My Telluride “accidentally” Came with No Tow Package - Tow Hitch Questions

[gasandneedles]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for your posts. I have found so much help on this forum and appreciate the community.
I went to pick up my Telluride last week, and the salesman let me know (after driving quite a distance to pick it up) that the interior color was different than expected, and it didn’t come with the tow package, as was expected when I put down the deposit (obviously unseen in this market, had to order on the phone). It crossed my mind that this guy sold me someone else’s car…because it arrived surprisingly early.
Anyway, I was looking forward to the hitch to tow bikes and maybe even something larger occasionally (eg Uhaul). I expect to rarely use the pin connector but would like to have it if it is not a huge extra expense.
The salesman brushed it off and told me to go to Uhaul and save some money. I want it to look as factory as possible and potentially be able to be covered too. Do you recommend this kit?

2020-2022 Kia Telluride Hitch Kit (AA023)

The 2020-2022 Kia Telluride Hitch Kit has everything you need for towing with your Kia Telluride. Order yours today at KiaStuff.com!

kiastuff.com

There is a really nice post by someone who installed his own, but there was a 4 vs. 7 pin connector issue, but I think this may not be a problem in 2021 models? Will this kit be all I need for a factory-appearing tow kit? I was bummed about the self-leveling suspension, but at least I have a new Telluride.
Thank you for comments and insight you can provide.

 

[DarkMossJustin]

Just curious.

Why did you accept delivery?

The window sticker Kia posted online should have itemized exactly what you were getting, plus have the VIN that you would have used to track your Telly's status/ETAs, etc.

Color mismatch, no factory-installed option that you specified for your order. Did the dealership give you any updates on where you stood on the waiting list for an allocation? Lots of red flags already.

There's a few good threads here about towing, and no, you don't need self-leveling shocks to tow.

If you're going to DIY mount the hitch receiver to the frame, IMO the OEM > Uhaul's

 

[gasandneedles]

He explained away the color by the window sticker saying "black," and it showed up as Dune Brown - he said they all say black and they don't know if it is Dune Brown or not. The window sticker on the left did have a "black" in the interior section. There is no good answer for the tow package, and that was a red flag for me. He said that the "VINs" matched up. He did not provide a VIN for me when I ordered the Telluride that was coming, he just said it was GWP SX with N/T/P.

I spent so much time in calling dealers, prepping my current vehicle for trade in, and driving, I just took it. The Dune Brown was a "happy accident" - you have Dune Brown too, I see. We love it. The tow package was an easy work around. I didn't want to wait, and he had a veiled threat of increasing the addendum if I got back in line. I wouldn't have come back to him, but I didn't want to wait forever. I will be keeping a close eye on failcat to see if "my" telluride comes in soon. Might be a point where we give him a bad review online for dishonesty (do car salesman care if someone calls them dishonest in an online review?).

Thank for input. I will be getting OEM tow package. I may even buy it and have someone locally install it. This salesman said I could order anything from him "at cost," but not really sure I can trust that.

Is there a two hitch cover (like a plate that makes it look hidden in the bumper) that I need to purchase too? Or are they all visible?

 

[ksyrah]

He explained away the color by the window sticker saying "black," and it showed up as Dune Brown - he said they all say black and they don't know if it is Dune Brown or not. The window sticker on the left did have a "black" in the interior section. There is no good answer for the tow package, and that was a red flag for me. He said that the "VINs" matched up. He did not provide a VIN for me when I ordered the Telluride that was coming, he just said it was GWP SX with N/T/P.

I spent so much time in calling dealers, prepping my current vehicle for trade in, and driving, I just took it. The Dune Brown was a "happy accident" - you have Dune Brown too, I see. We love it. The tow package was an easy work around. I didn't want to wait, and he had a veiled threat of increasing the addendum if I got back in line. I wouldn't have come back to him, but I didn't want to wait forever. I will be keeping a close eye on failcat to see if "my" telluride comes in soon. Might be a point where we give him a bad review online for dishonesty (do car salesman care if someone calls them dishonest in an online review?).

Thank for input. I will be getting OEM tow package. I may even buy it and have someone locally install it. This salesman said I could order anything from him "at cost," but not really sure I can trust that.

Is there a two hitch cover (like a plate that makes it look hidden in the bumper) that I need to purchase too? Or are they all visible?

Your dealer is full of it. Dune Brown and Butterscotch are listed as black on the top of the window sticker and corrected in the options section. All other interior colors are listed at the top correctly. They know the VIN ahead of time and would have seen the correct color. Possible options, they never ordered your car and one close to it came in. They ordered your car and someone backed out of a close one and got you to buy it. They sold your order and found one close. Did they send you a kdealer printout when you ordered? Most dealers do. If you are happy, that's all that matters. I would post your experience in the bad dealers section.

