Kia Issues Urgent Park-Outside Recall for 462,869 Tellurides Over Fire Risk
Kia America has issued an urgent park-outside recall covering 462,869 Telluride SUVs from the 2020 through 2024 model years, citing a fire risk that can occur while the vehicle is being driven or sitting parked. NHTSA published the recall notice on July 10, 2026, and owners are being advised to act immediately—before a dealer fix is even available.
The root cause traces back to the front power seat switch. A damaged or dislodged slide knob can cause the seat motor to run continuously, leading to overheating. In the most serious cases documented by Kia, that overheating has resulted in localized seat fires. Through June 25, 2026, Kia America identified 18 confirmed incidents—7 of which involved actual seat or under-seat fires, and 11 that resulted in the seat motor melting.
Why This Recall Exists—And Why a Previous Fix Wasn’t Enough
This is not the first time Kia has addressed this issue. An earlier recall, numbered 24V407, covered the same 2020–2024 Telluride population and instructed dealers to install a bracket reinforcing the power seat switch back cover and replace the slide knob with an improved version. Notifications for that remedy went out between July 30 and July 31, 2024.
The problem: fire allegations started arriving just months later—and they involved vehicles that had already received that repair. Kia engineers pulled recovered parts and used X-ray imaging to confirm that the switch was still becoming misaligned, and the backplate was still dislodging. By June 2025, Kia hypothesized that some dealers may have mistakenly reinforced the switchback cover rather than replacing the power seat switch itself, as the recall required. That incomplete repair left the underlying hazard in place.
The new remedy addresses the failure more directly. Kia retailers will now be required to install a fuse assembly designed to interrupt power to the seat motor if the switch becomes damaged—preventing the continuous operation that leads to overheating in the first place.
What Affected Owners Should Do Right Now
NHTSA’s guidance for park-outside recalls is straightforward: do not park the vehicle in an attached garage or near any structure until the recall repair has been completed. If possible, limit driving until the fix is available. The fire risk exists both while the vehicle is in motion and while it is parked and off.
To confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, visit NHTSA’s VIN lookup tool at nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your 17-digit VIN. Affected Tellurides were built at Kia’s West Point, Georgia facility, so suspect VINs begin with 5XY. Production dates run from January 9, 2019, through May 29, 2024. Kia notes that 2024 model year Tellurides produced on or after May 30, 2024, already feature a reinforced power seat switch mechanism and are not part of this recall.
Affected VINs will be uploaded to NHTSA’s database on July 17, 2026. Kia plans to notify owners by first-class mail between August 13 and August 19, 2026. If you don’t want to wait for the letter, contact Kia America’s customer service line at 1-800-333-4542 and reference recall number 26V407 (or the current superseding recall number as listed on NHTSA’s site). As with all federally mandated safety recalls, the repair is completely free of charge.
What This Means for Telluride Owners Going Forward
The Telluride has been one of Kia’s most successful vehicles in the U.S. market, and this recall covers nearly the entire first-generation production run. The good news is that Kia has identified a concrete mechanical fix—the fuse assembly—and the repair does not require owners to stop driving entirely, only to take precautions about where they park.
If you already had your Telluride serviced under the previous 24V407 recall, that does not mean you’re in the clear. Given Kia’s findings about inconsistent dealer repairs, your vehicle may still be at risk. Check your VIN regardless of prior service history.
For owners with additional questions, Kia America’s customer service number is 1-800-333-4542. NHTSA’s Safety Hotline is available at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or you can file a complaint online at nhtsa.gov. The recall repair, once available at dealerships, will be performed at no cost to the owner.
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