3rd row middle headrest stuck!

[wgesc]

I used a screwdriver to pry up caps.

 

[Rpdc]

You should name the dealer. They deserve to be shamed.

agree. That is ridiculous dealer behavior.

 

[Journeymnn]

Our son or one of his friends accidentally reversed the middle row headrests, and like others, I couldn't release them. After reading this thread, I found a fairly simple solution.

1) Insert a slot (flat head) screwdriver just barely under the plastic cover surrounding the post that does NOT have the push button, which is on the OTHER post. If 12 o'clock is directly behind the post as you sit in the seat, facing backwards, then insert the screwdriver at 9 o'clock. See picture for example.
2) Lift the plastic cover just enough to insert your screwdriver further in, pushing a hidden button that is under the plastic cover. You'll feel it give.
3) Let go of the screwdriver. The padding on the seat and the downward pressure of the plastic cover will sandwich the screwdriver in place. There is NO NEED TO REMOVE the plastic cover.
4) Push the lock button on the post that doesn't have the screwdriver and the headrest will lift right out.

I've attached a picture. The screwdriver is locked in place, pushing the hidden button. I love my Telluride, but I hope Kia fixes this obvious design flaw in the next model.

 

[TheNip73]

Good info. Photo is not present.

______________________________

 

[Tellthemride]

Have headrests been reversed in other cars models and easily removed for comparison?

I’m having a hard time imagining manufactures actually quality check for something like this happening.

I understand cars that have seats with headrests that aren’t collapsable or flush when collapsed need to be removed when you want to fold flat. But the third row head rests do collapse on the outside seats and lowers flush with the seat for the middle.

For the second row seats, just need to slide the seats back to fold flat with the head rests still on.

 

[Journeymnn]

Good info. Photo is not present.

I’m sorry. I’m new to the forum. I could see it on my post, so maybe a permission issue? I tried to upload it to Google Drive and provide a link but that didn’t work. So I uploaded it to my media in the forum and linked. I guess that didn’t work. I’ve now seen an option to attach files that I must have missed before. Hopefully picture visible now.

 

[Krypto79]

Thank you so much for this help. I had incorrectly reinserted the headrest on the second bench seat behind the driver's seat. I took it to the dealer and was informed that the fix essentially involved a replacement of the entire captain's seat. I would be charged $1500-$1700 dollars. A woman who had two headrests to remove had already paid $3000.

Once I knew what to do, it was so easy! I only needed to remove the round plastic cover on the side that does not have the exterior adjustment button. This round plastic cover conceals a button that depresses easily and is obviously intended to resolve exactly this problem.

I really appreciate the guidance on the forum.View attachment 6442View attachment 6443View attachment 6444

Thank you for explaining that it is the opposite side hole of the exterior adjustment button. I was looking for a pin on the wrong hole. I ended up using a zip tie pushing it down and over facing the window and it pushed the pin in without having to remove the cover as it wasn’t coming off very easy.

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[WatchNWait]

It pops off easier from the back...ask me how I know

______________________________

 

[Jasondorin]

Because if you use car seat protectors they need to wrap around the head rest and if you just remove it the back of the car seat protector doesn’t stay up and won’t function.

Hi, did you ever figure out how to remove the plastic cover? I am trying and feel like I will end up cracking it I pry further. Thanks.

 

[Jasondorin]

just go it...no need to reply.

 

[G-995153]

Thank you! This is the method that worked for me!

 

[pbriand]

Our son or one of his friends accidentally reversed the middle row headrests, and like others, I couldn't release them. After reading this thread, I found a fairly simple solution.

1) Insert a slot (flat head) screwdriver just barely under the plastic cover surrounding the post that does NOT have the push button, which is on the OTHER post. If 12 o'clock is directly behind the post as you sit in the seat, facing backwards, then insert the screwdriver at 9 o'clock. See picture for example.
2) Lift the plastic cover just enough to insert your screwdriver further in, pushing a hidden button that is under the plastic cover. You'll feel it give.
3) Let go of the screwdriver. The padding on the seat and the downward pressure of the plastic cover will sandwich the screwdriver in place. There is NO NEED TO REMOVE the plastic cover.
4) Push the lock button on the post that doesn't have the screwdriver and the headrest will lift right out.

I've attached a picture. The screwdriver is locked in place, pushing the hidden button. I love my Telluride, but I hope Kia fixes this obvious design flaw in the next model.

Awesome! This worked perfectly as described! Thank you very very much. And, no, this wasn't the dealer's fault. It was my fault when I put the seats down and removed the headrests. This was totally my doing, and I'm grateful as a new member for this forum.

