean automaker introduced a recall of sure Tellurides from mannequin years 2020-2024 as a result of the motor that controls the ability seats on the automobiles can doubtlessly overheat. Kia America estimates that 1% of the SUVs have the defect. The recall covers Tellurides that have been constructed between January 2019 and Could 2024, in keeping with recall paperwork Kia submitted to the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA).
Telluride entrance energy seats are geared up with tiny motors that enable passengers to regulate their place. The seat adjustment operate is managed by a change wrapped in a canopy. In recall paperwork, Kia mentioned that the adjustment change on the ability seat can dislodge if hit too forcefully, locking within the place of the seat whereas the seat motor continues to be working.
“A misaligned seat motor management change with a caught seat slide knob can result in steady operation of a seat motor,” Kia mentioned within the recall. “Over time, this may end up in overheating of a seat motor, thereby rising the danger of a fireplace whereas driving or whereas parked.”
In a separate doc to NHTSA, Kia mentioned it has obtained one report of an under-the-seat hearth from a Telluride proprietor, together with six stories of the seat motor melting. No crashes or accidents have been reported associated to the ability seat subject, Kia mentioned.
Telluride homeowners can acknowledge if their automobile is liable to hearth if passengers can’t regulate their seat, in the event that they scent burning underneath a seat or in the event that they see smoke coming from that space, Kia mentioned within the recall.
Kia mentioned it plans to repair the problem by putting in a bracket for the seat change. Dealerships will set up a bracket totally free for eligible homeowners, who might be notified by mail by the corporate on July 30.
All Tellurides manufactured after Could 30 have already had the seat subject resolved, Kia mentioned within the recall.
House owners with questions concerning the recall can contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 and use the recall quantity SC316. House owners also can contact the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
Earlier Telluride recall
This is not the one recall impacting Kia Telluride homeowners. In March, Kia mentioned it will be recalling greater than 427,000 of 2020 to 2024 Telluride SUVs because of a defect that will trigger the vehicles to roll away whereas they’re parked.
The facility seat subject additionally marks Kia’s second main recall of 2024. In March, Hyundai and Kia recalled a mixed 147,110 electrical automobiles as a result of an element contained in the vehicles could cease charging their batteries.
Final fall, Hyundai and Kia introduced earlier “park exterior” remembers for 3.4 million different automobile and SUV fashions because of a threat of engine compartment fires. Amid long-delayed repairs, a lot of these automobiles remained on the street months later, elevating considerations from drivers and shopper security advocates.
Hyundai owns a part of Kia, although the 2 firms function independently.
— The Related Press contributed to this report.
