2023-2025 Kia Telluride Exterior Trim Recall (25V494)
Kia America, Inc. · 201,149 vehicles · Reported July 28, 2025
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 201,149 2023-2025 Kia Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle. A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V494 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V494000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC347 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 28, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023-2025 Kia Telluride |
| Units affected | 201,149 |
| Component | Structure > Exterior Trim |
| Safety risk | A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023-2025 Kia Telluride in recall 25V494?
The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
Is it safe to drive a 2023-2025 Telluride with recall 25V494?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Telluride shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the exterior trim, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V494?
Recall 25V494 covers 201,149 vehicles: 2023-2025 Kia Telluride.
NHTSA lists 201,149 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2025 | Kia | Telluride |
What is the fix for the Telluride exterior trim recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC347.
When was recall 25V494 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 25V494 to NHTSA on July 28, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 19, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 3, 2022 | First affected vehicle built (per Kia America, Inc.'s filing). |
| July 28, 2025 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V494000. |
| November 19, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 14 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 25V494?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V494 is open on your Telluride, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Telluride owners do about recall 25V494?
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 25V494000 applies to your Telluride.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 exterior trim 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Telluride owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 539 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 35 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Since recall 25V494 was reported on July 28, 2025, owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 1 of them (4%) 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 body, doors and seats and were received on or after July 28, 2025, 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 body, doors and seats issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 539 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 35 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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.
- 2024 Kia Telluride: 218 complaints in total, 20 about the body, doors and seats
- 2023 Kia Telluride: 207 complaints in total, 6 about the body, doors and seats
- 2025 Kia Telluride: 114 complaints in total, 9 about the body, doors and seats
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's rear door belt molding trim detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure.
2023 Kia Telluride owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11724778, filed March 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact stated that the lane recognition sensor located on the rearview mirror had exploded. The contact sustained injuries to his face. No medical attention was received.
2023 Kia Telluride owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11523185, filed May 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V430000 (Seats); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair.
2023 Kia Telluride owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11757708, filed August 18, 2026
Can recall 25V494 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Body and latch defects on the 2023-2025 Kia Telluride may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023-2025 Kia Telluride has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 25V494
Did the recall 25V494 fix work?
Since recall 25V494 was reported on July 28, 2025, owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 1 of them (4%) 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 November 19, 2025.
Is the 25V494000 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 25V494000?
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 25V494000 (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.