Kia is issuing recalls for over 900,000 vehicles from two of its models due to potential safety issues. The first recall affects approximately 463,00 Telluride SUVs in the US market. The second recall involves around 212,00 Ram 250 and 350 trucks produced by Stellantis-owned Dodge.
The Kia Telluride recall is due to a potential fire hazard with the front seats. According to reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat control switches on the front power seats can become misaligned and stuck if they are hit hard by an external object. This issue may cause a small electric motor that moves the seat to run continuously and overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
The recall covers Telluride models from 2020 to 2024. Kia will send out letters to affected owners starting at the end of July, asking them to bring their vehicles in for repairs free of charge. Technicians at dealerships will install reinforcements and improved switches to prevent the seats from catching fire.
No injuries or accidents have been reported as a result of this issue, but Kia has received reports of smoke coming from under the driver and passenger seats. In one instance, a driver reported that their Telluride's driver seat caught fire while they were driving.
The second recall involves Stellantis-owned Dodge SUVs and pickup trucks due to a problem with their anti-lock braking systems (ABS). The ABS system may deactivate, which could prevent the stability control system from functioning properly. This increases the risk of accidents, especially during emergency situations.
The recall covers 2022 Dodge Durangos and Ram 250 and 350 trucks. Stellantis will notify affected owners starting in late July, asking them to bring their vehicles in for repairs free of charge. Technicians at dealerships will update the software on the ABS control module to resolve the issue.
These recalls come after Kia issued a recall earlier this year for over 400,00 Telluride SUVs due to a potential rollaway risk while in park. Stellantis also recalled several of its vehicles earlier this year due to issues with their airbags and fuel tanks.