Kia is initiating a recall for over 427,000 Telluride SUVs due to a potential defect that could allow the vehicles to inadvertently roll away when parked.
This recall concerns certain models from the years 2020 to 2024, specifically those manufactured between January 9, 2019, and October 19, 2023.
What Happened to the Tellurides?
The issue stems from a problem where the intermediate shaft and the right front driveshaft might not be fully connected, posing a risk of unexpected vehicle movement and increasing the likelihood of a crash.
The decision for this recall was made after documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted the risk associated with these vehicles.
While no injuries or crashes have been reported as of the recall announcement, Kia America is taking preventative steps to address the concern.
The recall notably includes all models from the 2020 to 2023 range and some from the 2024 lineup, based on their production dates.
How Will Kia Fix the Issue?
Kia suspects that the root cause of this potential safety hazard is due to improper assembly, affecting an estimated 1% of the vehicles within the specified manufacturing dates.
To address this, Kia dealers will provide updates to the electronic parking brake software and will replace any intermediate shafts found to be damaged, all at no cost to the vehicle owners.
For those who have already paid for repairs related to this issue, Kia America is offering reimbursements.
What Owners Should Do Now
In the meantime, until the recall repairs can be made, Kia has advised owners of the affected Telluride models to use the manual emergency brake every time they park their vehicle to prevent any unintended movement.
Vehicle owners can check whether their Telluride is included in the recall by visiting the NHTSA website or Kia’s own recall lookup tool. Kia plans to begin sending out notification letters to owners on May 15, with dealers being notified shortly before this date to prepare for the recall services.
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