Kia Telluride

2024: Car recall due to defective seats causing cars to burn

In mid-June 2024, car company Kia announced the recall of a number of Telluride SUVs launched from 2020 to 2024 and urged vehicle owners to park outside or away from buildings due to the risk of fire.

The problem identified is related to the failure of the electric motor of the electric front seat, which can overheat "due to the seat handle getting stuck, which can lead to fire and increase the risk of injury," according to a statement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Kia Motors

To solve this problem, dealers will install a bracket on the electric seat switches for free and replace the sliding seat handles, the statement said. Meanwhile, in order to avoid problems, Kia recommended that drivers park on the street until the repair is completed.

According to the National Office, the recall applies to approximately 460,000 cars, and notifications informing car owners are expected to be sent by mail starting July 30. Kia will also reimburse owners for repair costs already incurred, according to information published by the company.

It is known that the Kia safety department in North America began to receive complaints about the appearance of smoke and registered a case of "ignition of the driver's seat while driving." According to published documents, no one was injured as a result of the fire. Due to the problem as a whole, no injuries, accidents or deaths were also reported.

James Bell, a spokesman for Kia, called the issue "very rare." It is known that in September 2023, Hyundai and Kia recalled almost 3.4 million cars to the United States due to the risk of fire in the engine compartment caused by a brake fluid leak. At the time, automakers also advised car owners to park their cars on the street.^[1]

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