Kia recalls Telluride SUVs over fire risk, tells owners to park outside

Kia recalls Telluride SUVs over fire risk, tells owners to park outside 

June 20, 2024 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA – June 20, 2024 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 462,869 2020-2024 Kia Telluride SUVs over an electrical issue that may result in a fire “while parked or driving.”

This defect increases the risk of crash, injury or property damage.  

This recall is the latest contribution to the long list of Kia and Hyundai fire-related recalls and comes on the back of the “driver seat [catching] on fire while driving.”

Recall summary

The seats in these SUVs are adjusted by electric motors that only come on when the driver engages the seat slide knob. Due to a supplier error, the knob may jam in the ON position, leaving the motors to run continuously.  

Recall risks

A continuously operating electric motor may overheat and burst into flames. The resulting vehicle fire ups the chances of a crash, injury or property damage. 

Warning signs

Besides the inability to adjust the seat, the occupant may notice a burning smell or smoke emerging from underneath it.

Safety tips

Before the repair is done, the manufacturer recommends that drivers park outside and away from structures.

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the back of at least six instances of “localized melting of seat tilt motor” and one instance of the driver seat catching fire. No injuries or crashes have been reported.

This recall is the latest edition of the never-ending Kia fire saga which saw it and its sister company Hyundai recall millions of vehicles over the recent years. Both companies are also subject to an ongoing U.S. government investigation, as reported.

Other Kia recalls

Some of these Kia Telluride SUVs may have been affected by an April recall concerning faulty high beams. 

The same vehicles were recalled later that month over the risk of rollaway when parked, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will install an improved slide knob and an additional supporting bracket free of charge. 

The owners should receive notifications between July 30, 2024, and July 31, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Kia seat fire fire recall affects more than 460,00 SUVs. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia recalls Telluride SUVs over fire risk, tells owners to park outside 
Kia issues second recall for Niro hybrids over fire risk

Kia issues second recall for Niro hybrids over fire risk

November 22, 2022 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA – November 22, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 27,030 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid vehicles whose electric systems may overheat. This may, in extreme cases, result in a vehicle fire, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

This is the second recall for the same issue that comes on the back of five fires and the latest in the long string of both Kia and sister company Hyundai vehicles fire recalls. Vehicles repaired under the previous recall in 2018 will need to have the new remedy implemented.

Recall summary  

Listed vehicles have a series of relays, or switches, under their rear seats which are part of these cars’ electrical systems. The system is collectively called the power relay and contains an element called the main relay due to the important role it plays.

Due to the poor electrical connection, this particular relay may overheat and damage the seat cushion above it. In extreme cases, this may even lead to a vehicle fire. 

Recall risks

As described in previous similar recalls, a fire that occurs while driving is a serious safety concern with a wide range of potential hazards. 

Background of the recall

These vehicles were recalled in 2018 for the same issue and were supposed to received new relays to correct it. However, following several localized fires, the manufacturer discovered that at least some of the cars did not receive the remedy, which prompted another recall.

Warning signs

An overheating main relay may trigger a hybrid system warning sign on the dashboard or prevent the vehicle from being started. 

Other Kia recalls

Kia and their parent company, Hyundai, have been dealing with potential vehicle fires for some time now. The latest in the steak of fiery recalls, which happened just a few days ago, was caused by overheating ABS modules. 

These ongoing issues also caught the U.S. government auto safety regulator’s attention, which is currently investigating whether the current remedies are sufficient to address the fire risk. 

There are no other recent Kia Niro recalls aside from this one.

The repair

To fix these Kia electrical issues, dealers will inspect the power relay assembly for traces of damage caused by overheating. If present, the whole assembly will be replaced with a new one. Otherwise, dealers will replace the original main relay, if still present, with an updated one, made by Panasonic. 

The repair is free of charge, and the owners should be notified on January 9, 2023.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Almost 30,000 hybrid Kia vehicles are affected by this Kia fire risk recall. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia issues second recall for Niro hybrids over fire risk
Kia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire

Kia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire

October 1, 2022 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA – October 1, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 70,887 SUVs that may catch fire while driving or parked. This increases the risk of crash, injury or property damage.

This recall comes on the heels of another recent Kia recall for the same issue and includes the following models:

  • 2016 – 2022 Kia Sorento
  • 2021 – 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid
  • 2022 – 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)
  • 2017 – 2022 Kia Sportage

Recall summary

This recall is very similar to the one from August, which affected certain Kia and Hyundai SUVs. Like in that previous recall, the issue is a defective tow hitch harness module. 

Due to moisture or “foreign material contamination”, the module’s circuit board can experience a short circuit, which can cause overheating or start a fire. Kia has reported at least three vehicle fires and 30 incidences of localized melting as a result of this issue.

The component causing this recall is the tow hitch harness with various part numbers depending on the model, including C6061 ADUS0, C6061 ADUSAQQK and D9061 ADUS6QQK. 

Recall risks

Vehicle fire carries several hazards. You can read more in the above-referenced  article about the earlier Kia and Hyundai fire recall. 

Safety tips

As with the previous recall, Kia advises owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until a remedy is available.

Other Kia recalls

Recent Kia Sorento recalls include one in June 2022 over exploding seat belt retractors. This issue has led to a U.S. government investigation that is currently underway.

In addition, some of the earlier Sorento and Sportage model-years are among the 3 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles at the center of another probe due to multiple non-crash related fires, as reported.

Repair

At this time, Kia is working on a solution and will inform vehicle owners when it becomes available. Once this happens, the repair will be free of charge. 

Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between November 14, 2022, and November 18, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 70,000 SUVs are being recalled over this Kia fire risk. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicKia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire
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