Yahoo Autos Kia Telluride recall involves 427,000 SUVs over rollaway risk
In a rare stumble for the Kia Telluride, the automaker is recalling 427,407 units over a potential rollaway risk. With the relevant assembly dates of vehicles in the recall pool running from January 9, 2019, to October 19, 2023, we're talking about nearly the entire production run of Kia's massively popular three-row SUV. In cars with the problem, splines on the right front driveshaft and the intermediate driveshaft (located between the two front driveshafts, hence "intermediate") might not engage fully in some instances. Kia's recall report said the problem is "suspected improper assembly by the supplier" of the bearing and bracket assembly where the shafts unite.
Over time, the imprecise alignment can damage the splines. When that happens, good engagement is impossible between the parts that turn the front wheels — the same parts that prevent the front wheels from moving when the transmission is in Park. Kia wrote in its recall report, "Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engaged."
The Kia North America Safety Office began receiving owner complaints in April 2022, drivers noting the "transmission not holding in Park or unintended vehicle movement," the inability to shift the transmission into Park or Reverse, grinding noise, vibration, "or noise when hitting [a] bump and/or while turning."
Accidental rollaway is one of the worst phrases in the industry, so Telluride owners should get this checked and fixed ASAP. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends drivers manually activate the parking brake in the meantime whenever they park the vehicle.
