NHTSA recalls 462,869 Kia Tellurides over seat-motor fire risk and tells owners to park outside
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced an urgent recall of 462,869 Kia Telluride SUVs because a power-seat motor can overheat and catch fire. The recall covers vehicles from model years 2020 through 2024 and applies to Tellurides distributed in the United States.
NHTSA is telling owners to park affected Tellurides outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until the recall repair is completed. The instruction is an immediate precaution for owners while they wait for the remedy to become available.
The federal agency announced the recall July 9, 2026. Kia has reported seven seat fires and 11 melted seat motors connected to the problem, according to NHTSA.
How the fire risk can develop
The issue involves the power-seat switch and motor. A switch that has become dislodged, misaligned or damaged can cause the seat motor to continue operating instead of stopping when the seat adjustment ends.
Continuous operation can cause the motor to overheat. In some cases, the overheating can lead to a fire. That creates a potential hazard even when a Telluride is parked, which is why NHTSA is directing owners to keep the vehicles away from structures and other vehicles until the repair has been performed.
The reported incidents do not establish that every recalled Telluride will catch fire. They identify the fires and melted motors that Kia reported in connection with the seat-motor issue.
What Telluride owners should do
Owners of vehicles covered by the recall should follow NHTSA’s parking instruction and leave their Tellurides outside, away from buildings and other vehicles, until dealers complete the remedy. The instruction is particularly relevant to owners who normally park in an attached garage, enclosed parking area or close to other vehicles.
Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly as the recall remedy. The repair is intended to address the electrical risk associated with the power-seat motor and prevent the condition that can allow the motor to run continuously.
Kia planned to begin contacting affected owners on August 13, 2026. Once the repair is available, owners can take their vehicles to dealers for installation of the electronic fuse assembly.
Why the recall affects more than one repair campaign
The same issue had already prompted an earlier recall in 2024. NHTSA said improper repairs from that earlier action could leave the hazard unresolved, making the new recall necessary for affected Tellurides even if they had previously received attention related to the problem.
That means a prior repair should not be treated as confirmation that the current recall requirement has been satisfied. Owners should follow the current recall instructions and arrange for the electronic fuse assembly remedy when Kia begins making it available.
The new action covers nearly 463,000 SUVs nationwide. Its practical effect is twofold: owners are being asked to change where they park immediately, and they will need a dealer repair once the remedy is available. Kia’s stated next step is to begin owner notifications August 13.
NHTSA’s July 9 announcement establishes the recall and the park-outside safety instruction. The reported fires and melted motors explain the urgency, while the dealer-installed electronic fuse assembly is the planned repair for the affected 2020–2024 Tellurides.
Sources
- Consumer Alert: Urgent Park Outside Recall Issued for 462K Kia Tellurides, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA Press Releases, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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