I was able to buy the S9F61-AU000 at the dealer last week. S9F61-AU000 is the hitch, hardware, plug that inserts into receiver when not in use, and the adapter that the trailer ball mounts. S9F61-AU002 has the same items but also includes the bumper cover and the harness. You can't use the bumper cover or harness on a 2023 Telluride. If you go to the dealer and ask for a 2023 hitch they won't have it. If you ask for S9F61-AU000 by part number you may have better luck. The hitch bolted right onto the vehicle without any issues. I think some are concerned because it appears loose at first but when tightened down is correct. Think of it this way - If the hitch fit exactly meaning no play or room it wouldn't fit in place. It has to have some slop so it can be mounted in place and then torqued. The other issue people may notice is the frame rail is not completely square so it appears as if the bottom doesn't fit right. The top is touching but the bottom has a bit of a gap. The bolts that run through the rail are tightened to 79ft lbs so they're not going anywhere. It also uses conical toothed washers that compress to lock it in place.
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2023 Telluride Trailer Hitch Receiver availability
- Thread author LarryJordan
- Start date
S9F61-AU002 is the hitch, hardware, plug that inserts into receiver when not in use, and the adapter that the trailer ball mounts. S9F61-AU002 does not include the bumper cover and the harness. I had no fit issues when following the instructions. Very pleased with the hitch. I understood from the dealer that this is the latest part number and there were 50 in Kia's North Texas distribution center.
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bettythebuick
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Thanks for the clarification and support Slim, I have also ordered S9F61-AU002 and am much more confident that it will fit my 2023 X-Pro.
Just picked up my SXP Xline today. Speaking with the rep here it sounds like Kia is no longer going to offer a hitch for the telluride and is removing the self leveling kit from the 2024 year models.
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TellmeyourWHAT?
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I think you're getting some bad info from your rep, at least in-so-far as the hitch. Every SUV maker in the world offers tow-hitch capability, and for good reason - customers demand it. The SUV is for exploring, and many (most?) of its users have a need for trailers. The Telluride had a serious problem with the 2023 model, but you can bet your bippy they will get it resolved, and most probably by the introduction of the 2024 model.
Doesn't add up. Kia already has a quality/capable hitch available and other Telluride owners report the new wiring harness for the Palisade/Telluride is in production and available from Canadian dealers. I'm with Tellmeyourride on this one.
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G-167637
I agree sounds silly. He said they just had to watch a training video on it this past week. Idky Kia would think that would be a good choice to do. Guess we’ll see
100% agree with everything you’re saying. Makes 0 sense. He said they just had a video training on it the other day
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Slack Attack
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The 2024 model is already hitting dealer lots with no tow hitch or tow package in sight.
I disagree that there was a serious problem with the 2023 model because there was never a hitch and harness offered to be a problem. The issue was a recall on the 2020-2022 for a module on the harness catching fire. Rumors from dealers now say December of 2023, but rumors said last August of 2022 when the 2023's rolled out. Kia has not provided anyone with an ETA or any explanation as to what it's waiting on. I believe they have and will offer a solution but why are they not informing customers so we have some idea of what to expect. Many have submitted customer service tickets and get the same response which is no ETA.
TellmeyourWHAT?
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If you don't call a recall and a total absence the following year a serious problem, then you are on your own. Semantics .....
TellmeyourWHAT?
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I would like verification of that. You are the first with that information. In fact, up until today (on another thread) there hadn't even been a picture of a 2024.
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The 2024 is rated to tow and a harness can be added with splicing, the bumper cover could be adapted without cutting into the whole bumper. This is how people did things for a very long time. Yes it "could" void Kia paying for some repair work under warranty if you have an electrical problem that ties back to the aftermarket part, but very few things could void your entire warranty. Kia saying that is not new of any car manufacturer. If spliced properly a wiring harness should fail before it damages the vehicle wiring. What the OEM harness does is integrate with drive modes and extra stuff which is nice but not required. Yes, some have a tow mode, but tow mode is not required when towing.
To my knowledge no one who purchased a 2023 bought their Telluride with tow option or tow package on the window sticker. I don't think tow mode was ever advertised as including the hitch, harness and bumper cover. So if you took delivery without a factory towing hitch and harness then you knowingly accepted the purchase and fulfilled a purchase contract. There was never a recall on a harness for the 2023 because one was never offered from Kia to begin with. I'm not saying it's ideal if you wanted it from Kia, but if you took delivery without it, then Kia technically did nothing wrong other than fail to deliver on an optional feature. I think it's not that different from when they had quality issues with the Nightfall edition and stopped offering them. Or they had a shortage of the captains chairs and started briefly offering benches on different trims.
I agree it sucks that Kia didn't have all this figured out, but the fact is you can still tow, you just have to accept some compromises. I'm a 2020 owner that had "remote start from key fob" on the window sticker and I could have argued with Kia because that is not what I took delivery on. But I drove it home because it wasn't that important to me. I wanted a tow hitch from Kia and a harness and waited almost 6 months with not even one aftermarket option at the time other than to have a hitch custom made and welded on. Then Kia finally had stock in the Kia version and Curt, Drawtite, Reese, Stealth, all came out with options.
