8 ON YOUR SIDE CONSUMER ALERT: Kia recalls nearly 463,000 SUVs due to fire risk, urges owners to park outdoors

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the front power seat motor on the affected Tellurides from the 2020-2024 model years may overheat because of a stuck slide knob.

CBS News reports Kia America estimates that 1% of the SUVs have the defect. The recall covers Tellurides that were built between January 2019 and May 2024, according to recall documents Kia submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Telluride front power seats are equipped with tiny motors that allow passengers to adjust their position.

“A misaligned seat motor control switch with a stuck seat slide knob can lead to continuous operation of a seat motor,” Kia said in the recall. “Over time, this can result in overheating of a seat motor, thereby increasing the risk of a fire while driving or while parked.”

That could potentially result in a fire while the car is parked or being driven. Kia made the decision to recall these vehicles on May 29, NHTSA documents show. That was after it received reports of one under-seat fire and six incidents of localized melting in the seat tilt motor between August 2022 and March 2024. No related injuries, crashes or fatalities were reported at the time.

Telluride owners can recognize if their vehicle is at risk of fire if passengers cannot adjust their seat, if they smell burning under a seat or if they see smoke coming from that area, Kia said in the recall.

Kia said it plans to fix the issue by installing a bracket for the seat switch. Dealerships will install a bracket for free for eligible owners, who will be notified by mail by the company on July 30.

All Tellurides manufactured after May 30 have already had the seat issue resolved, Kia said in the recall.

Owners with questions about the recall can contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542 and use the recall number SC316. Owners can also contact the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)