The 2023 Telluride Towing Saga - Adding some data and pictures, and it's not great news

[corsair]

If you didn't specifically pay for a hitch then you won't get one. It doesn't come with the tow package

If you see the post above, it's a bit more convoluted than that. I didn't pay for the hitch yet, but also I realized I'm pretty sure they forgot to deduct my deposit from my final car loan/price, so there are a few price things yet still to work out. Clear as mud. Also, this is shipped from dealer (I'm out of state), not from factory.

 

[tyger23]

With regards to the Palisade wiring harness:

As of this morning - Hyundai Parts Pro is telling me that ~600 parts have left Korea bound for Canada. They're assuming ~2 weeks before arrival at their store and then shipment to me should take another 1-2 weeks.

 

[corsair]

Well, after much waiting and diving in on the dealer side to try to find out the hitch story the car was shipped before I could confirm the hitch / bumper plate via pictures so I guess I'll update when I get the car early next week on what I ended up with. It's possible (1) it has no hitch installed (2) it has the 2022 hitch installed with a custom cut bumper plate (3) there's a magical 2023 part.

It's also possible there's a non-OEM hitch or there's just no bumper plate, but I think those are exceedingly unlikely given my communication with them.

I’ve just been told that I have the hitch and no bumper plate.

This is an out of state dealer and I haven’t received it yet but it’s on the way via Montway. I was clear I was concerned that it would be installed without a bumper plate, which led to lots of delays while the dealer tried to figure it out, and I even sent the example picture from this forum but it still happened.

I’m not even sure what my options are, but it’s a bummer because we don’t get new vehicles often and I look forward to enjoying the first few scratch free months. Maybe it looks less obvious in real life?

I don’t know what to do or what I even can do. I won’t need a hitch for several months if at all. Remove the hitch and reinstall the bumper piece? Have them send me the original bumper and cut it somehow? If so what tools would I need or who could I have do it or would it just look like a duct taped part? Is it something I could easily attach to the body myself?

 

[PittPa]

I’ve just been told that I have the hitch and no bumper plate.

This is an out of state dealer and I haven’t received it yet but it’s on the way via Montway. I was clear I was concerned that it would be installed without a bumper plate, which led to lots of delays while the dealer tried to figure it out, and I even sent the example picture from this forum but it still happened.

I’m not even sure what my options are, but it’s a bummer because we don’t get new vehicles often and I look forward to enjoying the first few scratch free months. Maybe it looks less obvious in real life?

I don’t know what to do or what I even can do. I won’t need a hitch for several months if at all. Remove the hitch and reinstall the bumper piece? Have them send me the original bumper and cut it somehow? If so what tools would I need or who could I have do it or would it just look like a duct taped part? Is it something I could easily attach to the body myself?

I've done this. You have several options, it depends if you want to do it yourself or find the right person or shop and pay them. Finding them would be the hard part. They way i see it, the cover you have since the hitch is installed is useless and of no value to you anyway. We need someone to cut one and then make a template to share.

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[Breiner83]

Hey there,
What is the dry weight of your trailer? is it the 4200 or less or more. Thank you

Hello, was the 4200 loaded with gear? I assume it is a boat and not trailer? Thank u

 

[Sharky]

I was moments away from purchasing a new '23 Telluride. In fact, it was while they were looking at my trade-in when I noticed the one I was wanting to buy did not have a hitch. Thankfully, I asked and found out about this issue. I've since tried to get more info from Kia without much success. What I'd like to know at this point is if the remedy will work on current production. Or, will there be some need for a redesign and only future production will accommodate towing. I can do without the wiring for a while. But, I also want a factory hitch and not an under-bumper aftermarket. So, the last question is if there's a factory receiver and bumper plate available for the '23s.

 

[corsair]

I was moments away from purchasing a new '23 Telluride. In fact, it was while they were looking at my trade-in when I noticed the one I was wanting to buy did not have a hitch. Thankfully, I asked and found out about this issue. I've since tried to get more info from Kia without much success. What I'd like to know at this point is if the remedy will work on current production. Or, will there be some need for a redesign and only future production will accommodate towing. I can do without the wiring for a while. But, I also want a factory hitch and not an under-bumper aftermarket. So, the last question is if there's a factory receiver and bumper plate available for the '23s.

There is no bumper plate. I am not sure if anyone knows if the '22 receivers are the same as the '23s.

If you are ok with how the hitch looks without the bumper plate, the '22 receiver looks like this on my vehicle:

Installing 2022 hitch on 2023 Telluride

Woops, my bad didn't see you mention that earlier. It is just so strange that Kia has plastered all over their marketing materials that the X-Pro can tow an extra 500 lbs with a dedicated tow mode and yet no hitch and VERY poor communication regarding the ETA of said hitch. The marketing is...

tellurideforum.org

If you are not ok with that, look at prior posts for someone manually hacking at the '23 plate before:

Installing 2022 hitch on 2023 Telluride

Woops, my bad didn't see you mention that earlier. It is just so strange that Kia has plastered all over their marketing materials that the X-Pro can tow an extra 500 lbs with a dedicated tow mode and yet no hitch and VERY poor communication regarding the ETA of said hitch. The marketing is...

tellurideforum.org

I don't think anyone can guarantee that they will come out with a '23 bumper plate, or that the '22 hitch is the same as the '23 hitch. However, right now all bets are on the '23 hitch being the same as the '22, and that *eventually* they will come out with a bumper plate because, really... it seems like they must.

