Kia is voluntarily recalling thousands of vehicles due to a possible defect with the seatbelt that could increase the risk of injury in a crash.
According to a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Kia America, Inc. discovered that the “driver seat belt emergency locking retractor (ELR) may lock” in certain Kia Telluride vehicles, preventing the seat belt strap from extending.
The cause of the defect is linked to an “incorrect vehicle sensor” that was installed in certain driver seatbelt assemblies by one of Kia’s suppliers. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
“An unavailable occupant restraint increases the risk of injury to an unbelted driver in the event of a collision,” the notice reads.
Which Kia Models Are Affected?
The defect is specific to 2027 Kia Telluride and Kia Telluride Hybrid models. No other Kia or Kia Telluride vehicles are equipped with the defective retractor.
Kia Telluride and Kia Telluride Hybrid models manufactured from March 24, 2026, to May 12, 2026, were “potentially” involved in this recall. The total number of affected vehicles is 6,264.
What Affected Owners Should Do
Affected vehicle owners will be instructed to take their vehicles to a Kia dealer, where dealers will “replace the seat belt assembly, free of charge.”
The Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) associated with the recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov starting Tuesday, June 16. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on July 31.
Owners may also reach out to Kia’s customer service team by calling (800)-333-4542, or NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171).
Reporting by Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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