Kia America has recently announced two recall notices affecting over 300,000 vehicles due to loose parts near doors and windows, which could potentially fall and create hazards for other drivers. This comes following notices from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) dated July 28.
The recalls specifically target 201,149 2023-2025 models with broken door belt molding and 100,063 K5 models from the same years. The NHTSA indicated that this loose trim piece “creates road hazards for other vehicles and increases the risk of crashes.”
Moreover, the recall pertains to Telluride models, where the door belt molding trim can become loose or peel off entirely. Additionally, the NHTSA’s second notice highlighted that K5 models may face similar issues with decorative faceplates on the C-pillar near the rear windows.
This peeling problem is attributed to quality issues with the supplier. Kia noted that if the vehicle is driven under these conditions, the decorative faceplate could eventually detach, posing a risk to other road users.
Owners affected by the recall can take their vehicles to a Kia dealer for free inspections and to have the C-pillar trim and door belt molding replaced. Kia assured that any repair costs incurred prior to the recall would be refunded under its general refund plan filed earlier this year.
Notification letters are expected to be mailed to K5 and Telluride owners on September 26. For more details, Kia customers can reach out to their customer service. The agency also encourages vehicle owners to check the NHTSA recall website to confirm if their vehicle is affected by this recall.
As of now, neither NHTSA nor Kia has provided comments regarding the situation.
