Missing factory installed skid plates on Nightfall Edition?

[vikingv]

Hi everyone, first time poster here—nice to meet you all!

I bought a 21 Telluride SX with the SX Prestige Package and the Nightfall Edition Package, and I love it. However, when I went to pick it up at the dealer, I noticed there is no skid plate on the front or back. When I looked at the specification on the builder section of the website it specifically lists "Front and Rear Skid Plate, Nightfall Edition" in the Nightfall Edition package. Further, when you select that package, it removes the ability to add the optional "Front Alloy Skid Plate", which is possible to add if you haven't selected the Nightfall Edition.

My assumption was that that skid plate it would come with are these parts:
Front: 2021 Kia Telluride Skid Plate S9F36-AU000 Kia Parts Store Kia Wholesale Parts Phoenix Dallas San Francisco Los Angeles Bay Area | Kia Parts Store
Rear: 2020-2021 Kia Telluride Skid Plate 86670-S9010 Kia Parts Store Kia Wholesale Parts Phoenix Dallas San Francisco Los Angeles Bay Area | Kia Parts Store

However, when I asked the dealer, they said that the skid plate is on there, and they pointed to the plastic part under the bumper, and said that is the skid plate. I'm not exactly a car expert, but last I checked the definition of a skid plate is pretty clear, and it's not a flimsy little plastic part. That said, there was another SX Nightfall edition in for service, and that one also didn't have the skid plate I had expected.

So, I wanted to know, any other people with the Nightfall Edition who did get a skid plate? Or is this just quite misleading marketing on the part of Kia?

 

[Lith_SXPN]

That plastic piece is what Kia calls skid plate unfortunately. Nightfall edition skid plate just refers to black color instead of silver plastic. Alloy skid plate is optional accessory that needs to be purchased after.

 

[vikingv]

But isn’t that quite a misleading description? Like in what world is that plastic piece a “skid plate”?

But I guess what I don’t understand is why the option to buy the optional alloy skid plate disappears when you add the Nightfall Edition package. If it’s not included why can’t you buy it with the car?

 

[bruesjoh04]

But I guess what I don’t understand is why the option to buy the optional alloy skid plate disappears when you add the Nightfall Edition package. If it’s not included why can’t you buy it with the car?

The real skid plate would look slightly ridiculous with Nightfall. You would have all black everything except you would have a huge chunk of bright metal peeking out from the front underside. That’s probably why they don’t allow it to be added to a Nightfall

Of course, if you really want one, you can always buy one and bolt it on yourself.

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[vikingv]

The real skid plate would look slightly ridiculous with Nightfall. You would have all black everything except you would have a huge chunk of bright metal peeking out from the front underside. That’s probably why they don’t allow it to be added to a Nightfall

Of course, if you really want one, you can always buy one and bolt it on yourself.

Thanks for the input, hadn't really considered that. But would it really peek out? Looking at the plate it looks like it's pretty flush and shouldn't be visible from the front or the side...


Curious, does anyone have a picture of what the skid plate looks like mounted?

 

[stanaka1]

You can't see it unless you crouch down and look for it. It'll be even more hidden because I don't have the front air dam anymore. Unless you're actually going off road, I wouldn't get it. It's expensive, adds weight, and it has to be removed to drain the oil. It fits over the existing plastic cover, replacing the old screws with riser screws and it doesn't give any more coverage.

 

[JaxAero]

You can't see it unless you crouch down and look for it. It'll be even more hidden because I don't have the front air dam anymore. Unless you're actually going off road, I wouldn't get it. It's expensive, adds weight, and it has to be removed to drain the oil. It fits over the existing plastic cover, replacing the old screws with riser screws and it doesn't give any more coverage. View attachment 16251

Does the alloy skid plate actually provide any protection for modest off-roading? It appears that large chunk of it is missing in an area I would think needs protecting. Was it much of a chore removing the air dam? The approach and departure angles are not great on the Telly and removing the air dam would appear to help.

 

[stanaka1]

Does the alloy skid plate actually provide any protection for modest off-roading? It appears that large chunk of it is missing in an area I would think needs protecting. Was it much of a chore removing the air dam? The approach and departure angles are not great on the Telly and removing the air dam would appear to help.

It just covers the same area as the plastic cover. It also covers the oil change panel, so the alloy skid plate will have to be removed before draining the oil. More importantly, it'll provide better protection of the oil pan, even if it's not full coverage. My air dam was removed by mother earth.

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[JaxAero]

Thanks. At least the air dam removal was easy.

 

[Bridgeline]

What about the middle of the skid plate. Looks like it has a big opening in the middle. It doesn't cover the over all bottom. Like the one that I have on my night for SX.

 

[Bridgeline]

Is there a cover for this part of the middle bottom? From the factory. It has the screw holes for a cover. But it came without the cover. From the factory.

 

[stanaka1]

Is there a cover for this part of the middle bottom? From the factory. It has the screw holes for a cover. But it came without the cover. From the factory.

That's the way it is. The "skid plate" is that silver plastic bit just under the front bumper that only looks like an actual skid plate. Even the real aluminum skid plate has that hole in the middle.

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[G-54385]

I have the same question. The unprotected 2’ square in the middle. There are screw holes that it should mount to.
Anyone seen a product to cover that?

 

[Bridgeline]

That's the way it comes out the factory. It's ok. You want Heat to Xscape. And when it's over 100° degree outside. you would want the rain to keep it cool. Remember our enemy is the heat. Which fry the engine and the transmission.