______________________________

 

[SpecialKFL]

Our son or one of his friends accidentally reversed the middle row headrests, and like others, I couldn't release them. After reading this thread, I found a fairly simple solution.

1) Insert a slot (flat head) screwdriver just barely under the plastic cover surrounding the post that does NOT have the push button, which is on the OTHER post. If 12 o'clock is directly behind the post as you sit in the seat, facing backwards, then insert the screwdriver at 9 o'clock. See picture for example.
2) Lift the plastic cover just enough to insert your screwdriver further in, pushing a hidden button that is under the plastic cover. You'll feel it give.
3) Let go of the screwdriver. The padding on the seat and the downward pressure of the plastic cover will sandwich the screwdriver in place. There is NO NEED TO REMOVE the plastic cover.
4) Push the lock button on the post that doesn't have the screwdriver and the headrest will lift right out.

I've attached a picture. The screwdriver is locked in place, pushing the hidden button. I love my Telluride, but I hope Kia fixes this obvious design flaw in the next model.

Ohhhhhhh. Thank you sooooo much for this video. We were just vacationing and my granddaughter put my headrest in backwards. Other videos show people reaching way down to find the "hidden button". I was too but finally figured out it's right under the black plastic cover. It took me an hour but I finally got it and I'm so relieved. I love my little 2021 Nightfall edition Kia and didn't want anything wrong with it. Thank you again for your help and the informative video. For others, don't stick items way down -- it's right under the plastic cover and you don't need to even remove it.

 

[HillCountry]

FWIW, I don’t think this is necessarily a KIA design flaw. Every other car I’ve owned has had similar headrest posts. I suspect the lock keeps the headrest from becoming a projectile in a crash.

 

[RobertAU]

Thank you so much for this help. I had incorrectly reinserted the headrest on the second bench seat behind the driver's seat. I took it to the dealer and was informed that the fix essentially involved a replacement of the entire captain's seat. I would be charged $1500-$1700 dollars. A woman who had two headrests to remove had already paid $3000.

Once I knew what to do, it was so easy! I only needed to remove the round plastic cover on the side that does not have the exterior adjustment button. This round plastic cover conceals a button that depresses easily and is obviously intended to resolve exactly this problem.

I really appreciate the guidance on the forum.View attachment 6442View attachment 6443View attachment 6444

 

[Bluebottlecap1]

I just this post cause well, you know haha… hoping I can easily pop out the headrest and reinstall correctly now. I’m using the Chicco Kidfit high back booster which seems to need headrest removed or go backless. Has anyone found a high back booster that can fit flush with the headrest installed?

______________________________

 

[Bluebottlecap1]

It also looks like 3rd row headrest is slimmer than the ones on the captains chairs… does anyone know (without me trying and potentially getting another headrest stuck) if they are interchangeable? Thanks!

 

[G-698366]

Thank you so much for this help. I had incorrectly reinserted the headrest on the second bench seat behind the driver's seat. I took it to the dealer and was informed that the fix essentially involved a replacement of the entire captain's seat. I would be charged $1500-$1700 dollars. A woman who had two headrests to remove had already paid $3000.

Once I knew what to do, it was so easy! I only needed to remove the round plastic cover on the side that does not have the exterior adjustment button. This round plastic cover conceals a button that depresses easily and is obviously intended to resolve exactly this problem.

I really appreciate the guidance on the forum.View attachment 6442View attachment 6443View attachment 6444

This worked perfectly!!!!! thank you sooo much!!!

 

[G-651133]

My kids turned the 3rd row middle headrest around and insert it, and now I can’t remove it.

I want to see if anyone can take a picture of the headrest arms and so I can see why it is getting stuck. Thanks.

There is a discussion about the headrest in this forum. Read it and do exactly what it says and it won’t be a problem to fix it but it is tricky. I worked on it for days before I finally figured out where the little button was to release the headrest. Once I figured it out it was so simple it was crazy. My grands did it to my headrest while we were on vacation and it bugged me the entire time we were gone. Lol.

 

[sf77-2020Telly]

Just a note:
- I also had this issue (had moved it around to better deal with a kid's car seat)
- "Journeymnn"s post is spot on !! SOO helpful.
- That being said, like WatchNWait, I found it easier to pop some of it off from the back (so 6-o'clock position) as I was really struggling to get it to work at the 9-o'clock position. Going from the back, I was able to lift it a bit and then more easy push in. Like Journeymnn says, once you do that, don't forget to also then use the main button on the other post to get it to release.
Thanks again for everyone's help - really saved me.