Kia Recalls Nearly 463,000 Tellurides Over a Seat Switch That Can Catch Fire

Kia is recalling 462,869 Tellurides from the 2020 through 2024 model years over a power seat switch that can overheat and start a fire. The problem starts with physical damage — an impact to the front seat's side cover or slide knob can dislodge the switch internally — which can then leave the seat motor running continuously instead of shutting off, building heat until it ignites. Dealer notifications began July 6, and Kia says a VIN lookup tool goes live July 17, with formal owner notification letters mailed out August 13–19.

This is actually the second time Kia has recalled the same defect. The new campaign supersedes an earlier one, Recall 24V407, and Kia's filing notes that some repairs performed under that first recall were done improperly — recreating the same overheating hazard the fix was supposed to solve. The remedy this time is a small electronic fuse assembly designed to cut power to the seat motor if the switch ever tries to run continuously, installed at no cost to owners.

Until repairs are done, Kia is telling all 462,869 affected owners to park outside and away from buildings or other vehicles. A stuck or continuously-moving seat-adjustment switch, a burning or melting smell, or smoke from beneath the front seat are the warning signs the company is asking owners to watch for. It's a striking scale for a defect that traces back to something as simple as a bumped seat switch — and a reminder that a first recall repair isn't always the last word; Kia's own service network reportedly introduced the same failure mode while fixing it the first time.