A Strong Start, Then a Hiccup
The all-new 2027 Kia Telluride has already made meaningful contributions to the brand, with the model setting a new all-time monthly U.S. sales record of 13,198 units last month, just a few hundred units behind the top-selling Sportage. Yet some examples may already be facing issues after Kia recalled 13,499 Telluride units — along with 1,371 2026MY K4 Hatchback units — over a seatbelt anchor buckle problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that, under recall number 26V135, the affected vehicles may be equipped with a center seatbelt anchor buckle that may not latch properly due to a supplier manufacturing error. The defect could increase the risk of injury in a crash because the seatbelt may not properly restrain the occupant.
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Buckle Trouble
The defective component may be found in the third row of the 2027 Telluride — now in its second generation and assembled at Kia’s West Point, Georgia plant for the U.S. market. While the second row can be configured with captain’s chairs, the Telluride remains a three-row crossover SUV, competing with models like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Ford Explorer.
Meanwhile, the K4 has the affected seatbelt anchor in the rear seats. Passengers may notice the defect if they experience difficulty buckling the seatbelt.
According to the safety campaign, affected owners will be instructed to bring their vehicles to a Kia dealership for inspection. If necessary, the anchor buckle assembly will be replaced as part of the remedy. The Korean marque will also reimburse owners who may have paid out of pocket to address the problem.
Gabriel Ionica
What Owners Need to Know
Kia will begin notifying owners about the recall on May 5, 2026. That comes a few weeks after owners of the previous-gen Telluride are set to be notified of a separate recall affecting more than 85,000 2025MY units over loose front seatbacks.
Despite the early issue affecting some 2027 model-year Tellurides, a recall does not automatically signal widespread reliability problems. In many cases, safety campaigns are issued as a precaution or are tied to components supplied by third-party vendors rather than a fundamental vehicle design flaw.
For reference, the all-new Telluride starts at $39,190, excluding destination fees, while the hybrid variant – equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain producing 329 horsepower – begins at $46,490.
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