Kia Announces Major Recall for Telluride SUVs Over Safety Concerns

Kia recalls over 400K Tellurides to fix a rollaway issue, urging owners to use parking brakes until repairs are made.

Kia has announced a recall for 427,407 Telluride SUVs from the 2020-2024 model years due to a risk of the vehicles rolling away when parked. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has highlighted that an incorrect assembly of the intermediate shaft with the right front driveshaft could lead to the SUVs moving unintentionally after being shifted into Park. The issue stems from the possibility of the two shafts not fully engaging, potentially causing damage to the intermediate shaft splines over time. This damage could allow the vehicle to move if the parking brake isn’t applied, a measure Kia is advising owners to take until the recall repairs are carried out.

The potential issue was first spotted by Kia in April 2022, and after two years of investigation, 16 instances were reported where vehicles unexpectedly moved while parked, often accompanied by a grinding noise or an inability to shift into Drive or Reverse. Of these, six Tellurides had visible damage to the intermediate shaft splines, leading to the recall. Kia has stated there have been no reported injuries, crashes, or fatalities linked to this issue.

Starting May 15, Kia will notify affected owners about the recall. Owners will be directed to bring their Tellurides to a Kia dealership, where service technicians will upgrade the electronic parking brake software. This update will ensure the parking brake automatically engages when the vehicle is in Park and the engine is turned off, and also when the vehicle stops and the driver’s door is opened, regardless of the transmission setting. Additionally, Kia will inspect the intermediate shafts of the recalled vehicles, replacing any that show damage.

Source: NHTSA