Kia America, Inc. has issued a safety recall for 201,149 Telluride vehicles from model years 2023-2025 due to door belt molding trim that can detach while driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety recall report, approximately 6% of these vehicles, or about 12,069 vehicles, are estimated to have the defect.
The recall affects Kia Telluride vehicles manufactured between October 3, 2022, and September 18, 2024.
The defective door belt molding trim can become loose and eventually fall off the vehicle during operation, creating a serious road hazard for other drivers.
When these trim pieces detach and fall onto the roadway, they can cause other vehicles to swerve, brake suddenly, or even crash while trying to avoid the debris.
Why is There a Recall on These Vehicles?
The Kia Telluride recall stems from a supplier quality issue with the door belt molding assembly.
These trim pieces are designed to provide a finished appearance around the door belt area and protect against weather infiltration.
However, due to insufficient application of the adhesive layer between the door belt molding face plate and the base of the molding, the face plate may progressively delaminate and become loose.
The supplier, Saedong, located in Korea, was responsible for manufacturing these door belt weatherstrip components.
According to Kia’s investigation, the adhesive application process was inadequate during assembly at the supplier facility, which results in insufficient bonding between the face plate and base molding.
The recall affects four specific door belt weatherstrip components on each vehicle: front left, front right, rear left, and rear right door belt molding assemblies.
These components have part numbers ranging from 82210-S9100 to 83220-S9510, depending on the specific location and color finish.
How Do I Know If My Kia Telluride is Affected?
To determine if your Kia Telluride is included in this recall, you can check your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) starting August 11, 2025, when the VINs are planned to become searchable in Kia’s system.
Unlike some vehicle defects that have no warning signs, this Kia Telluride door trim issue may provide visual and audible clues before complete detachment occurs.
According to Kia’s recall report, owners may notice that the door belt molding begins to look visually loose, produces rattling sounds, or creates wind noise before the trim pieces completely fall off.
You can verify if your vehicle is affected by:
- Calling Kia’s customer service line at 800-333-4542
- Contacting your local Kia dealership, where service representatives can check your specific vehicle using Kia’s database
- Visiting the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov and entering your VIN once the recall information becomes available
The recall affects all Kia Telluride vehicles manufactured during the specified production period, regardless of trim level or options.
What Are the Dangers of Driving an Affected Kia Telluride?
Driving a Kia Telluride with potentially defective door belt molding trim poses serious safety risks, not just to the vehicle’s occupants but to other drivers on the road.
When door belt molding trim pieces detach while driving, they create immediate road hazards.
These falling trim pieces are obstacles that other drivers must avoid, potentially causing sudden lane changes, hard braking, or swerving that can lead to accidents.
The risk is particularly high because the detachment can happen without warning during normal driving conditions, giving neither the Kia Telluride driver nor other drivers time to prepare for or avoid the hazard.
Steps for Affected Kia Telluride Owners
If you own a 2023-2025 Kia Telluride, here are the important steps you should take:
- Check Your Vehicle’s Status: Contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542 or visit a Kia dealership to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in the recall.
- Wait for Official Notification: Kia plans to begin mailing owner notification letters on September 26, 2025.
- Schedule Your Repair: Once you receive notification, contact your local Kia dealership to schedule the necessary repairs. All repairs will be performed at no cost to vehicle owners.
- Keep Documentation: Save all correspondence, repair records, and receipts related to this recall. If you previously paid for repairs related to this issue, you may be eligible for reimbursement under Kia’s general reimbursement plan.
- Consider Legal Options: If you continue experiencing problems after the recall repair, or if this issue has significantly affected your vehicle’s use or value, consider consulting with a lemon law attorney.
How Consumer Action Law Group Can Help Protect Your Legal Rights
If your Kia Telluride continues to have problems despite recall repairs, or if repeated issues have affected your vehicle’s safety, reliability, or value, you may have rights under California’s lemon law.
Under California’s lemon law, vehicle owners have strong protections when manufacturers cannot fix persistent defects.
When your Kia Telluride requires repeated repairs for the same problem or spends too much time in the shop, the law may require the manufacturer to buy back your vehicle or provide a replacement.
If you believe that your vehicle is a lemon, Consumer Action Law Group is ready to guide you through the claim process.
Reach out to us today for your free case review by calling us at (818) 254-8413 or by filling out our contact form.
Citations
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V494.” NHTSA, 2025, https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V494-5788.pdf.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V494.” NHTSA, 2025, https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCAK-25V494-2122.pdf.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline.” NHTSA, 2025, https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=25V494000.
