Kia has issued an enormous recall for its common Telluride SUV, totaling 462,869 autos from the 2020 via 2024 mannequin years. The reason being a bit spooky—there is a fireplace danger originating from the electrical seat motors for both the driving force or passenger entrance seat. It might happen whether or not the SUV is in use or parked with the ignition off, main Kia to difficulty a park-outside advisory in case the seats catch fireplace.
The particular trigger is not the seat motor, however the slide knob that controls it. The recall discover (NHTSA Recall Quantity 24V-407) states an exterior influence might dislodge the seat swap again cowl. This might trigger a misalignment of the swap controlling the seat motor, and with the swap caught, would feed fixed energy to the motor. If occupants are unaware of this, the motor might get sizzling sufficient to start out a fireplace.
In response to paperwork filed with the recall, Kia is conscious of 1 small driver-seat fireplace that occurred in a 2023 Telluride whereas being pushed. Past that, there are six confirmed incidents of melted parts underneath the seats. Smoke within the cabin was additionally reported with a number of the incidents.
Would not it’s apparent if an influence seat motor was caught on? The recall discover does not tackle this, and Kia’s chronology report on the difficulty (going again to December 2022) makes no point out of signs previous to the aforementioned incidents. Nonetheless, Kia does advise that seats transferring “even after seat slide knob is launched” together with burning smells, smoke, or inoperable seats might point out an issue.
The repair is easy. Kia sellers will set up a brand new bracket for the ability seat swap again cowl, and seat management knobs will likely be changed. Proprietor notification of the recall ought to start via mail on July 30; involved homeowners may also contact Kia customer support and point out recall SC316. The quantity is 800-333-4542.