Why do Kia seats keep getting recalled for fire and crash risks?
⚠ 2 carry a park-outside (fire risk) advisory.
Kia's seat recalls center on the Telluride. The 2020-2024 Telluride was recalled twice for the same hazard: a stuck power seat slide knob letting the front power seat motor overheat and start a fire, parked or driving. The 2026 repeat also covers Tellurides whose earlier 24V407 repair was done improperly. The 2025 Telluride has a separate problem — power front seat back frames built wrong that may not restrain occupants in a crash. The remaining two are electric and hybrid models: 2024-2025 EV9s missing second- and third-row seat mounting bolts, and 2023-2025 Niro, Niro EV and Niro PHEV with floor wiring under the front passenger seat that can be damaged, disabling front airbags and seat belts or setting off a side curtain airbag.
Warning signs to watch for
- A power seat slide knob on a Telluride that sticks or does not return after you move the seat
- Heat, smoke or a burning smell from the front seat area of a Telluride
- A second- or third-row EV9 seat that feels loose or shifts in its mounts
- A side curtain airbag in a Niro that deploys when it should not
- The EV9 bolt and 2025 Telluride seat frame defects give no warning at all — they only show up in a crash
Is it safe to keep driving?
No Kia seat recall carries a do-not-drive order. For both Telluride power seat motor fire recalls, Kia tells owners to park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, because the fire can start while parked or driving. For the 2024-2025 EV9, the notice does not say stop driving, but it is sensible to avoid carrying passengers in the second and third rows until the bolts are checked. The Niro wiring and 2025 Telluride seat back recalls only bite in a crash, so you can keep driving while you book the free repair — do it promptly.
What the free repair involves
Every repair is free. For the first Telluride fire recall dealers fit a bracket for the power seat switch back covers and replace the seat slide knobs; the 2026 recall installs an electronic fuse assembly. EV9s get missing second- and third-row seat mounting bolts installed, Niros get the floor wiring inspected, replaced or rerouted plus wiring covers, and 2025 Tellurides get seat back frame assemblies inspected and replaced as necessary.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 2 |
| high | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-02 | Kia Telluride power seat motor can overheat and catch fire · park outside | critical |
| 2026-02-23 | Kia Telluride front seat backs may fail in crash | high |
| 2025-01-17 | Kia Niro wiring damage may affect airbags, seat belts | high |
| 2024-12-20 | Kia EV9: second and third row seat bolts missing | high |
| 2024-06-05 | Kia Telluride front seat motor fire risk from stuck knob · park outside | critical |
Common questions
My Telluride was already repaired under recall 24V407 — am I done?
Not necessarily. The 2026 recall covers 2020-2024 Tellurides where the earlier 24V407 repair may have been performed improperly, as well as the stuck slide knob itself. Dealers install an electronic fuse assembly, free, so have it checked again.
Can my kids ride in the back of my EV9 before the repair?
The notice does not ban driving, but the second- and third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing, which matters in a crash. Until a dealer inspects and installs the bolts, it is safer to keep those rows empty.
Does the Niro recall affect the gas hybrid too?
Yes. Kia lists 2023-2025 Niro Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Niro EV. Damaged floor wiring beneath the front passenger seat can stop the front airbags and seat belts working properly or trigger an unintended side curtain airbag.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.