Recall of 427,000 Kia Telluride SUVs announced due to rollaway risk

In a recent development, Kia is issuing a recall for 427,407 units of the Telluride SUV due to a potential rollaway risk. The affected vehicles, manufactured between January 9, 2019, and October 19, 2023, are being recalled because the splines on the right front driveshaft and the intermediate driveshaft may not fully engage, leading to unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engaged. This issue is suspected to be a result of improper assembly by the supplier of the bearing and bracket assembly where the shafts unite.

Owners have reported various symptoms related to this problem, including transmission not holding in Park, unintended vehicle movement, difficulty shifting into Park or Reverse, grinding noise, vibration, and noise when hitting a bump or turning. To address this issue, Kia dealers will install updated Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) software to automatically engage the EPB to prevent unintended vehicle movement when certain conditions are met. Additionally, dealers will inspect the shafts and bearing and bracket assembly, replacing any damaged parts as necessary.

Kia estimates that only 1% of the recalled vehicles may be affected, with reported cases of unintended vehicle movement while in Park being minimal. Letters to owners will be sent out by May 15, but owners are encouraged to contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542 with reference to internal recall number SC303 for more information. In the meantime, owners can manually activate the parking brake when parking the vehicle as a precaution.

It is unclear whether the Hyundai Palisade, which shares similarities with the Kia Telluride, could be affected by a similar issue. Any updates regarding the Palisade’s involvement will be communicated once available. For further information, owners can contact the NHTSA Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit www.nhtsa.gov, referencing campaign number 24V214000.