2021-2022 Kia Telluride Trailer Hitch Recall (22V626)
Kia America, Inc. · 36,417 vehicles · Reported August 15, 2022
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 36,417 2021-2022 Kia Telluride vehicles. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 22V626 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V626000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC247 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 15, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Kia Telluride |
| Units affected | 36,417 |
| Component | Trailer Hitches |
| Safety risk | A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Kia Telluride in recall 22V626?
Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Telluride vehicles potentially equipped with a Genuine Kia 4-pin tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Telluride with recall 22V626?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 22V626, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V626?
Recall 22V626 covers 36,417 vehicles: 2021-2022 Kia Telluride.
NHTSA lists 36,417 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Kia | Telluride |
What is the fix for the Telluride trailer hitch recall?
Yes. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and a wiring harness extension. Dealers will also inspect and replace the tow hitch harness assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 12, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC247.
When was recall 22V626 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 22V626 to NHTSA on August 15, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 12, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 15, 2022 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V626000. |
| April 12, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 50 months ago. If your Telluride was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Telluride is part of recall 22V626?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V626 is open on your Telluride, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V626000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Telluride owners do about recall 22V626?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V626000 applies to your Telluride.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the trailer hitches happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Telluride owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 689 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 181 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 22V626 was reported on August 15, 2022, owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 7 of them (5%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the other equipment and were received on or after August 15, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 689 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 181 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Kia Telluride: 365 complaints in total, 101 about the other equipment
- 2022 Kia Telluride: 324 complaints in total, 80 about the other equipment
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Recall repairs done at original dealership(bought new). Passenger seat components that were repaired started an electrical fire under the passenger seat while vehicle was driving. There was a horrible smell inside the car and coming thru the air vents so I turned the ac off and smoke started billowing from under the seat.
2022 Kia Telluride owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11635856, filed January 14, 2025
We went to get the vehicle serviced at a dealership we did not buy the vehicle from. we told them to knock out the open decals and when we came to pick up the vehicle they said that the recalls had already been completed.
2022 Kia Telluride owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11691815, filed October 7, 2025
2022 Kia Telluride Issues: 1. **Sunroof:** Completely broken. 2. **Exterior Window Moldings:** Fading and discoloration. 3. **Axel Boots:** Need replacement with less than 60,000 miles on the odometer. 4. **Child Lock:** Malfunctioning.
2022 Kia Telluride owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11698684, filed November 11, 2025
Can recall 22V626 make my Telluride a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 22V626000 does not automatically make your Telluride a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Even an equipment recall can matter in a lemon law claim if the problem keeps coming back or the 2021-2022 Kia Telluride spends many days at the dealer.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Telluride went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Telluride been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Telluride recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V626
Did the recall 22V626 fix work?
Since recall 22V626 was reported on August 15, 2022, owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 7 of them (5%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed April 12, 2023.
Is the 22V626000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Telluride is part of recall 22V626000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V626000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.