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2023 Telluride Trailer Hitch Receiver availability

As I suspected, the dealership did not get the hitch and harness. They wanted to add $1195 to the price for the hitch, harness and installation when it becomes available. I told them that I was not willing to do that and would wait and see if Kia would make things right.
 
I am trying to be empathetic with Kia, but it just is not working.

The salesman's first offer on the SX X-line was $15,000 over MSRP plus $1,200 to install an OEM hitch & harness the following week. I got up and left the table more than once until he reached a reasonable price...that still included the hitch. The guy clearly understood that I had to have a hitch in order to tow my boat to the Gulf of Mexico every two weeks. He now refers to the lack of a hitch for my SX X-line as "my inconvenience."

My inconvenience means I have to rent or buy a vehicle to tow my boat or ask my friend with a truck to go with me every two weeks until Kia gets around to proving hitch kits...5 to 6 months if the rumors are correct. From what hitch sellers are telling me, they will not have 3rd party hitches either until Kia releases theirs.

I don't see a silver lining anywhere in all of this.

Sounds like a waste of time. I would buy elsewhere.
 
I am trying to be empathetic with Kia, but it just is not working.

The salesman's first offer on the SX X-line was $15,000 over MSRP plus $1,200 to install an OEM hitch & harness the following week. I got up and left the table more than once until he reached a reasonable price...that still included the hitch. The guy clearly understood that I had to have a hitch in order to tow my boat to the Gulf of Mexico every two weeks. He now refers to the lack of a hitch for my SX X-line as "my inconvenience."

My inconvenience means I have to rent or buy a vehicle to tow my boat or ask my friend with a truck to go with me every two weeks until Kia gets around to proving hitch kits...5 to 6 months if the rumors are correct. From what hitch sellers are telling me, they will not have 3rd party hitches either until Kia releases theirs.

I don't see a silver lining anywhere in all of this.
I use a ton hitch just fir a periodic bike rack, so definitely ignorant as to heavier/boat/trailer considerations: my question is, though - can't you just add an aftermarket hitch, or is that not strong enough for toqing a boat?
 
As I suspected, the dealership did not get the hitch and harness. They wanted to add $1195 to the price for the hitch, harness and installation when it becomes available. I told them that I was not willing to do that and would wait and see if Kia would make things right.
As I suspected, the dealership did not get the hitch and harness. They wanted to add $1195 to the price for the hitch, harness and installation when it becomes available. I told them that I was not willing to do that and would wait and see if Kia would make things right.
https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general

State Consumer Protection Offices | USAGov

Your states’ Consumer Protection departments and your states Attorney General Department will only address deceitful cells practice if they hear our complaints
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I just got a Curt hitch installed at U-Haul on my 23 SXP that came with a levelling kit (but no tow package due to the known issues). However they said there is no connector available for plugging in a tow wiring harness - wires would need to be spliced. And they will not do that...

Kia said it would be $300+ ... When the factory harnesses became available.

Etrailer was showing wiring harnesses were not available. I am not super handy with wiring, any suggestions?
https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general

State Consumer Protection Offices | USAGov

Your states’ Consumer Protection departments and your states Attorney General Department will only address deceitful cells practice if they hear our complaints
 
2020-2022 Factory Hitch on a 2023:
View attachment 29643

Sorry if you already said this, but did you do this yourself or did the dealer? I’ve asked my dealer to replicate this until they can find a fix for the harness. I just use it to hook up a bike rack anyway
 
Sorry if you already said this, but did you do this yourself or did the dealer? I’ve asked my dealer to replicate this until they can find a fix for the harness. I just use it to hook up a bike rack anyway
This is where I got the image from: The 2023 Telluride Towing Saga - Adding some data and pictures, and it's not great news

But looks like a pretty straightforward DIY as long as you measure and you have no problems cutting the plastic.
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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.
Do you know the part number for the hitch you installed? The Kia parts website lists S9F61-AU002 for the 2022, but S9F61-AU000 looks similar.
 
Do you know the part number for the hitch you installed? The Kia parts website lists S9F61-AU002 for the 2022, but S9F61-AU000 looks similar.
I will have to look and see if I have the model number anywhere. I'm guessing there might be a sticker on the hitch somewhere.

When I was looking into these hitches I noticed that the model number did change over the years and sometimes within a year, but the hitch itself seems to have remained unchanged even though the model numbers changed. I was told that this could have been because they used different suppliers at times and whenever they changed suppliers they would also change model numbers.
 
Hi, The whole tow package saga is extremely frustrating, but I decided to not sit around til they figure this out. Just had a hitch installed on my 2023 SX XPro and so far so good. Ordered via etrailer for $200 and had it installed for $80. Pending wiring harness for tow package confirmed that was factory installed. Installer ordered wrong part for me since they assumed it was not there ...sounds like should be fairly easy to install, but we shall see...quoted another $150 parts/labor. So out the door looking at $450 vs $1200 from dealer(could not get parts and also had no idea it was not included). Overall I am ok with the look, it is not completely hidden, but aligns with bumper and does not protrude out!
 

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When you say “Tow package” do you mean “Tow mode with self leveling rear shocks?” I just want to make sure, because I didn't think they offered a tow package. Could you let us know what part number of the tow harness they install. Thanks
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those 3rd party hitch options are installed too low for my liking...I'm giving Kia a few more months to figure this out and actually tell me what they are doing (every time I ask the dealer for a Hitch update they tell me they know nothing) before I start visiting other brand dealer lots and look to trade in for something with a tow hitch...this is so embarrassing for Kia...
 
those 3rd party hitch options are installed too low for my liking...I'm giving Kia a few more months to figure this out and actually tell me what they are doing (every time I ask the dealer for a Hitch update they tell me they know nothing) before I start visiting other brand dealer lots and look to trade in for something with a tow hitch...this is so embarrassing for Kia...
https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general

State Consumer Protection Offices | USAGov

Your state Consumer Protection departments and states Attorney General Department will only address deceitful sale practices if they hear complaints
 
Months seems to be the operative word. Picked up our X-Pro yesterday sans trailer hitch. Management told me the parts are expected in September. Has anyone else heard different?
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Bought mine on etrailer.com already installed it myself on my 2023, no problem at all.
Like my 2022 you have to trim the plastic trim under the bumper.
The customer service is great at etrailer if you have questions.
It is a brand name hitch, can’t remember if mine is Curt, Reese or Drawtite.
 
I installed a factory 2022 hitch and aftermarket 4 pin harness with a 7 pin adapter. Not too difficult, I justView attachment 29955 need to work on the trim cover a little.
I would think they would make a cover for this area soon. They aren't going to change the factory hitch from 22 to 23. Meanwhile your enjoying your car and hitch presently and not waiting for a class action award 10 years down the road. Nice job.
 
I would think they would make a cover for this area soon. They aren't going to change the factory hitch from 22 to 23. Meanwhile your enjoying your car and hitch presently and not waiting for a class action award 10 years down the road. Nice job.
No need for a class action. There are easy no cost options.

https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general

State Consumer Protection Offices | USAGov
Your state Consumer Protection departments and states Attorney General Department will only address deceitful sale practices if they hear complaints
 




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