Kia recalls vehicles due to loose parts that may pose road safety risks

Kia America Issues Recall Notices for Over 300,000 Vehicles

Kia America has recently announced two recalls affecting more than 300,000 vehicles due to concerns about loose parts near doors and windows. These loose components could detach and potentially endanger other drivers on the road.

As per two separate notices from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 28, the recall includes 201,149 Kia models from 2023-2025 related to faulty door belt molding. Additionally, 100,063 units of the K5 model from the same years are involved.

The NHTSA indicated that the loose trim piece represents a road hazard, increasing the likelihood of crashes. The Telluride models, in particular, may experience a loosening or peeling of the door belt molding trim.

In its second notice, the NHTSA highlighted that the K5 model could likewise experience issues with the decorative faceplate located on the C-pillar, which is near the rear windows.

Kia’s Safety Office issued another notice on July 29, explaining that supplier quality concerns could lead to the C-Pillar garnish faceplates and door belt molding faceplates loosening and peeling away from their attachment points.

Kia acknowledged that if a vehicle is driven in this condition, the faceplate might eventually fall off. “Faceplates that detach while the vehicle is in motion can create hazards for other road users and elevate the risk of accidents,” the company noted.

Vehicle owners can take their cars to a Kia dealer for free inspections and replacements of the affected components, as per the NHTSA. Dealers are prepared to replace any C-Pillar Garnish Assembly that hasn’t already been addressed under warranty. Moreover, Kia will refund owners for any repair costs incurred before the recall was issued, in line with Kia’s general refund policy that was submitted on May 1, 2024.

Notifications to owners of the K5 and Telluride models are scheduled to be mailed out on September 26. For additional details, owners can reach out to Kia Customer Service at 800-333-4542, referencing recall number SC346 for the K5 and SC347 for the Telluride.

Owners can also check if their vehicle is affected by visiting the NHTSA recall website, where they can search using the model, license plate number, or vehicle identification number.