Overview
- Kia and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Thursday a superseding recall, NHTSA 26V-430 (Kia SC374), covering 462,869 2020–2024 Telluride SUVs and replacing the 2024 campaign.
- The defect occurs when the front power seat slide cover or knob is struck or was repaired improperly so the seat switch becomes dislodged or misaligned and the seat motor runs continuously and overheats.
- Regulators have recorded seven seat fires and 11 melted seat motors and are advising affected owners to park their Tellurides outdoors and away from buildings until the dealer repair is completed.
- Kia will mail owner notification letters around Aug. 13 so owners can schedule free repairs at dealerships where technicians will install an electronic fuse assembly to cut power if the switch fails; vehicles built after May 30, 2024, include a reinforced seat switch.
- The new recall replaces the earlier recall 24V-407 after reports that the original fix did not fully resolve the problem or that some repairs were done improperly, a development that raises questions about the earlier remedy’s validation.