2023 Telluride Trailer Hitch Receiver availability

[corsair]

That is totally insane. I almost don’t even believe it. I huge advertising point of the new X-Pro/X-Line is towing and they discontinue the OEM hitch. What a botched launch.

I doubt it is discontinued, just delayed.

 

[mschimmel24]

I bought a 2023 Telluride SX X-line last week that came with the Tow option. However, it had no hitch receiver installed. The dealer assured me they would get the parts and install the tow package this week. They called today to tell me Kia has not released the parts for the hitch receiver yet and Kia has no forecast date of availability for the kit.

Do any of you have better availability information than my dealer is providing?

Same story here, dealer actually made me drive 100 miles to get one put on and after being there for two hours they figured out they only have the 2022 hitch and it's apparently not compatible. I had to install an after market hitch and now I'm having an issue with the wiring. My trailer lights stay on consistently and I'm getting a burnt rubber smell after towing.

 

[2020Telly]

So it sounds like they are just going the route of the Palisade with aftermarket hitches that hang below the bumper for all 2023s? Then possibly wait for Curt and Tekonsha to make a solid plug and play harness for the OEM socket on the 2023. Maybe they supplied the specs to Curt and Tekonsha so they can fast track something? I wonder if any non-X 2023 has the wiring like the 2021-2022 but the "tow mode" trims (X-Line and X-Pro) include the new box under the carpet of the luggage compartment. Maybe Kia discontinued the more advanced harness but Hyundai is continuing to sell it?

 

[mschimmel24]

This sale of non-existent hitches may actually be a way Kia is dealing with the absence of an OEM hitch…close the sale and then discover there is no hitch. I don’t believe in coincidences. And the Kia parts dealers I have contacted tell me the hitch has not even been designed by Kia yet. That means it has no part number in the Kia parts database. How can a salesman sell an OEM kit that has no part number? Go figure.

A good lawyer could turn this into a class action against Kia If enough phony sales exist.

I would be in for a class action as I also was sold a tow package with no hitch and the sales person sold me on a 2022 hitch and it wasn't until the service dept. tried installing it did they tell me one wasn't available. I had to put an aftermarket hitch on and now I have bad wiring and burning rubber smell when I tow.

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[hlipham]

So it sounds like they are just going the route of the Palisade with aftermarket hitches that hang below the bumper for all 2023s? Then possibly wait for Curt and Tekonsha to make a solid plug and play harness for the OEM socket on the 2023. Maybe they supplied the specs to Curt and Tekonsha so they can fast track something? I wonder if any non-X 2023 has the wiring like the 2021-2022 but the "tow mode" trims (X-Line and X-Pro) include the new box under the carpet of the luggage compartment. Maybe Kia discontinued the more advanced harness but Hyundai is continuing to sell it?

I installed a 22 OEM hitch on my 23 Telluride. I paid the extra for the OEM hitch specifically because I did not want it to hang down lower as the aftermarket hitches do. Aside from having to add a washer on one side, it just fine.

 

[Illiniboy]

Has anyone tried buying the new Trailer wiring harness for the palisade that is being sold in Canada?

 

[AkayV]

I would be in for a class action as I also was sold a tow package with no hitch and the sales person sold me on a 2022 hitch and it wasn't until the service dept. tried installing it did they tell me one wasn't available. I had to put an aftermarket hitch on and now I have bad wiring and burning rubber smell when I tow.

Agree. Know any lawyers? Great if they have a Kia.

 

[AkayV]

That is totally insane. I almost don’t even believe it. I huge advertising point of the new X-Pro/X-Line is towing and they discontinue the OEM hitch. What a botched launch.

2023 Telluride towing answer. Class action
anyone know any lawyers?
Suing is often necessary for corporations to be ethical and law-abiding.

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[AkayV]

Having read all the comments it's very concerning that I won't be set to tow for planned trip this coming May When I purchased my 2023 Telluride EX X-line I specifically asked the dealer if I could also order a hitch installed ( this was in September ) They told me I did not need to order a hitch. They said it already came with one! Now they don't even have hitches to install nor wiring harnesses. At the time I purchased, the tow hitch was listed as an option on the "build it" link. Now its not even listed?

2023 Telluride towing answer. Class action
Kia falsely advertised towing ability on 2023 Telluride. I do not know a lawyer Or know where to begin?
Suing is often necessary for corporations to be ethical or law-abiding.

 

[G-887756]

Sadly, here we are in January of 2023 and I was on the verge of buying a Telluride and was being given a huge run around from my dealer. Like advising me to go to U haul and get a trailer hitch from them for half the price. Pushing for a full kit that has the modification to the bumper is really a concern, I don't want to spend $50,000 on a vehicle and then have to remove part of the bumper to get a trailer hitch. The deception is really frustrating and just cost Kia a customer. Super disappointing, I really like the Telluride. But if this is the dishonesty they are giving me on this issue, before I even purchase..... Does not give warm fuzzy feelings for any future relationship. Thank you to all who posted, you helped me to see this is a company wide issue of not being transparent and one I am happy to avoid getting locked into.

 

[sinerge]

Almost considered getting a 23 Honda Pilot Trailsport, since that came in slightly cheaper than my 23 SX Xpro, AND included a hitch, skid plates, full-sized spare and rubber mats. Anyway, I tried the Draw-Tite 76420 and I couldn't install it since the holes were off. I got the specs from Draw-tite and apparently the hitch was bent/off by a half inch. Nevertheless, I was having a hard time just getting the horizontal bolt to go through on the exhaust side, even without the hitch and with a mallet. Does anyone know if the diameter of the bolts used by other brands is smaller than the Draw-Tite M12?

