Kia has announced a recall affecting more than 427,000 of its Telluride SUVs, citing a potential defect that could lead to unintended vehicle movement while parked. The recall, prompted by safety concerns, aims to address issues with the intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft in certain 2020-2024 Telluride models.
Documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlight the risk of incomplete engagement of these components, posing a potential safety hazard that may increase the risk of accidents.
The recall covers 2020-2023 model years and select 2024 model year Tellurides manufactured between January 9, 2019, and October 19, 2023. Kia America has initiated the recall as a proactive measure, with no reported injuries or accidents associated with the issue to date.
Suspected improper assembly has been identified as the root cause of the shaft engagement problem. As part of the recall, Kia will provide free updates to the affected vehicles’ electronic parking brake software and replace any damaged intermediate shafts. Additionally, owners who have incurred repair expenses will be eligible for reimbursement.
In the interim, drivers of the affected Tellurides are advised to manually engage the emergency brake before exiting the vehicle as a precautionary measure. Further information regarding the recall, including vehicle eligibility and next steps, can be accessed through the NHTSA website and Kia’s recall lookup platform.
Owner notification letters are scheduled to be sent out starting May 15, with dealers being informed in advance to facilitate the recall process. For additional inquiries, Kia America can be contacted for further clarification.
