Kia Telluride: Power Seat Motor Overheat Fire Risk (2020–2024)

What the evidence shows

Kia recalled certain 2020-2024 Telluride vehicles because the front power seat motor may overheat, either due to a stuck power seat slide knob or an earlier, incomplete repair under a prior campaign (24V407). This is documented in NHTSA campaign 26V430000, an official safety recall — not an owner complaint pattern or a manufacturer service bulletin.

What this means

An overheating seat motor can result in a fire, whether the vehicle is parked or being driven.

What may be happening mechanically

If the slide-adjustment knob sticks, the motor can continue drawing current against resistance rather than stopping, generating heat that a prior repair may not have fully corrected in every vehicle.

What owners may notice

• The power seat slide knob sticks or feels harder to operate than normal
• A burning smell near the front seats

What to check first

Confirm the power seat slide controls move freely with no sticking, and confirm with a dealer whether campaign 26V430000 (and, if applicable, the earlier 24V407) was completed for the specific VIN.

What this does not prove

A safety recall confirms an identified defect and a required remedy for the specific vehicles covered by NHTSA campaign 26V430000. It does not establish how many vehicles ever actually experienced the described failure, and any symptom listed above can have other causes — a qualified inspection is still the way to confirm the cause on a specific vehicle.

For owners and buyers

If you own or are considering a 2020–2024 Kia Telluride, check the VIN against NHTSA campaign 26V430000 (through the manufacturer or the relevant national recall lookup) to see whether the remedy has already been completed. An open recall is normally repaired by the dealer at no cost to the owner.