 

[2020Telly]

Almost considered getting a 23 Honda Pilot Trailsport, since that came in slightly cheaper than my 23 SX Xpro, AND included a hitch, skid plates, full-sized spare and rubber mats. Anyway, I tried the Draw-Tite 76420 and I couldn't install it since the holes were off. I got the specs from Draw-tite and apparently the hitch was bent/off by a half inch. Nevertheless, I was having a hard time just getting the horizontal bolt to go through on the exhaust side, even without the hitch and with a mallet. Does anyone know if the diameter of the bolts used by other brands is smaller than the Draw-Tite M12?

Based on the OEM instructions, the horizontal bolts are M12 and they use washers and nuts, but the vertical bolts that go up are M10 are threaded into the frame. There were also two holes that used a special 7/16" bolt with part of the head chopped off. Maybe that's your issue? Reference steps 13 and 16

It sucks that the hitch was bent. I felt the OEM hitch was a bit snug when I was trying to get the horizontal ones in and on one of the bolts I had to do a lot of adjusting and gentle tapping, but it wasn't off by so much that it required serious pounding that might damage the thread. I can say that I didn't fully tighten until I got all the bolts on then I used a torque wrench. Best of luck to you.

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[G-458702]

My dealer installed a hitch but did not in lude a wiring harness nor the new moulded bumper trim on my 2023 X-Pro.

They simply told me they don't have a part number for either and that I should go to a local trailer shop.

Quite frustrating after spending this much on a new vehicle with a 5500lbs tow rating.

 

[G-501401]

I finally got my $1,200 back from the dealer for hitch parts that do not exist. It is still hard for me to digest the idea that the salesman scammed me into paying for parts that do not exist in order to close the deal (he could see that I was not going to buy without a hitch). He still says he did not know the parts are not available even though the information is readily available on the Internet including here.

BTW, neither Kia Corp nor the local sales manager made any apparent effort to resolve the issue even though I reported it to both. Customer satisfaction does not appear to be a high priority in Kia. I am not looking forward to a long relationship with them.

I had the same issue in Florida at the Kia dealer they lie to me and I still have no hitch I’m ready to stick the freaking truck up their ass

 

[TNTell]

So no word on when the factory tow might be available?

 

[Jimtrucky]

We just bought an X Pro last week. I was never told that Kia does not have a hitch for the vehicle. Dealer kept the vehicle to install the OEM hitch. Just told today that Kia does not have a hitch for their 2023.

How can Kia sell a trim package that is specific to towing and not have a hitch!?

Especially on a vehicle selling well above MSRP.

Exactly the same thing in my case. I bought the 2023 SX X-Pro. All the hype about its fabulous heavy duty cooling and tow mode, self leveling rear suspension, increased towing capacity, all bull! I get in the car and NO HITCH RECEIVER! Wtf?

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[critrider]

Sorry if I'm late to the discussion. I have a Stealth hitch on a 2020 EX. Has anyone considered this option? If the issue is a redesign of the bumper, the stealth should be unaffected. The hitch itself is incredible, can't say enough good things about it. A bit pricey though.

 

[Barmato]

I sure hope Kia gets their act together. I originally tried to buy a 22, ordered in January of 22, and ended up with the 23 that arrived in December of 22. Our original order included the tow package. By the time I realized I wouldn't be able to get a tow hitch on the 23 I wasn't about to not take the vehicle after waiting for almost a year. But we've since sold our previous vehicle that we used for towing (wasn't about to pay thousands of dollars in insurance, property tax, and maintenance on an additional vehicle) and will need that capability again at some point.

For me the most frustrating part about this whole thing is the lack of communication. Apparently communication is an issue for Kia because when they opened up ordering for the 23 model year there was no official information on options or trim levels. It's a good thing they make a great vehicle because that's about the only thing this company has going for them it seems. They can't do much else right.

 

[Woodyz]

I bought a 2023 Telluride SX X-line last week that came with the Tow option. However, it had no hitch receiver installed. The dealer assured me they would get the parts and install the tow package this week. They called today to tell me Kia has not released the parts for the hitch receiver yet and Kia has no forecast date of availability for the kit.

Do any of you have better availability information than my dealer is providing?

I just got my new Telluride without the trailer hitch and wiring. The dealer sent me to Uhaul trailers and they will install a complete hitch package and they are paying for it.

 

[ERC52]

I recently had U-Haul install their (Draw-Tite) hitch on my '23 SX-P and I'm quite satisfied with it, although I mostly just tow a utility trailer. It fits tight against the bumper cover but not so tight that I feel compelled to cut the relief in it. I was considering ordering the Canadian Palisade harness until learning on the forum about the shipping delays, so instead paid U-Haul to install their 4-pin ZCI Zero Contact Interface Universal ModuLite wiring kit. It's a non-invasive, inductive system that requires no cutting, splicing or any form of permanent mods to the car. In theory, it's a do it yourself product but I'm glad I decided to pay U-Haul, especially after the techs told me that it was much more involved than they expected, mostly just in the effort to find the correct wires. In the end, the lights do seem to function correctly, which I guess was the objective, so for now I'm satisfied. I'll leave the book open on long term reliability.