A recall for 6,264 Kia Telluride and Telluride Hybrids for seat belts that may not extend.
Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride and Telluride Hybrid vehicles. The driver seat belt emergency locking retractor may lock, causing the seat belt strap not to extend. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, “Seat Belt Assemblies.”
Affected VINs should be searchable now at the NHTSA website.
Here is the relevant information from the NHTSA Recall notice:
NHTSA ID Number: 26V356
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Components: SEAT BELTS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 6,264
Estimated percentage with defect: 1%
Descriptive Information
Certain 2027 model year Telluride and Telluride Hybrid vehicles manufactured from March 24, 2026 through May 12, 2026.
The recall population was determined by a review of supplier and vehicle production records. The vehicles subject to this recall were not produced in VIN order. Customers seeking information about their specific vehicle will be referred to Kia’s Customer Care Center or their Kia dealer.
Description of defect or noncompliance:
Due to an error by the supplier, the driver’s seatbelt assembly may contain an incorrect vehicle sensor that, in certain conditions, causes the emergency locking retractor (ELR) to lock when attempting to extend the webbing. A seatbelt that locks when attempting to extend the webbing may be temporarily unavailable as an occupant restraint. As a result, the subject vehicles do not comply with the ELR directional rotation requirements of FMVSS 209, section S4.3(j)(2)(i)(E).
Description of the safety risk, including crash, fire, death, injury:
An unavailable occupant restraint increases the risk of injury to an unbelted driver in the event of a collision.
Description of the cause:
An incorrect vehicle sensor was installed in certain driver seatbelt assemblies.
Identification of any warning that can occur:
Inability to extend the driver’s seatbelt.
Chronology
April 8, 2026 – During routine review of field data, Kia North America (Kia NA) identifies Techline case involving a 2027 Model Year Telluride [Vehicle 1] with a complaint of the driver’s seatbelt getting stuck when pulling webbing and not allowing full extension of the belt. Kia NA informs Kia Georgia and begins monitoring issue.
April 24, 2026 – Kia NA and Kia Georgia inspect a 2027 Model Year Telluride [Vehicle 2] with complaint of driver’s seatbelt locking when extending webbing but are unable to duplicate issue on vehicle. Kia Georgia collects incident part for further evaluation.
April 30, 2026 – Kia Georgia works with seatbelt supplier and identifies supplier may have equipped certain driver seatbelt assemblies with the incorrect vehicle sensor. Kia NA Safety Office conducts preliminary data analysis and identifies ten warranty claims related to driver’s seatbelts locking or not extending. Kia NA Safety Office escalates issue for further investigation.
May 1, 2026—May 15, 2026 – Kia NA Safety Office inspects 2027 Model Year Telluride vehicles in the field and finds seatbelts lock when attempting to extend webbing while vehicles are stationary.
May 18, 2026—May 26, 2026 – Kia HQ provides Kia NA Safety Office performance test report of sample seatbelt assembly with incorrect vehicle sensor for further review with supplier and Kia Georgia. Kia NA Safety Office works with Kia Georgia and supplier to evaluate circumstances surrounding emergency locking retractor (ELR) activation resulting in locking of the driver’s seatbelt at less than 15 degrees when rotated from its orientation in the vehicle.
May 26, 2026 – Kia NA completes regulatory review and finds vehicles equipped with seatbelt assemblies that lock at an angle of less than 15 degrees under zero acceleration loading do not comply with the ELR directional rotation requirements of FMVSS 209, section S4.3(j)(2)(i)(E).
Kia NA Safety Office decides to conduct a noncompliance recall of certain 2027 Model Year Telluride and Telluride Hybrid vehicles. No crashes, injuries, or fatalities.
Remedy
Description of Remedy
Remedy Type: Replace
Description of remedy program:
All owners of the subject vehicles will be notified by first-class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealer. Dealers will replace the driver’s seatbelt assembly with one containing the correct vehicle sensor. Kia will reimburse owners for repair expenses already incurred pursuant to Kia’s General Reimbursement Plan filed April 30, 2026.
How remedy component differs from recalled component:
The remedy component contains the correct vehicle sensor.
Description of recall schedule:
The planned dealer notification begin and end date is June 3, 2026. The planned owner notification begin date is July 31, 2026 and end date is July 31, 2026.
