Kia Halts Sales of High-End Telluride Hybrids Due to Power Seats That Could Cause Injury
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Similar to the Hyundai Palisade, certain 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrids have an issue with power seats that could pose a risk of injury.
This issue is significantly less widespread than that of the Palisade, which recently saw Hyundai recall over 69,000 units and suspend sales of the Limited and Calligraphy trims. In contrast, Kia is recalling 568 Telluride Hybrids and pausing sales of the SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige models equipped with the optional Executive Package. These are the only variants that feature power second-row seating and "one-touch" tilt-and-slide seats. According to Kia, these seats “may not recognize obstructions and could continue to move if these features are activated while a person is seated or entering/exiting the rear of the vehicle.”
The issue with the Telluride Hybrid is akin to that of the Palisade, which was connected to an incident resulting in the death of a two-year-old in Ohio on March 7. Hyundai has received reports of four injuries related to the second-row seats and a total of 17 complaints regarding the Palisade’s seat mechanisms from mid-August to March 9; however, Kia has not reported any such incidents. The 2026 Palisade reached dealerships last summer, while the 2027 Telluride is currently just starting to arrive at dealers.
A solution for the power-folding seats of the high-end Telluride Hybrid is being developed, but it has not yet been resolved. As a result, Kia is unable to sell the most premium versions of its best-selling model, which it has just ramped up production of for the fifth time. This is unfortunate considering that the timeline for a recall fix has yet to be determined.
In the meantime, Kia recommends that customers ensure children are not in the rear seating area during the power-folding operations. The manufacturer also cautions against accidentally pressing the power second-row seat controls. Kia intends to inform owners about the remedy program on or before May 19.
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Kia Halts Sales of High-End Telluride Hybrids Due to Power Seats That Could Cause Injury
The power second-row seats in certain Telluride Hybrid models experience the same issue as those found in the Hyundai Palisade.