"Park outside" may be becoming the least popular phrase in the automotive industry this year. Just weeks after more than a million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator owners received the same advice, Kia is now telling hundreds of thousands of Telluride drivers to keep their SUVs away from the garage as well.The automaker has announced a new recall covering 462,869 model year 2020-2024 Kia Tellurides after discovering that a defect involving the driver's power seat could create a fire hazard. Until the repair is completed, owners are being advised to park outside and away from homes, garages, and other structures.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem begins with the driver's power seat switch. If the switch becomes damaged, the seat motor can continue operating long after it should have stopped. Normally, that's just a good way to flatten your battery. In this case, however, continuous operation can generate enough heat to overheat the motor and potentially start a fire, whether the SUV is parked or being driven.Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Telluride owners have heard about this issue. Kia previously launched a recall addressing the same underlying concern, but investigators later determined that some vehicles may not have received the earlier repair correctly. Others require an updated remedy, prompting the automaker to launch a new safety campaign.AdvertisementAdvertisementKia says it is aware of seven vehicle fires and 11 incidents involving melted seat motors linked to the defect. Thankfully, no crashes, injuries, or fatalities have been reported.The repair itself is fairly straightforward. Dealers will inspect the driver's power seat switch, install an improved bracket, replace the switch assembly if necessary, and update the software that monitors the seat motor. If the system detects that the motor continues drawing current beyond its intended operating limits, it automatically cuts power before the situation becomes far more serious.Most power seats stop moving when you take your finger off the switch. This one occasionally considered that more of a suggestion.KiaThe timing couldn't be much worse for one of Kia's biggest success stories. The Telluride has spent years earning praise for offering premium styling, generous equipment, and family-friendly practicality without carrying a luxury-brand price tag. Now, hundreds of thousands of owners are temporarily changing one of the simplest parts of their daily routine: where they leave the SUV overnight.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you're shopping for something designed to leave the pavement behind instead, the Ford Bronco finally had the Jeep Wrangler in the rearview mirror during the latest U.S. sales battle, proving the off-road SUV segment remains as competitive as ever.Owners can check whether their Telluride is included by entering the vehicle identification number (VIN) into the NHTSA recall database or Kia's recall website. Owner notification letters are expected to begin mailing on August 13, and all repairs will be performed free of charge.Most recalls end with a software update you'll never notice or a component you didn't know existed. This one temporarily changes where you park a three-row SUV that may have carried your family on countless road trips. That's inconvenient, but it's still considerably better than explaining to your insurance company how your driver's seat decided it wanted a second career as a space heater.This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.