Kia recalls more than 460,000 SUVs over potential fire risk

Kia America is recalling more than 460,000 Telluride SUVs and urging people to park their cars away from buildings where they may catch fire.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued an “outdoor parking” recall on behalf of the manufacturer on Friday. The notice affects 462,869 Telluride vehicles from the 2020 to 2024 model years.

The vehicle’s front power seat motors could cause the power seat slide knob to stick and overheat, potentially causing a fire. NHTSA said.

Owners of recalled vehicles will be notified by mail starting July 30th, and can contact Kia customer service for more information.

NHTSA said dealers would install brackets for the power seats and replace them free of charge to fix the problem.

The automaker decided to recall the vehicles on May 29 after receiving reports of one under-seat fire and six meltdowns between August 2022 and March 2024, according to documents.

Drivers of affected cars may find it difficult to adjust their power seats, notice a burning or melting smell, or see smoke, the Associated Press reports.

The Associated Press also notes that this isn’t the first recall involving these vehicles: Kia announced in March that it was recalling more than 427,000 cars of the same model and year for a defect that could cause the vehicles to roll away while parked.