2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid Seat Power Seat Recall (26V173)

Recall 26V173 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid in recall 26V173?

The second-row power seats may fail to detect a person.

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2027 Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige vehicles equipped with the Executive Package. The second-row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat functions, such as one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow.

Is it safe to drive a 2027 Telluride Hybrid with recall 26V173?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the power adjust.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V173?

Recall 26V173 covers 568 vehicles: 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid.

NHTSA lists 568 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Telluride Hybrid seat power seat recall?

Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.

Owners are advised to exercise caution when operating the second-row power seat functions until the repair is performed. Children are advised to not be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operation. The power second-row seat control unit software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC366. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 25, 2026.

When was recall 26V173 announced?

Kia America, Inc. reported recall 26V173 to NHTSA on March 20, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 20, 2026.

This recall was filed 6 months ago. If your Telluride Hybrid was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Telluride Hybrid is part of recall 26V173?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V173 is open on your Telluride Hybrid, 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 26V173000. 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 Hybrid owners do about recall 26V173?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V173000 applies to your Telluride Hybrid.
2. Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. 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.
4. Keep a simple log of any power adjust symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 Hybrid owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 26V173 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 11 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 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.

• 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid: 11 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Can recall 26V173 make my Telluride Hybrid 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 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.

This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 26V173