Kia’s sales are flying — apparently, some of its parts are, too.
The fast-rising South Korean automaker is recalling more than 300,000 vehicles after owners reported exterior trim pieces were ripping off mid-drive.
The popular Telluride and K5 models are both impacted by the safety bulletin.
Certain 2023 through 2025 Telluride SUVs — the company’s flagship model — has a door piece that can detach while the car is in motion, potentially becoming dangerous debris.
Approximately 201,000 vehicles are impacted by the recall.
A separate warning covers 100,000 K5 sedans from model years 2023 to 2025.
On the K5, a piece of trim near the rear windshield risks flying off.
Kia blamed ‘supplier quality issues’ in both cases and said no injuries or accidents have been reported.
Kia’s K4 mid-size sedan has over 100,000 expected units in a recent recall
In both circumstances, drivers will have to bring their vehicles into dealerships for a fix.
The automaker said replacement parts are not yet available. Drivers and dealerships will receive further notice in mid-September.
Kia declined to provide DailyMail.com with an estimated arrival time for the necessary components.
The parts hiccups come as Kia is having a banner year in the US.
The K5, which starts under $30,000, is one of the most affordable cars on the market.
Its sales are up a staggering 42 percent year-over-year, with over 40,000 units delivered so far in 2025.
Kia’s K5 sales are a rare surge for sedans — the vehicle segment has seen shrinking demand for years, forcing major automakers to discontinued their small-sized options.
But, unlike the rest of the market, even smaller sedans are showing signs of life on Kia’s delership lots.
The Kia Telluride, the flagship SUV in the automaker’s lineup, was impacted by the recall
Sean Yoon, Kia America’s top boss, said the company posted ‘record-breaking first-half sales’ despite industry headwinds
Model Bella Hadid was part of a 2020 ad campaign for the Kia Telluride SUV – the car was considered one of the hottest new vehicle entrants
The company’s new K4, a small-scale replacement for the Forte and the third-cheapest car in the US, has sold more than 61,000 units since it launched earlier this year.
Both sales successes have come as US automakers face a wave of uncertainty, including increasing car parts prices, rising insurance premiums, 25 percent automotive tariffs, supply chain issues, and competition from China.
‘In the face of uncertain market conditions, Kia delivered a record-breaking first-half sales performance,’ Sean Yoon, the president and CEO of Kia North America, said after reporting the numbers.
‘We expect this positive sales trajectory to continue.’
But not every model is keeping pace.
Sales of the Telluride — once Kia’s breakout SUV hit — are starting to soften.
The automaker moved just under 72,000 units of the SUV through the first half of the year, a 12 percent drop from the same period in 2024.
While the Telluride still boasts a loyal following, the model hasn’t seen major design changes since its 2019 US debut.
Rumors have been flying around the SUV, with spectators alleging they’ve spotted a redesigned Telluride for the 2026 model year.
