Kia Did It Again: Telluride & Sorento Shipped With Wrong Spare Tires — Here’s How This Happened Twice

Kia Recalls Telluride and Sorento (Again) for Being Fitted with Wrong Spare Tires

Kia has issued a new recall for 45 units of its top-selling 2025 Kia Telluride and 2026 Kia Sorento SUVs after discovering they were fitted with incorrectly sized spare tires during production. This defect violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (Tire Selection and Rims). While the recall is small, it is a familiar and embarrassing mistake for Kia, which faced a nearly identical recall for the same human error at the same Georgia plant just three years ago.

A Small Slip-Up for Kia’s Best-Sellers

The Kia Telluride (101,069 units sold YTD) and Sorento (80,710 units sold YTD) are key drivers of Kia’s success in the U.S. market. The recall, while affecting only a small number of vehicles, is a notable lapse in quality control. (Kia Recalls Telluride and Sorento)

• The Defect: Affected vehicles were equipped with spare tires that did not match the size listed on the vehicle’s tire placard.
• The Cause: The issue was traced back to a “human error” by an assembly line worker at Kia’s Georgia plant, who mistakenly installed the wrong spare tires on a single production day in late August 2025.
• The Risk: Kia states this is a “compliance issue.” However, using an incorrectly sized spare tire can interfere with the anti-lock braking (ABS) and traction control systems, potentially increasing the risk of an accident.

A Familiar Mistake: Déjà Vu from 2022

This recall is a repeat of a previous manufacturing error, raising concerns about assembly line quality control. (Kia Recalls Telluride and Sorento)

• Previous Recall: In 2022, Kia reported a “nearly identical problem” affecting eight Sorento and Telluride vehicles.
• Same Cause: The 2022 recall was also attributed to an assembly line worker fitting the wrong spare tire during post-assembly inspection.
• Current Recall: The latest recall impacts 45 units of 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles.

The Remedy for Affected Owners

Kia is implementing a simple fix for the affected vehicles.

• The Fix: Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail and instructed to visit a Kia dealer for a free replacement of the spare wheel and tire assembly.
• Timeline: Dealers have already been informed, and the remedy process will begin in early December.
• Reimbursement: Kia will reimburse owners who may have already paid for repairs related to this issue.
• Production Corrected: Production at the Georgia facility was corrected immediately, and all subsequent vehicles are built to specification.

Final Thoughts

While the recall for the Kia Telluride and Sorento affects a very small number of vehicles, the fact that this specific “human error” has been repeated at the same plant is concerning. It highlights a minor but persistent gap in Kia’s quality control process, even for its most popular and profitable models. Thankfully, the fix is simple, and Kia is addressing the compliance issue swiftly.

Also Read – Honda Civic Wheel Recall: Over 400,000 Cars At Risk of Wheels Falling Off