The all-new 2027 Kia Telluride has been one of the hottest family SUVs on the market in 2026, but it has also racked up a series of seatbelt-related recalls that are raising serious safety concerns for owners. From anchor buckles that won’t latch to a driver’s seatbelt that can lock up mid-use, Kia has been busy issuing safety campaigns tied to its flagship three-row crossover. Here is a full breakdown of every Kia Telluride seatbelt recall, what it means for you, and what you should do right now.
Overview of the Kia Telluride Seatbelt Recalls
The 2027 Kia Telluride has been hit with multiple seatbelt recalls in a short span of time — a pattern that also affects the 2025 model year in a separate but related campaign. Supplier errors from Samsong Mexico have been identified as the root cause in more than one instance, making this a supply chain story as much as a product defect story.
Here is a quick summary of the active seatbelt recalls tied to the Telluride:
- Recall SC364 (NHTSA 26V135) — Third-row center seatbelt anchor buckle may not latch (2027 Telluride)
- Recall SC362 — Front seatback frame assemblies may fail to restrain occupants (2025 Telluride)
- June 2026 ELR Recall — Driver’s seatbelt emergency locking retractor may lock up (2027 Telluride)
Recall #1: Third-Row Seatbelt Anchor Buckle Defect (SC364 / NHTSA 26V135)
What Is the Problem?
This was the first major seatbelt recall to hit the redesigned 2027 Telluride. The third-row center seatbelt anchor buckle in affected vehicles may not latch properly due to a manufacturing error at the supplier level. If the seatbelt fails to latch, it cannot properly restrain a passenger during a crash, which significantly increases the risk of injury.
Owners may recognize the defect themselves by experiencing difficulty when trying to fasten the third-row center belt.
Which Vehicles Are Affected?
The recall covers 13,499 units of the 2027 Kia Telluride produced between January 2, 2026, and February 19, 2026. The same supplier part was used in the 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback, pulling an additional 1,371 units into the recall — bringing the total affected count to 14,870 vehicles.
The defective components were traced back to Samsong Mexico, the supplier responsible for the seatbelt anchor buckle assemblies. Kia’s West Point, Georgia plant first flagged the issue in February 2026 when workers had difficulty latching the third-row center buckle during production.
What Is Kia Doing About It?
Kia issued a stop-sale order on affected inventory at dealerships, meaning no new Tellurides with the defect could be delivered to customers until each unit passed a seatbelt inspection. For owners who already had their vehicles, Kia dealers were directed to inspect and replace the anchor buckle assembly free of charge.
Owner notification letters were mailed on May 5, 2026. VINs for affected vehicles became searchable on NHTSA.gov starting March 20, 2026. The recall reference number is SC364, and Kia will also reimburse owners who may have already paid out of pocket to fix the problem.
Recall #2: 2025 Telluride Front Seatback Frame Recall (SC362)
What Is the Problem?
While the 2027 Telluride was dealing with its seatbelt anchor issues, a much larger recall was quietly unfolding for owners of the previous-generation 2025 Kia Telluride. This recall involves the front seatback frame assemblies — specifically those in power-equipped front seats. A manufacturing error may cause the driver and passenger seat back frames to fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash.
How Many Vehicles Are Affected?
This recall is significantly larger in scope, covering approximately 85,448 model-year 2025 Kia Telluride vehicles equipped with power front seats.
What Is the Fix?
Dealers will inspect and replace the affected front seatback frame assemblies at no cost to the owner. Owner notification letters began mailing on April 24, 2026. VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov starting March 9, 2026. The recall number is SC362, and owners can contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542 with questions.
Recall #3: Driver’s Seatbelt Emergency Locking Retractor Issue (June 2026)
What Is the Problem?
This is the most recent — and arguably the most alarming — of the Telluride seatbelt recalls. Published in early June 2026, this campaign involves the driver’s seatbelt assembly on certain 2027 Kia Telluride models. The issue stems from an incorrect vehicle sensor installed by Samsong Mexico, which causes the emergency locking retractor (ELR) to lock when the driver attempts to extend the seatbelt webbing. In practical terms, this means the seatbelt becomes completely unusable.
A driver who cannot buckle their seatbelt — or unknowingly uses a belt that locks during a crash — faces a greatly increased risk of serious injury. The affected vehicles also fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, which governs seatbelt assembly requirements.
How Did Kia Find Out?
Kia America became aware of the defect in April 2026 after a techline case was submitted involving a 2027 model year Telluride. Further investigation that same month revealed that Samsong Mexico had installed the wrong vehicle sensor in a batch of driver seatbelt assemblies. At the time the recall was filed, ten warranty claims related to the condition had already been identified.
Which Vehicles Are Affected?
A total of 6,264 units of the 2027 Kia Telluride are covered under this recall — 4,367 Hybrid models and 1,897 combustion-only SUVs. The vehicles were produced at Kia’s West Point, Georgia facility between March 24, 2026, and May 12, 2026.
What Is the Fix and Timeline?
Dealers have already been notified. When the corrected parts are available, dealers will replace the entire driver’s seatbelt assembly with one containing the correct sensor — a repair described as relatively simple and straightforward.
Key dates to know:
- VINs searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 16, 2026
- Owner notification letters expected to be mailed July 31, 2026
This means affected owners currently face a gap of nearly two months before receiving an official mailed notice, though they can check their VIN proactively starting June 16.
How to Check if Your Kia Telluride Is Affected
Checking for open recalls on your Telluride takes less than a minute. Here is how to do it:
- Visit NHTSA.gov — Go to the official NHTSA recall lookup page at nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- Use Kia’s own portal — You can also check at owner.kia.com using your VIN.
- Call Kia Customer Service — Reach Kia directly at 1-800-333-4542 to ask about any open recalls tied to your vehicle.
- Contact your dealership — Any authorized Kia dealer can run your VIN and schedule the recall repair at no charge.
Your VIN is typically found on the driver’s side dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the driver’s door jamb sticker, or on your vehicle registration and insurance cards.
Are There Any Injuries or Accidents Reported?
For the SC364 third-row anchor buckle recall, Kia reported no accidents or injuries linked to the defect at the time of filing — the issue was proactively identified during production at the Georgia plant. Similarly, the June 2026 ELR recall was filed with no reported accidents, though ten warranty claims had been identified. The 2025 Telluride seatback recall has also not been linked to confirmed crash injuries, though the safety risk is significant given the volume of vehicles involved.
What About Other Recent Kia Telluride Recalls?
The seatbelt campaigns are not the only recalls Telluride owners should be aware of in 2026. Other recent safety actions include:
- Door belt molding trim on 2023–2025 Tellurides may delaminate and detach from the vehicle, creating a road hazard (Recall SC347, owner letters mailed November 19, 2025).
- Incorrect spare tire on some 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles that can impair ABS and traction control (Recall SC355, owner letters mailed December 3, 2025).
- Front power seat motor on 2020–2024 Tellurides may overheat due to a stuck seat slide knob, potentially causing a fire.
Kia strongly advises owners of the seat motor recall to park outside and away from structures until the repair is completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is my 2027 Kia Telluride covered by the seatbelt recall? A: Possibly, depending on your production date and VIN. The third-row buckle recall covers Tellurides produced January 2–February 19, 2026. The driver’s ELR recall covers production from March 24–May 12, 2026. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov to confirm.
Q: How much does the recall repair cost me? A: Nothing. All Kia recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships. Kia will also reimburse owners who already paid out of pocket for repairs tied to the recall condition.
Q: Is it safe to drive my Kia Telluride before the recall is repaired? A: For the ELR driver’s seatbelt recall, Kia has not issued a do-not-drive order, but owners should verify whether their seatbelt is functioning properly before driving. If the belt locks when you try to extend it, bring the vehicle to a dealer immediately.
Q: When will I get notified about the June 2026 ELR recall? A: Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 31, 2026. However, you can check your VIN on NHTSA.gov starting June 16, 2026, and bring your vehicle in to a dealer before the letter arrives.
Q: What is Samsong Mexico and why is it involved in multiple recalls? A: Samsong Mexico is an automotive supplier that manufactured seatbelt components used in both the 2027 Telluride and the 2026 K4. The company has been cited as the source of manufacturing errors in both the anchor buckle defect and the incorrect vehicle sensor issue, leading to two separate Kia recalls in 2026.
Q: Does the recall affect the Kia Telluride Hybrid? A: Yes. The June 2026 ELR recall covers both hybrid and combustion-only versions of the 2027 Telluride, with 4,367 hybrid units and 1,897 standard units affected.
Q: Will my Kia Telluride recall repair affect my resale value? A: Completed recall repairs are documented in manufacturer records, which can actually support resale value by demonstrating the vehicle has been properly serviced. Unaddressed open recalls, however, may raise concerns for potential buyers.
If you own a Kia Telluride, don’t wait for the letter in the mail — check your VIN today and drop a comment below if you’ve already been contacted about a recall repair!