Kia Telluride Owners Face Second Recall for Same Fire Risk - Here’s What Changed

Recalls are a normal part of car ownership, especially as vehicles get more complex. You hope the fix is quick and final. But for owners of the Kia Telluride, that hope has been dashed. Nearly 460,000 SUVs from model years 2020 through 2024 are being called back to the shop again, this time because the original repair didn’t work.

The problem? A front power seat switch that can overheat and cause a fire, even when the car is off and parked.

Two years ago, Kia recalled the same vehicles for a faulty seat switch that could get stuck, leading to an overheated motor. Dealers installed brackets and revised knobs to prevent the switch from jamming. Kia estimated only 1% of recalled cars actually had the defect, but they fixed them all to be safe.

Now, it turns out that fix may have been done incorrectly. The same issue, stuck switch, overheating motor, fire risk, has resurfaced. Kia has received 11 reports of melted seat motors and seven cases of under-seat fires, with no injuries reported so far.

This time, the remedy is different. Instead of a bracket and new knob, Kia will install an electronic fuse assembly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this device stops the seat motor from running continuously if the switch gets dislodged or damaged.

It’s a more robust solution. Owners can expect notification letters between August 13 and 19. In the meantime, Kia is telling drivers to park outside until the fix is applied.