Kia Telluride Recalled Over Issue Linked To Child's Death In Hyundai Palisade

A few days ago, Hyundai issued a stop-sale order for the Palisade SUV after a fatal accident that claimed a child's life. The automaker promptly acknowledged that the rear power rear seats may malfunction, posing a potential hazard in some situations. Triggered by the accident, the recall has now expanded to 2027 Kia Telluride SUVs. The dealers have been instructed to halt sales of these models and resume only after the complete repairs.

The recall potentially covers 568 cars. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) filing claims that the Hybrid SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige variants of the Telluride with the Executive Package have powered seats in the second row, which may fail to detect a person or object. The problem, if not addressed, may continue to move even when a person or object is in contact.

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The aforementioned issue is the same one that was addressed in the recall for the 2026 Hyundai Palisade. However, no injuries related to the problem have been reported in any Kia car. As a precautionary measure, the recall mentions that the children are advised not to sit in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operation.

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The initial recall issued by Hyundai Motor Company covered 61,000 Palisade SUVs sold in the USA. The same recall restricts the sales of the SUV in Canada until the recall is complete. In the meantime, the owners of the vehicles are advised to be extremely cautious when using the power folding feature of the seats.

The complexity of modern seating systems presents a significant drawback. Features meant to make access to the third row easier are now motorised and automated, relying on software control. This shift increases the potential for malfunctions, and when issues occur, the consequences can be far more serious than a simple jammed manual latch. Additionally, manufacturers currently do not have a solution to address these problems.