Kia Recalls Telluride SUV Over Fire Risk; Urging Owners to Park Outside
When can owners of the affected Kia Telluride SUVs expect to receive notification about the recall?
Owners of the affected Kia Telluride SUVs can expect to receive notification about the recall beginning July 30. The recall was issued on Friday and involves certain Telluride SUVs from the years 2020 through 2024. The issue is related to the front power seat motor, which can overheat and potentially result in a fire, increasing the risk of injury. Kia recommends that drivers park outside and away from structures until the necessary repairs are completed. Dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs, free of charge, to fix the issue.
What steps should an owner of an affected Telluride SUV take upon receiving the recall notice?
Upon receiving the recall notice, owners of affected Telluride SUVs should take the following steps:
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Contact your Kia dealer: Immediately contact your authorized Kia dealer to arrange for the recall repair to be performed on your vehicle. This is important for the safety of your passengers and yourself.
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Park your vehicle outside: Until the recall repair is performed, park your vehicle outside and away from structures to mitigate the risk of fire5.
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Schedule a service appointment: Schedule a service appointment with your Kia dealer to minimize inconvenience. The estimated time required to perform the necessary repairs will be approximately one to two hours.
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Inspect and replace, if necessary: Kia dealers will inspect the left and right second-row seat side airbag wire harnesses for damage. If damage is found, the wire harness(es) will be replaced with a new one. If no damage is found, the wire harness(es) will be secured to avoid contact with the seat frame when the seat is folded or adjusted.
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Reimbursement: If you have incurred expenses to remedy this issue prior to the date of the recall notice, you may have the opportunity to obtain reimbursement for that expense. You may submit your receipts online to Kia via the Owners section of www3.kia.com or mail your receipts with a cover letter directly to Kia for review and consideration3.
Remember to follow these steps to ensure the safety of yourself and your passengers, and to minimize any inconvenience caused by the recall.
How does the front power seat motor in the affected Telluride SUVs pose a fire risk?
The front power seat motor in the affected Kia Telluride SUVs can overheat due to a stuck power seat slide knob, potentially resulting in a fire. This issue increases the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that dealers will install a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs to fix the problem, free of charge. Kia has urged owners of the affected vehicles to park outside and away from structures until the necessary repairs are completed.