Recall 19V594 affects 30,168 2020 Kia Telluride vehicles for seat belts that fail to secure child restraints. Repair is free at any franchised Kia dealer.
Kia is recalling 30,168 2020 Telluride SUVs because seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second row, or third row seats can fail to tightly secure a child restraint in a crash. If a child seat is not properly secured, an occupant has an increased risk of injury, and Kia dealers will replace the affected seat belt assemblies free of charge.
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What's wrong?
In NHTSA campaign 19V594, the affected 2020 Kia Telluride seat belt assemblies are the hardware that hold occupants and child restraints in place during a crash. An automatic locking retractor locks the belt after it is pulled out and tightened around a child seat, so the belt stays tight instead of feeding back out.
On these Tellurides, incorrect seat belt assemblies were installed. Some vehicles have a non-U.S. specification driver seat belt assembly, and the front passenger, second row, or third row belts can have retractors without the automatic locking function. Without that locking feature, a child restraint system is not held as tightly as required in a crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belts can look and feel normal in daily use, so the problem is tied to the installed parts rather than a noise, light, or visible wear.
Who's affected?
The scope includes both front and rear seat belts under the same seat belt recall.
| 2020 Kia Telluride | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Telluride | seat belt |
| Units affected | 30,168 |
Not every 2020 Kia Telluride is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a child seat is not secured correctly, the child occupant faces a higher risk of injury in a crash. Until the inspection is complete, use extra care when installing any child restraint and schedule the recall repair. Repair is free at any franchised Kia dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020 Kia Telluride is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Kia dealer to schedule the free seat-belt inspection and replacement for assemblies that do not tightly secure a child restraint.
- Bring the recall notice if Kia mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V594 when you call.
- Avoid using the recalled seat belts to secure a child restraint until the dealer confirms the correct assemblies are installed or completes the repair.
- Call Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 with questions and reference Kia recall SC181.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kia technician inspects the seat belt assemblies in the front passenger, second row, and third row positions and replaces any incorrect assemblies. The driver's seat belt is also replaced because its label is not the U.S. specification label required for this vehicle. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. If you already paid for a related seat belt repair before the recall notice, Kia's general reimbursement plan covers documented repair expenses already incurred. Bring your repair invoice and proof of payment to Kia customer service or the dealer service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 13, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 16, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| August 16, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 30, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 30, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V594?
Recall 19V594 covers 30,168 2020 Kia Telluride vehicles with certain front passenger, second-row, or third-row seat belt assemblies that do not tightly secure a child restraint system in a crash. Kia dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace incorrect seat belt assemblies for free.
What should I do if my 2020 Kia Telluride is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Telluride is included in recall 19V594. If it is, contact a franchised Kia dealer to schedule the seat belt inspection and any required seat belt replacement. Reference recall number 19V594 or Kia recall SC181 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Kia's remedy states that dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any incorrect seat belt assemblies free of charge at a franchised Kia dealer.
What is the safety risk in this Kia Telluride recall?
The safety risk is injury to a child occupant in a crash. If an affected seat belt assembly does not tightly secure a child restraint system, the child seat is less secure during a crash. The dealer repair replaces incorrect seat belt assemblies.
What if I bought my 2020 Kia Telluride used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Telluride is included, then contact a franchised Kia dealer and reference recall 19V594 or Kia recall SC181.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V594000 |
|---|---|
| Kia customer service | 1-800-333-4542 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V594 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V594000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →