Kia’s North America-focused SUV, the Telluride, faces a massive recall. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 427,407 vehicles—including all Telluride models manufactured from 2020 to 2023 and part of the 2024 production—have been included in the recall. The recall was issued due to the risk that vehicles may unintentionally move while parked.
According to the NHTSA report and CNN coverage, the defect originates from the improper assembly of steering system components. A key part of the steering column may not have been appropriately secured, and over time, wear or damage could lead to the vehicle becoming unstable even when in park. In particular, if the electronic parking brake is not activated, the vehicle may roll on slopes, posing a major safety risk.
Faulty steering component assembly and drive shaft disengagement
Initial reports suggested a software problem with the electronic parking brake as the cause, but the actual reasons for the recall are more complex. In addition to the steering component assembly issue, some models were found to have drive shafts that were not properly engaged with the gearbox. As a result, even when the vehicle is in the “P” (park) position, the wheels can move freely due to a structural defect.
Kia has acknowledged that this issue cannot be resolved with a software update alone. In coordination with the NHTSA, the company is operating a recall program that includes inspecting and replacing mechanical parts in affected vehicles. A vehicle that moves unintentionally is more than just a functional defect—it poses a potentially fatal risk, especially to pedestrians.
Reports have emerged from Telluride owners in the U.S. describing incidents where their parked vehicles rolled down slopes on their own. The NHTSA believes that this recall will help prevent accidents caused by loss of control, and owners will be offered free inspections and part replacements through authorized dealerships.
Concerns grow over trust in Kia’s overall vehicle quality
As a strategic model developed for the North American market, the recall applies only to vehicles in the U.S. and certain export markets. What’s most significant about this issue is that it could affect not only Telluride but also Kia’s brand reputation as a whole. Defects in critical components such as the steering system, drive shaft, and electronic parking brake directly impact fundamental driving safety and will likely raise broader consumer concerns. Such structural risks may not be confined to the Telluride alone—they could potentially affect other Kia SUV models that share the same platform or component configurations.
Kia is handling the recall process transparently and providing maintenance schedules through its dealer network in the U.S. However, this incident goes beyond a mere recall—it underscores the importance of integrated quality control between electronic systems and mechanical structures, and the need for a more cohesive approach to hardware integrity in vehicle production.
