462,869 Tellurides. Second recall. Same problem.
The Kia Telluride recall covers 2020 through 2024 model years and targets the power seat switch — specifically, what happens when an impact dislodges or damages it. A damaged switch can cause the seat motor to run without stopping. Running continuously, the motor overheats. An overheated seat motor in an enclosed vehicle is a fire.
Kia’s guidance to every owner in the Kia Telluride recall: park outside, away from structures, until the new repair is done.
Kia Telluride Recall 2026 — Key Facts
| Recall Detail | Information | Owner Action |
|---|---|---|
| Recall Number | Second recall for same defect | First fix failed — new repair needed |
| Vehicles Affected | 462,869 Kia Tellurides | Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls |
| Model Years Covered | 2020 – 2024 Telluride | All first-generation models included |
| The Defect | Power seat switch damaged by impact | Seat motor runs continuously and overheats |
| Fire Risk | 7 seat fires, 11 melted motors reported | Park outside away from structures now |
| Injuries or Fatalities | None reported | Monitor for warning signs |
| Warning Signs | Stuck knob, burning smell, smoke | Stop driving and move vehicle outside |
| First Recall Date | June 2024 | That fix was insufficient |
| Why First Fix Failed | Dealers reinforced cover instead of replacing switch | New repair required regardless |
| New Fix | Electronic fuse cuts motor power if switch is damaged | Schedule dealer appointment |
| Dealer Notification | Already underway | Letter coming — do not wait for it |
| Owner Letters | Being sent now | Book repair as soon as notified |
| Where to Check VIN | nhtsa.gov/recalls | Confirms status in seconds |
The First Fix Failed
June 2024 — the first Kia Telluride recall went out for the seat switch problem and sent owners a bracket to reinforce the switch plus an improved slide knob. Letters went out in July.
October 2024: a repaired Telluride caught fire. Kia inspected it and found the repair had not been done correctly.
That single post-repair fire should have raised serious questions. It did — but the answer took time to develop. October 2024 through April 2026: seven seat fires, 11 melted motors, all in vehicles carrying the completed first Kia Telluride recall repair.
Kia says no injuries, crashes, or fatalities have come from the fires.
Why the First Fix Failed
Kia investigated and the answer was uncomfortable. After inspecting repaired Tellurides — vehicles with no reported issues as well as those with fires — engineers found workmanship deficiencies across multiple repairs.
The suspicion: some dealers reinforced the power seat switch cover rather than actually replacing the switch. That is not the repair. Covering the outside of a damaged component is not the same as replacing it, and the fires that followed confirmed the switch problem was still present underneath the patch.
In April 2025, a second repaired Telluride reported an alleged seat fire. A month later, a third. Kia X-rayed the seat switch assembly from the second vehicle and found misaligned internal switches and a dislodged backplate — exactly the failure mode the first recall was supposed to address.
What should have been a resolved issue became a two-year monitoring problem with seven fires at the end of it.
What Kia Is Doing Now
The new Kia Telluride recall installs an electronic fuse in the seat motor circuit. Damaged switch, motor starts running continuously — the fuse trips and cuts power. Motor stops before it overheats.
This is a fundamentally different approach from the first recall. The bracket and slide knob tried to prevent switch damage from happening. The electronic fuse accepts that switch damage may occur and cuts the circuit before it causes a fire. One prevents the problem. The other stops the problem from becoming dangerous.
Given that seven fires happened under the preventative approach, the circuit-interrupting solution makes the right call.
Symptoms Owners Should Watch For
Kia’s recall documentation describes three warning signs that something is wrong with the seat switch:
The seat slide knob sticks and does not operate smoothly. A burning or melting smell coming from the seat area. Smoke from under or around the seat.
Any of these is a reason to stop driving and get the vehicle away from enclosed spaces. The Kia Telluride recall advisory to park outside and away from structures is not precautionary language for liability purposes — seven seat fires in vehicles that had already been recalled is a documented fire risk that owners should take seriously.
Which Tellurides Are Covered
The Kia Telluride recall covers the 2020 through 2024 model year Tellurides — the entire first generation of the nameplate. Kia has not specified a VIN cutoff range in public communications.
The fastest way to confirm whether a specific vehicle is included is checking the NHTSA recalls database at nhtsa.gov/recalls with the vehicle’s VIN. The result is immediate and specific to that vehicle.
Kia will also be notifying owners directly. Dealer notification for the second Kia Telluride recall is already underway. If your vehicle is included, a letter is coming — but waiting for the letter is not necessary when the NHTSA database can confirm status today.
When Recall Repairs Go Wrong at the Dealer Level
The second Kia Telluride recall is a clear example of what happens when a recall remedy does not get executed correctly at the dealer level. The engineering behind the first fix may have been sound. The implementation apparently was not, at least in a number of cases where dealers reinforced a cover rather than replaced the switch underneath it.
Recall repairs depend on technicians performing the work exactly as specified. When that does not happen — whether through misunderstanding the instructions, taking a shortcut, or not having the right parts — the defect remains even though the vehicle’s record shows a completed recall.
For owners who went through the first Kia Telluride recall in 2024, the question worth asking is whether the repair was actually performed correctly. The seven post-repair fires suggest a meaningful number of the June 2024 repairs were not done right. The new electronic fuse solution should address the risk regardless of whether the original switch was properly replaced — but confirming the vehicle is in the recall and scheduling the new repair is the step that matters now.
FAQs
What is the Kia Telluride recall about?
Power seat switch can be damaged by impact, causing the seat motor to run continuously and overheat. Risk of fire. This is the second recall for the same issue — the first fix failed.
Which Kia Telluride years are recalled?
2020 through 2024 model years. The full first generation of the Telluride nameplate.
How many vehicles are in the Kia Telluride recall?
462,869.
What is the new fix?
An electronic fuse that cuts power to the seat motor if it begins running continuously due to a damaged switch.
Why is this the second Kia Telluride recall for the same problem?
The 2024 fix used a bracket and improved knob. Seven seat fires occurred in vehicles that had received that repair. Kia found evidence that some dealers reinforced the switch cover rather than replacing the switch itself.
What should Telluride owners do right now?
Park outside, away from structures. Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — it confirms in seconds whether your vehicle is in the Kia Telluride recall. Then book the repair.
Have any injuries been reported?
None confirmed. Kia says no injuries, crashes, or fatalities from the fires have been reported.
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