I just went through about 6 random Failcat windows stickers for the 2024 and saw no evidence that 2024s are being delivered with tow hitches and harnesses.
To my knowledge no one who purchased a 2023 bought their Telluride with tow option or tow package on the window sticker. I don't think tow mode was ever advertised as including the hitch, harness and bumper cover. So if you took delivery without a factory towing hitch and harness then you knowingly accepted the purchase and fulfilled a purchase contract. There was never a recall on a harness for the 2023 because one was never offered from Kia to begin with. I'm not saying it's ideal if you wanted it from Kia, but if you took delivery without it, then Kia technically did nothing wrong other than fail to deliver on an optional feature. I think it's not that different from when they had quality issues with the Nightfall edition and stopped offering them. Or they had a shortage of the captains chairs and started briefly offering benches on different trims.
I agree it sucks that Kia didn't have all this figured out, but the fact is you can still tow, you just have to accept some compromises. I'm a 2020 owner that had "remote start from key fob" on the window sticker and I could have argued with Kia because that is not what I took delivery on. But I drove it home because it wasn't that important to me. I wanted a tow hitch from Kia and a harness and waited almost 6 months with not even one aftermarket option at the time other than to have a hitch custom made and welded on. Then Kia finally had stock in the Kia version and Curt, Drawtite, Reese, Stealth, all came out with options.
I just went through about 6 random Failcat windows stickers for the 2024 and saw no evidence that 2024s are being delivered with tow hitches and harnesses.
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Deb in Bailey
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Correct. Because as of now (or at least a week ago) there were NO port included options that could be ordered other than the car mats. So, no tow hitches yet.
I have a 2024 SX Prestige X Pro coming. It has self leveling shocks. It has tow mode. But it doesn't have a tow hitch as it wasn't available to order yet.
I have a 2024 SX Prestige X Pro coming. It has self leveling shocks. It has tow mode. But it doesn't have a tow hitch as it wasn't available to order yet.
What was removed for 2024, as is mentioned elsewhere on this forum, is the stand-alone self-leveling shock package that was offered on appropriate trimlines because there was no actual tow package to offer. There was no hitch. There was no harness. So, they could offer the shocks.
What I'm hoping/expecting is that at some point that harness and tow hitch will be made available and I'll be able to have it installed on my 2024. I have considered turning down my 2024 and waiting till I could order one with a hitch/harness, but have decided against that.
The good news for 2023 owners is that the bumper for 2024 appears to be the same. So if/when a bumper cover becomes available there should be a nice looking OEM insert that will work.
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Certain trims look pretty good - but I'll never get to where I like the push button shifter. I'll say this though, if the Telluride didn't exist, I would go with the Palisade.
Slack Attack
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I'm sorry to say your 2024 SX Prestige X Pro will NOT have self leveling shocks. Kia has removed the self leveling shocks from ALL trims levels for 2024.
If towing in the immediate future is very important to the way you live your life, I would recommend picking a different vehicle. The alternative at this point is hunting down hard to find Hyundai Palisade OEM parts and following several DIY guides to install a functioning tow harness. Also - even if you do manage to install a hitch and harness on your 2024 X-Pro, it will not have self leveling suspension unless you find an aftermarket option.
Deb in Bailey
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Perhaps you are right. It is possible that I misunderstand. And if so, I will stand corrected.
However, elsewhere on this forum, the explanation is that Kia has only removed the Self-Leveling Rear Suspension Packages. Only tow packages will now be available. The explanation is that they are eliminating the stand alone self-leveling *package* that only exitsted because it was subbed for the tow package when the hitch and harness were not available.
The x-line and x-pro have always included self leveling rear suspension as part of the trim line. Not an added package. And, according to my 2024 Munroney sticker, at least the x-pro still does.
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I disagree. I think people are having success ordering the Hyundai part for the tow harness and it appears to be a very straight forward plug and play answer that effectively solves the 7-pin harness problem perfectly. If you don't want to install the hitch yourself, you can take it anywhere to install by a professional for a couple hundred dollars as it involves putting it in place and torquing some threaded bolts. Just leave the bumper cover off if you don't want to cut the plastic and a part will eventually show up, or cut it to fit and see if you can live with it.
I think the evidence on this forum is that the self-leveling suspension provides a questionable, at best minimal, towing benefit for some light towing. For more regular towing you may wear them down faster, they are prone to failure, they are more expensive to replace, and you can't easily replace with regular shocks. You typically want more rigidity when towing which the leveling shocks tend to do the opposite along with make it a little more complicated to load level since you have to account for the self-leveling. There have been people also reporting that the self-leveling shocks have a more pronounced sag when parked. If you like the self-leveling rear suspension during normal driving as a comfort convenience more power to you, but you don't need it to tow with a Telluride. Feel free to check out this thread from almost 3 years ago, the information is still relevant.
Everything is a compromise as there is no perfect vehicle. If you want a vehicle that has a more thought out towing package, go with a Nissan Pathfinder that has a body on frame like a truck vs unibody on the Telluride. But I'm sure you will find a compromise in something else. (Hint: check the internal cargo and rear seating dimensions, the Telluride has a lead.)
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