Kia warns nearly half a million owners to park outside in fire risk recall

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The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning to owners of 463,000 Kia Telluride crossover SUVs, advising them to park their vehicles outdoors due to a significant fire risk.

The recall, affecting models from 2020 through 2024, stems from front power seat motors that can overheat and potentially cause a fire.

This is not the first time these vehicles have faced such a safety concern; they were previously recalled in 2024 for the identical issue.

NHTSA emphasizes that owners must continue parking their Tellurides away from buildings and other vehicles until the new repair is completed.

The Kia Telluride concept SUV (AFP/Getty)

Kia is aware of seven seat fires and 11 seat motors melting, NHTSA said, and will notify affected owners starting on August 13 to schedule a fix at their local dealership.

The agency explained that if the front power seat slide cover or knob is accidentally struck, the switch can become dislodged, misaligned, or damaged.

This can lead to the seat motor operating continuously and overheating, with fires possible whether the vehicle is parked or being driven.

Furthermore, an improper repair from the 2024 recall could also contribute to the motor overheating.

Dealers will address the problem by installing an electronic fuse assembly to prevent continuous operation of the seat motor if the switch is compromised.

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