______________________________

 

[DarkMossJustin]

He explained away the color by the window sticker saying "black," and it showed up as Dune Brown - he said they all say black and they don't know if it is Dune Brown or not. The window sticker on the left did have a "black" in the interior section. There is no good answer for the tow package, and that was a red flag for me. He said that the "VINs" matched up. He did not provide a VIN for me when I ordered the Telluride that was coming, he just said it was GWP SX with N/T/P.

I spent so much time in calling dealers, prepping my current vehicle for trade in, and driving, I just took it. The Dune Brown was a "happy accident" - you have Dune Brown too, I see. We love it. The tow package was an easy work around. I didn't want to wait, and he had a veiled threat of increasing the addendum if I got back in line. I wouldn't have come back to him, but I didn't want to wait forever. I will be keeping a close eye on failcat to see if "my" telluride comes in soon. Might be a point where we give him a bad review online for dishonesty (do car salesman care if someone calls them dishonest in an online review?).

Thank for input. I will be getting OEM tow package. I may even buy it and have someone locally install it. This salesman said I could order anything from him "at cost," but not really sure I can trust that.

Is there a two hitch cover (like a plate that makes it look hidden in the bumper) that I need to purchase too? Or are they all visible?

Thanks for clarifying.

Sorry to hear that your dealer experience wasn't the best.

What's your Telly's exterior color?

Did you go with the Classic exterior trim or the Nightfall Edition (NFE)?

I think there's a couple OEM parts you need to get to make your car look like those that have the factory-mounted components.

Possibly you can order them together in one purchase?

I see three items listed separately on my dealership's accessories page:

Tow Hitch
Bumper Cover
7-pin harness

 

[gasandneedles]

It was one of those cars that were slated to come in when I called the dealer. I did not get any kdealer printout. I got a receipt with my deposit without any info. I put a deposit down and got it about 3 weeks later. Overall, I am happy, but I definitely agree something shady was going on!

 

[DarkMossJustin]

It was one of those cars that were slated to come in when I called the dealer. I did not get any kdealer printout. I got a receipt with my deposit without any info. I put a deposit down and got it about 3 weeks later. Overall, I am happy, but I definitely agree something shady was going on.

Just to be clear:

You didn't put down a deposit at the dealership to reserve a spot on the long wait list, behind many other customers, for a coveted allocation to order a highly-desirable Kia Telluride SX Prestige in AWD?

They had your Telly incoming and let you put a deposit on it?

Well at least you have the amazing Dune to the Moon interior with the amazing dark gray premium cloth microfiber headliner and A-pillars.

You wanted a SX P/T and ended up with a SX P that you will DIY upgrade to SX P/T?

Nice.

Please put your Telly specs into your signature so we can all see it, and when you have time, take some Open Door photos of your Telly and post them up on one of the best threads on this forum:

Dune Brown Interior Feedback

Hello! I'm leaning to ordering Boss Moss with Dune Brown Interior...of course I have seen neither in person and am shooting from the hip. Wondering if people could send me pictures if they have this setup or just a rough idea of how they like their interior. I believe @jw_tx21 has this combo...

tellurideforum.org

 

[gasandneedles]

Yeah. They said they had a GWP AWD SX P/N/T with black nappa leather coming in a month later, so I said sign me up. I showed up to a slightly different vehicle, but bought it at MSRP (with edge guard and "pulse" brake lighting adding $600). Their add-on was a little ridiculous, but there was no technical "market adjustment," so I said OK.

I will be happy to post pics. Any place I should post them?

______________________________

 

[DarkMossJustin]

Yeah. They said they had a GWP AWD SX P/N/T with black nappa leather coming in a month later, so I said sign me up. I showed up to a slightly different vehicle, but bought it at MSRP (with edge guard and "pulse" brake lighting adding $600). Their add-on was a little ridiculous, but there was no technical "market adjustment," so I said OK.

I will be happy to post pics. Any place I should post them?

@gasandneedles:

It is Sunday, so why not start with some exterior photos for Sideshot Sunday?

Sideshot Sunday

It's time for Side Shot Sunday! Let's see your best side shots (of your Telluride, of course!). GO!

tellurideforum.org

Any day is Front-End Friday so:

Front-End Friday

Okay! It's Friday! And you know what that means... Pictures! Front-end Friday begins now... GO!

tellurideforum.org

Front-End Friday

tellurideforum.org

Since you went Dune to the Moon, open those doors and windows and share some snapshots here under different lighting conditions:

Dune Brown Interior Feedback

After 1 month of ownership. Still lovin’ the cozy upscale Dune Brown interior :)

tellurideforum.org

Also, Happy Belated Sport Mode Saturday !!

Sport Mode Saturday

Because we spent the week in Snow or Comfort or Eco or Smart and tomorrow we'll be like that Commodores song "Easy" (like Sunday Morning), it's possibly a great idea to give our Kia Tellurides' drive mode selector a little Sport Mode love on Saturdays from now on? Even if y'all just Sport Mode...

tellurideforum.org