Kia Orders 460,000 Telluride SUVs Back to Dealerships Over Fire Risk, Warns Owners to Park Outside

Kia is recalling over 460,000 Telluride SUVs across the U.S. after discovering a defect that could cause engine fires, even when the vehicle is turned off. The South Korean automaker has also issued a rare warning telling owners to park their cars outdoors and away from structures until repairs are completed.

The recall covers certain 2020 through 2024 model year Tellurides, which have become one of Kia’s most popular family vehicles. According to documents filed with federal safety regulators, the problem lies in the front power seat motor, if the manual sliding knob gets jammed, it can overheat and start a fire.

Kia says it has received at least six reports of thermal damage or fires linked to the issue, though no crashes or injuries have been reported so far.

Dealers will inspect and, if needed, install a new seat motor bracket and a reinforced sliding knob cover free of charge. Kia expects to begin notifying owners by mail starting late next month. In the meantime, the company urges anyone with an affected Telluride to park it outside and keep it away from garages or carports until the fix is applied.

Owners can also check their vehicle’s recall status by entering the VIN on Kia’s website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall portal.