Kia is recalling 6,264 model-year 2027 Telluride and Telluride Hybrid SUVs after federal safety filings flagged a driver seat belt that can lock up and refuse to extend when pulled, leaving the driver without a usable restraint. The issue is limited to an early 2027 production run and has been traced to an incorrect sensor installed inside certain driver seat belt assemblies. Dealers will replace the faulty assemblies at no charge once replacement parts are available, and owners will be notified through official recall channels.
What regulators found
As reported by Autoblog, Kia's federal filing says the emergency locking retractor (ELR) in some driver seat belt assemblies may lock right when the driver attempts to pull the belt out. The automaker ties the problem to an incorrect vehicle sensor installed by a supplier, which, in certain conditions, causes the ELR to engage in the wrong direction and keep the belt from extending. When that happens, the restraint is temporarily unavailable, and the risk of injury goes up if a driver is unbelted during a crash.
Which models are affected
According to NHTSA, the action covers 6,264 vehicles: 4,367 Telluride Hybrid units built from March 24 through May 12, 2026, and 1,897 gasoline Telluride units built from March 24 through May 10, 2026. The agency lists federal recall number 26V356 and Kia’s internal recall number SC372, and it estimates that roughly 1% of the involved vehicles may actually contain the defect. NHTSA also notes that VINs for the affected SUVs will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 16 and that owner notification letters are scheduled for July 31.
What owners should do now
Owners of a 2027 Telluride are advised to run their 17-digit VIN through the federal recall lookup after June 16 and to call their local Kia dealer if the vehicle shows up in the system, as noted by FOX 35 Orlando. Dealers will replace the driver seat belt assembly free of charge, and Kia says it will reimburse eligible out-of-pocket repairs under its reimbursement plan, per Cars.com. Drivers with immediate safety concerns can contact Kia customer service or NHTSA’s vehicle-safety hotline for guidance.
Kia's recall-heavy year
This latest campaign lands in the middle of a busy recall stretch for the Telluride line. In June 2024, regulators advised owners of roughly 463,000 earlier Telluride SUVs to “park outside” because of a potential power-seat motor fire risk, according to CBS News. Industry reporting and local coverage have also tracked recent recalls involving seat anchors and seat frames, and Hoodline recently covered a large Carnival recall that has added to scrutiny around supplier quality and production controls. Taken together, regulators and outlets say the string of fixes has sharpened attention on how automakers and suppliers test and monitor critical restraint systems.
Regulatory and legal notes
Federal filings state that the defect creates noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, which covers seat belt assemblies, and that the required remedy is a dealer-installed replacement. As outlined in NHTSA, dealers must install a corrected driver seat belt assembly, and Kia will reimburse eligible prior repairs under its reimbursement program. Owners who encounter problems are encouraged to report them to NHTSA and to keep repair records, since additional remedies or enforcement actions can hinge on those complaints and documents.