But I would personally advise you should feel somewhat comfortable with what your current options are and not plan on this being solved any time soon. Maybe we'll all be pleasantly surprised.

 

[nlm4501]

I just got notification from my dealer - Bob King in Winston-Salem, NC that my 2023 SX Prestige with factory installed towing package is due at dealer on March 4. Has been on order since March 2022. Will be interesting to see if the package is on it. My salesperson knows I won't take it if not. Has anyone else gotten similar info?

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[TheNip73]

I just got notification from my dealer - Bob King in Winston-Salem, NC that my 2023 SX Prestige with factory installed towing package is due at dealer on March 4. Has been on order since March 2022. Will be interesting to see if the package is on it. My salesperson knows I won't take it if not. Has anyone else gotten similar info?

It won’t be on it. Not a single delivery yet with it. Time for plan b.

 

[Illiniboy]

Has anyone tried buying the new Trailer wiring harness for the palisade that is being sold in Canada?

 

[bhier]

So out of curiosity, what do people think Kia will actually do regarding harness/hitches?
1. Provide them at a later date at no charge to have them installed at a Kia Dealer?
2. Provide them at a later date at no charge but you have to pay to have them installed?
3. Offer them for purchase, you buy it and pay someone to install it or diy.
4. Tough luck, your on your own.

From the 2023 window sticker, it specifically fails to mention a tow hitch.
-Tow Mode & Self Leveling do not imply it comes with a hitch.

 

[tellyourride]

Lawyer up, class action i believe. False advertising. Misleading customers.

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[bhier]

Lawyer up, class action i believe. False advertising. Misleading customers.

This is kinda where I am at this point, but in a class action "we the consumers" get screwed.
I haven't even taken delivery of the Telluride yet but my expectations was to have a tow hitch, however, when we ordered they would not allow me to add the hitch.

 

[nlm4501]

It won’t be on it. Not a single delivery yet with it. Time for plan b.

 

[nlm4501]

My order has the towing package on it but the order was written in March 2022 when they were still building that model year. As my order did not get accepted till the 2023 model year I am sure that is their "out". My salesperson has no idea what will come in. They are as out of the loop as we are. They want to sell cars with options people want and they are not happy either. This is hurting their business. Kia needs to step up and issue a press release to let consumers know what's going on.

 

[bhier]

My order has the towing package on it but the order was written in March 2022 when they were still building that model year. As my order did not get accepted till the 2023 model year I am sure that is their "out". My salesperson has no idea what will come in. They are as out of the loop as we are. They want to sell cars with options people want and they are not happy either. This is hurting their business. Kia needs to step up and issue a press release to let consumers know what's going on.

Same here, ordered a 22 in March as well, they cancelled in Sept and moved it to a 23.

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[corsair]

So out of curiosity, what do people think Kia will actually do regarding harness/hitches?
1. Provide them at a later date at no charge to have them installed at a Kia Dealer?
2. Provide them at a later date at no charge but you have to pay to have them installed?
3. Offer them for purchase, you buy it and pay someone to install it or diy.
4. Tough luck, your on your own.

From the 2023 window sticker, it specifically fails to mention a tow hitch.
-Tow Mode & Self Leveling do not imply it comes with a hitch.



View attachment 29237

3 if Kia gets their act together, 4 if they don’t.

No need for Kia to provide something for free. None of us bought a hitch. None of us are entitled to freebies. We bought a vehicle and Kia never promised us they would provide first party hitch, right? And even if they did, we would have always had to pay for it. No way we would ever walk away with freebies.

If a first party hitch and harness are important, the Kia upset a lot of customers but they didn’t do anything illegal. People can cancel their preorder and get a Pilot. Anyone who already bought a 2023 took it off the lot without a hitch and Kia never promised they would get one.

 

[choosethejuice]

Playing devil’s advocate..

Kia advertises towing capability, and Kia doesn’t advertise a hitch/harness option. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for a buyer to therefore assume that the hitch/harness comes with the vehicle.

Before I signed the paperwork for my Telluride, I didn’t verify that the airbags were included and installed. I don’t expect to have to find 3rd party airbag manufacturers and splice airbag wires in my driveway.

 

[AkayV]

Playing devil’s advocate..

Kia advertises towing capability, and Kia doesn’t advertise a hitch/harness option. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for a buyer to therefore assume that the hitch/harness comes with the vehicle.

Before I signed the paperwork for my Telluride, I didn’t verify that the airbags were included and installed. I don’t expect to have to find 3rd party airbag manufacturers and splice airbag wires in my driveway.

we should all sue. I got scammed when bought a 2023 Telluride for towing a Class III trailer. Anyone know a lawyer to contact? Sometimes suing is necessary for corporations to be ethical and law-abiding.

 

[AkayV]

Lawyer up, class action i believe. False advertising. Misleading customers.

Anyone a lawyer or know one? Yes class action will help change Kia’s practices.