The Passenger Seat on her Kia Telluride is Stuck in the Back Position, but the Dealer says Nothing is Wrong. The Owner is not Able to Reach the Pedals in the Seat's Current Position

Nicole Jones contacted other Kia Telluride Complaints Facebook Group members, asking if anyone else had experienced the driver’s seat getting stuck in the back position. Not only is the seat not moving back to its previously saved settings, but the programmed button also does not respond. In her post, she states, 

“Is Anyone having issues with the seat getting stuck in the back position, Meaning it does not move back up to your saved settings? The programmed button on the door doesn't work either. The dealer said nothing was wrong, and Kia wouldn't fix it unless it could be recreated while at the dealership. I cannot reach the pedals to drive it there when the seat is not working since that is what I was told to do.” She also took a video, hoping it proved she was not lying. Nicole also mentioned it was a 2023 SX X-line with 21,000 miles, so this would be well within any warranty obligations. 

Aside from the impracticality of being unable to drive because they cannot reach the pedals, there are also safety risks. These include driver control. The inability to adjust their seating can prevent the driver from maintaining appropriate vehicle control, increasing the risk of an accident. It also poses a fire hazard. Continuous motor operations because of misaligned switches may lead to cases of overheating or potential fire, thereby endangering passengers. Failure to address the problem may also further exacerbate the potential for accidents.

Reported cases of Power Seat Malfunctioning

Many Telluride owners have previously reported cases where the driver’s seat became stuck in a back or reclined position. A Kia Telluride owner shared an experience in a forum where their driver’s seat could not be moved back or forward. However, it was possible to make vertical adjustments. His vehicle had only covered 60,000 miles, and the dealership quoted $190 to diagnose the problem. In another case involving a 2024 Telluride, the owner reported erratic seat movements where the seat randomly pinned them against the steering wheel. 

Their dealership claimed it was because of loose wires and recommended a job costing over $2,500. Seat malfunctioning is not isolated to Telluride, though. A Kia Stinger owner reported that their passenger seat had become stuck after being moved forward for cleaning purposes. Despite various attempts to solve the problem, including using a rubber mallet or lubricating the rail, the seat remained in place. 

Dealership and Manufacturer Responsibilities

While the manufacturer offers the framework for handling defects, the dealerships are the first option for customer service and overall maintenance. So, the dealership should not dismiss customer complaints, as was the case this time. They are also not allowed to impose huge diagnostic fees for problems linked to a known defect. In situations where the defect has to be recreated before warranty coverage applies, the technicians at the dealership have to make reasonable efforts to diagnose the problem as opposed to leaving the burden on the client. The obligation is also on the manufacturer. 

Like all manufacturers, Kia has a duty to make, design, and sell vehicles that meet performance standards. They must also investigate an issue if multiple individuals have reported a problem. They must investigate the defect to determine the root cause and assess if it is a safety hazard. If it is a valid issue, they may cover the repair cost or issue a recall while providing a replacement.  There have been previous cases where Kia, following investigations, had to recall their vehicles. The most recent case was in 2022, where they recalled 462,000 Tellurides due to fire risk. 

Nicole’s concerns about the seat positioning are valid based on the video and photographic evidence provided. Hence, Kia and its dealership have an ethical and legal obligation to address the issue. This is enforced by the NHTSA and state consumer protection laws, which even offer recourse for customers with unaddressed malfunctions. 

Image source: KIA Telluride Complaints Facebook Group and Kia.com Inventory

Nicholas Muhoro is an automotive journalist covering car news and has a decade of experience sharing working at HotCars and TopSpeed. You can follow Nicholas on X and on LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow his news coverage at Torque News.