CNN
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Kia is warning homeowners of virtually 463,000 of its common Telluride SUVs in america to maintain them parked outdoors and away from buildings as a result of the entrance seats might begin burning.
Seat management switches on the entrance energy seats of the SUVs can develop into misaligned and caught in the event that they’re hit onerous by one thing, in accordance with recall paperwork filed with the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration. If that occurs, a small electrical motor that strikes the seat can run repeatedly and overheat.
The recall entails 2020 by way of 2024 Kia Telluride fashions. The Telluride, a roomy SUV with three rows of seats, has been an especially common mannequin for the Korean automaker. Designed in California and in-built Georgia, the Telluride was created particularly to attraction to People. When it first got here out, dealers were unable to keep enough in stock for customers.
The issue was first observed by Kia in 2022 when a buyer reported smoke coming from beneath their Telluride’s driver seat, in accordance with a timeline Kia supplied NHTSA. In 2023, one other buyer complained of a smoke scent from the passenger-side energy seat, which wasn’t working.
Different related instances have been reported later that 12 months. In 2024, not less than one Kia proprietor reported that the motive force’s seat caught fireplace whereas they have been driving. There have been no accidents or accidents on account of the issue, in accordance with Kia.
An investigation by Kia concluded that the issue was with the ability seat switches that could possibly be broken in a manner that causes its motor to overheat.
Kia will ship recalled automobile homeowners letters, beginning on the finish of July, asking them to carry their SUVs to a Kia dealership for repairs — without charge. Service technicians on the sellers will set up reinforcements and improved switches to forestall the seats from burning. Homeowners who suspect their Telluride is likely to be concerned can even name Kia customer support at 1-800-333-4542.
Kia recalled more than 400,000 Tellurides earlier this year for a separate drawback that might permit them to roll away whereas in park.