If anything about a vehicle should be predictable, it's that a stopped one will stay put. In other words, when you shift your car into Park you might reasonably expect that's the last the car will move until you shift back out. As some Kia drivers are learning, though, sometimes things aren't that simple—which is why Kia America, Inc. has recalled 427,407 Telluride SUVs for a possible defect that could make them roll away even when in their transmissions are in Park.
What's Wrong with Kia Tellurides?
According to the NHTSA under recall campaign #24V214000, all Telluride models from 2020-2023 and some 2024 models are being recalled due to potential problems with their front and intermediate driveshafts. The problem appears to be that the driveshafts were not assembled correctly and may not fully engage, which could allow the SUVs to roll away even after they're put into Park and turned off. According to the recall, the rollaway issue could also happen "when the vehicle is stopped in any gear shifter position and the driver's door opens."
What Damage Could the Telluride Defect Cause?
As you might imagine, a vehicle rolling away from where it was supposed to stop it has the potential to cause a lot of chaos like a crash, personal injuries, or even death, depending on who or what it hits. If it's parked on an angled road or driveway, for example, it could travel into the street or active traffic. If it rolls away in a busy parking lot, it stands a non-zero chance of hitting another vehicle or even a person. Even at low speeds, a two-ton SUV like the Telluride can do serious damage to someone on foot.
Why Does This Kia Recall Matter?
There are three main reasons just about any defective-product recall is important: Prevention, recognition, and compensation.
- Prevention mostly relates to keeping people (or at least more people) from being injured by the faulty product. Recalls are generally full of language about how the defect could "possibly" do this or "potentially" do that, playing up the prevention aspect while downplaying cases where the problem already occurred.
Recalls are mostly issued to help the company protect itself, but they serve a practical purpose as well. If word about an issue gets spread effectively, that may keep people from accidentally triggering it. For example, Kia's recall may alert some people to use their e-brakes when parking, at least until they can schedule repairs. - Recognition happens when a recall brings people's attention back to older accidents, but helps them view what happened in a new way. For example, the Kia recall might make someone remember when their Telluride rolled out of its space and hit someone in a parking lot. Now they wonder if the incident might have been their fault, even though investigators said it was at the time. That happens more often than people may realize.
Consider the General Motors "ignition switch" recall a few years ago: Millions of GM, Chevy, and Cadillac vehicles had a problem where a heavy or jiggled keyring could shut off all their electrical systems at random. Over a hundred people died and many more were injured in the wrecks that followed those shutdowns, but it took years before anyone understood what really happened. In the meantime many crash victims were blamed for being careless, but once the truth came out GM found itself on the business end of thousands of lawsuits. - That brings us to the third reason to pay attention to recalls: Compensation. People who use a product for its intended purpose, like parking a Telluride, have a reasonable expectation that the vehicle is built to be as safe as possible. That's because companies have a duty to make the vehicle safe for normal use, and expecting it to stay put when stopped seems pretty normal to me.
The Telluride issue is only one of many glaring examples showing carmakers' efforts aren't always enough. Those that skimp on design or materials or quality control should answer for their negligence and help the people hurt by it. They're unlikely to agree, though, which is why people injured by their failure often benefit from hiring attorneys.
To be clear, defective product malfunctions also happen without related public recalls. Whenever such a malfunction hurts someone, recall or not, the maker of that product should help the victims of its negligence get back on their feet.
What Should I Do about My Recalled Telluride?
In the short term, Kia encourages Telluride owners to engage their vehicles' parking brakes any time they put the vehicles in Park. According to the company that should at least provide a temporary solution to the possible rollaway issue.
Obviously that's not a permanent fix, so Kia says its approved dealers will update the Telluride braking software and replace any damaged driveshafts as needed. Owners of 2020-2024 Tellurides are encouraged to contact Kia customer service or their local dealerships to arrange for maintenance.
Until then, if anyone is seriously injured when their Kia Telluride rolls away—or was injured when someone else's Telluride did so—I have some important advice: Keep track of that vehicle. People who suspect their injuries were caused by a Kia rollaway like the one in the recall should do what they can to preserve every bit of evidence possible, especially the Kia itself. Proving that an auto defect caused your accident almost always takes careful expert examination of the vehicle, and that can't happen if it was parted out or destroyed at a junkyard. So find it, or hire someone who can, and have them give it a thorough examination. What they learn could be crucial for holding a negligent manufacturer responsible for its part in your injuries.