Kia America has recalled 462,869 model year 2020 through 2024 Telluride SUVs because a front power seat motor may overheat and create a fire risk. Federal safety officials have issued a park outside warning, meaning affected owners should keep their vehicles outdoors and away from buildings and other vehicles until the recall repair has been completed.
The July 2026 action is particularly important because it replaces an earlier recall involving the same power seat system. Even Tellurides that received the previous repair may need to return to a dealer for the new remedy.
Which Kia Tellurides Are Included In The Recall
The recall covers certain 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Kia Telluride vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as many as 462,869 vehicles are potentially affected.
Kia’s manufacturer campaign number is SC374, while the NHTSA campaign number is 26V430. The affected vehicles were produced between January 9, 2019, and May 29, 2024.
Owners should not assume that every Telluride from those model years is affected solely based on its year. Recall populations are identified by vehicle identification number, or VIN. Owners can use the official NHTSA recall lookup tool to check whether a particular vehicle has an open safety recall.
Why The Power Seat Can Become A Fire Risk
The problem involves the front power seat adjustment system. An impact to the side cover or seat slide control knob can cause the power seat switch to become dislodged, internally misaligned, or damaged.
If the switch becomes stuck in an active position, the seat motor may continue operating even after the driver or passenger has stopped pressing the control. Continuous operation can cause the motor to overheat.
The problem can occur while the vehicle is being driven or while it is parked. That possibility is why the recall includes instructions to park affected vehicles outdoors until the new repair is performed.
Possible Warning Signs Inside The Vehicle
Kia’s recall filing identifies several signs that may appear before or during a problem. The power seat slide knob may stick, the seat may continue moving after the control has been released, or the seat may become difficult to adjust.
Other possible warning signs include a burning or melting odor and smoke coming from underneath the front seat.
These symptoms should not be treated as normal power seat behavior. Vehicle owners who notice unusual seat movement, odors, heat, or smoke should avoid attempting their own electrical repair and follow the manufacturer’s recall guidance.
Why Owners Are Being Told To Park Outside
The park outside instruction is one of the most important parts of this recall. NHTSA says affected Tellurides should remain outdoors and away from structures and other vehicles until the recall repair is completed.
This guidance is intended to reduce the potential consequences if an affected power seat motor overheats while the SUV is parked.
Owners following the guidance should consider where the vehicle is positioned rather than simply whether it is technically outdoors. Parking immediately beside a building or another vehicle does not provide the same separation contemplated by the recall notice.
The warning remains relevant even when the Telluride appears to operate normally. A vehicle does not need to show an obvious seat problem before its VIN can be included in the recall population.
The 2026 Recall Replaces An Earlier Telluride Recall
This is not the first recall involving the power seats in these Tellurides. Kia previously recalled the same population under NHTSA campaign 24V407 in 2024.
The earlier remedy involved securing the power seat switch back covers and replacing the seat slide knobs. The 2026 recall supersedes that campaign because an improper previous repair can still allow a seat motor to overheat.
This detail matters for owners who remember already taking their Telluride to a dealership for a seat recall. Completing the 2024 repair does not necessarily mean the vehicle has no further action required.
NHTSA specifically states that vehicles already repaired under the previous campaign need to receive the new remedy if they are included in SC374.
What The New Recall Repair Involves
For the new repair, Kia dealers are expected to install an electronic fuse assembly. The component is designed to prevent continuous operation of the seat motor when the seat switch becomes dislodged, misaligned, or damaged.
The recall repair is provided without charge to affected owners. This follows federal recall requirements under which manufacturers provide remedies for covered safety defects.
Owners can also check Kia’s official vehicle recall page for manufacturer recall information and vehicle-specific updates.
NHTSA’s recall schedule listed owner notification mailings for August 13 through August 19, 2026. Because recall letters can arrive at different times, owners do not need to wait for a mailed notice before checking their VIN online.
Kia Reported Fires And Overheated Seat Motors
The recall is not based only on a theoretical concern. NHTSA reported in July that Kia was aware of seven seat fires and 11 cases involving melted seat motors connected with the condition.
The underlying issue has been investigated for several years. Kia’s earlier filings described reports involving smoke from beneath seats, burning odors, overheated seat motors, and localized melting.
The 2026 recall introduces a different type of protection by adding an electronic fuse assembly rather than relying solely on the earlier physical changes to the switch components.
Checking A Telluride By VIN Is The Safest Approach
Model year alone cannot confirm whether an individual vehicle requires the repair. The most reliable approach is to check the 17-character VIN through an official recall database.
The VIN can typically be found at the lower driver’s side of the windshield, on the driver’s door jamb, or on vehicle registration and insurance documents. NHTSA’s VIN lookup shows unrepaired safety recalls reported for a specific vehicle.
Used vehicle buyers may also want to perform a recall check before purchasing a Telluride from the affected model years. A previous owner may have completed some recalls while others remain open.
A recall lookup can also be useful after a repair. Owners should retain dealership service documentation showing which campaign was completed because SC374 replaces the earlier SC303 campaign associated with NHTSA recall 24V407.
What Telluride Owners Should Know Moving Forward
The Kia Telluride park outside recall is notable because it affects nearly half a million SUVs and revisits a power seat issue that was already subject to a previous safety campaign.
Owners of 2020 through 2024 Tellurides should check their VIN rather than relying on model year or a past repair alone. If the vehicle is included in recall SC374, the current guidance is to park it outdoors and away from structures and other vehicles until the new electronic fuse assembly has been installed.
