Kia Recall Issued For Over 30,000 Vehicles
Kia has issued an urgent recall for 32,000 Telluride models due to an issue with the second-row passenger airbags that causes them not to deploy.
Owners of 2023 Kia Tellurides may find their vehicles part of the automaker’s latest recall. Kia America is issuing a recall of 31,943 Telluride vehicles because there is a problem with the second-row seat side airbags. The Kia recall was made when the company discovered a manufacturing error that damaged a wire harness and could keep the airbags from deploying during an accident.
Side airbags are important because they are often the only thing between a passenger’s head and a striking vehicle. They also provide head and chest protection against intruding objects, such as a tree branch or pole. According to IIHS, side airbags must deploy quickly, usually within the first 10 to 20 milliseconds of a side crash.
If the airbags in the Kia recall fail to deploy in an accident, that greatly increases the risk of injury to passengers seated in the second row—where most people place their children. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), side airbags are not specifically mandated in new vehicles. However, nearly all manufacturers include them as standard equipment to meet federal passenger protection requirements.
Dealers will fix the Kia recall issue at no cost to vehicle owners. Kia’s professional mechanics will inspect your Telluride’s second-row side airbags. Then they will secure or replace the defective airbag wire harnesses as needed.
Official notices of the Kia recall will be mailed to the vehicles’ owners by February 28. However, if you have a 2023 Telluride you can go ahead and reach out to Kia to find out if your vehicle is part of the recall. Kia customer service’s phone number is (800) 333-4542 (Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST) and the recall number is SC262.
The car company also provides a safety recalls page where you can search for all Kia recall information from July 1, 1994, onward. Simply enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to learn if your Telluride has a side airbag defect. You can find your VIN on the driver’s side door jamb or on your vehicle’s registration paperwork.
By checking your vehicle through the safety recalls page, you may learn of other applicable recalls. If you discover a Kia recall linked to your VIN, sign into the Kia Owner’s Portal and make an appointment for a service check at your nearest dealership. You can also contact the dealership directly to make a service appointment.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is another good resource for up-to-date information about the Kia recall and other current vehicle recalls. You can call the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit their website. Be sure to have your VIN ready before you call or check for recalls online.
While the Kia recall on 2023 Tellurides should appear on the NHTSA’s website, there may be a delay in finding your VIN in the database. That’s because very recently announced recalls may not have yet identified all affected VINs. Check back regularly as new VINs are constantly added to the site.
To stay on top of all vehicle recall alerts, download NHTSA’s free SaferCar app. It’s available for iOS and Android devices or you can subscribe to receive email alerts. Once you enter your vehicle information, it will automatically send you an alert any time an applicable safety recall is issued.
