7-Pin Trailer Wiring Harness Installation

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As others have experienced, our 2023 Kia Telluride X-Pro arrived without the trailer hitch/package. We still needed a tow hitch for a bike carrier and luggage rack so installed Kia’s 2022 Telluride tow hitch, part # S9F61-AU002, after delivery.

This past month, there was potential we might pull a trailer and needed a wiring harness. I initially looked at installing readily available 4-pin harnesses but it required removing tail-lights and running a power wire up to the battery. When I called my local Kia dealer to see what they had available, they asked why go with a 4-pin Kia harness when a 7-pin Kia tow hitch harness was available for $20 more ($180 total cost), part # S9F67-AC702.

 

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Kia’s latest 7-pin tow hitch harness has gone through a couple of iterations. It is now located up inside the driver’s side wheel well next to the tire jack and away from the elements. It shares common components with Hyundai and Genisis (thought different part #s). Palisade installation is completely different from the Telluride even though the vehicles are mostly common. The cost is more than the aftermarket 4-pin but simpler to install and worth it for me. Installation was straight forward with no requirement to pull tail-lights or run extra wires. It did require a couple changes. I provide this thread to help others who might have to do this.

Notes:
Did not do Step 3
Modified Steps 11 and 18
Did not install a trailer brake controller

 

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Installed Wiring

 

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Confusing Step 18 Directions

 

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Spouse has not complained about the look so not planning to purchase the replacement Kia hitch panel.

 

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Complete

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[KMiles]

That looks really good - well done and nice write-up! I have a 24 Telluride with the factory installed hitch and 7 pin connector. I found at first that whenever I mounted my Kuat bike rack on it and whether I had bikes on it or not, it would not back up in reverse without going in and turning off all of the warnings first. However, I found on another forum the idea of plugging in a connection tester and then it would backup without any need to turn off all of the warnings every time. I bought a CURT 58272 7-Pin RV Blade Trailer Wiring Towing Vehicle Socket Tester, Orange from Amazon and just plug it in whenever I connect my bike hitch.