The 2023 Towing Saga Part 2 - Finally good news!

[MNBackpacker]

I called my dealership today and was able to at least place the order for a hitch for my 2023 X-Pro. They were clear that they could order it but knew they couldn't say when it would arrive, but I'm on the list. The only peculiar thing is that they said it includes the hitch, the wiring harness, and a replacement latch for the rear... I asked it that meant the lower cover plate, but they noted there was a note that the "rear latch needs to be replaced."
That's throwing me a little, since I'm not sure what that would have to do with it, but I guess we'll see what arrives to the parts department...
Stealership price for the parts was just around $675. Now the wait begins... just like for the Telluride in the first place...

 

[2020Telly]

I called my dealership today and was able to at least place the order for a hitch for my 2023 X-Pro. They were clear that they could order it but knew they couldn't say when it would arrive, but I'm on the list. The only peculiar thing is that they said it includes the hitch, the wiring harness, and a replacement latch for the rear... I asked it that meant the lower cover plate, but they noted there was a note that the "rear latch needs to be replaced."
That's throwing me a little, since I'm not sure what that would have to do with it, but I guess we'll see what arrives to the parts department...
Stealership price for the parts was just around $675. Now the wait begins... just like for the Telluride in the first place...

Are you kidding? Nearing the end of this saga for people and another monkey wrench thrown into a wheel. There has to be a dealer in the know on this forum that can just clarify the part names and part numbers that are needed to make this whole. Should be something like: a hitch, wiring harness, bumper insert, and maybe a new hatch latch? You want to make sure the dealer figures out the bumper insert part. Maybe the latch is for the trims that have smart power tailgatest so it disables when something is connected to the wiring harness? If you have an LX or S maybe that is not necessary?

 

[lcornice]

I called my dealership today and was able to at least place the order for a hitch for my 2023 X-Pro. They were clear that they could order it but knew they couldn't say when it would arrive, but I'm on the list. The only peculiar thing is that they said it includes the hitch, the wiring harness, and a replacement latch for the rear... I asked it that meant the lower cover plate, but they noted there was a note that the "rear latch needs to be replaced."
That's throwing me a little, since I'm not sure what that would have to do with it, but I guess we'll see what arrives to the parts department...
Stealership price for the parts was just around $675. Now the wait begins... just like for the Telluride in the first place...

I posted on the other trailer page about the hitch, so I apologize for the redundency. I ordered the hitch off the Kiaparts site and was notified a day later I could pick it up at my local dealer (Gilbert, AZ). When I called to confirm, they had 2 in stock, which is why I was notified right away. The part number was S9F61-AU002 and it included the hitch with 7-way round carrier welded to the frame, hardware, hitch insert, hitch pin, and plastic insert plug (stamped Kia). There was no bumper cover, wiring harness, or anything else. I also ordered the Hyundai harness and just noticed it was shipped yesterday. Hoping to put the vehicle on the lift this weekend.

That said, I'm curious what part number they gave you. Your price was more than $200 more than I paid, so perhaps your 'kit' includes the extra stuff? Please post the number if you have it, especially since we all need the bumper cover.

 

[TellmeyourWHAT?]

and maybe a new hatch latch? You want to make sure the dealer figures out the bumper insert part. Maybe the latch is for the trims that have smart power tailgates so it disables when something is connected to the wiring harness?

Geezums - just got MORE complicated. Never heard of this "hatch latch".

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[StephenCantrelle]

Official from Kia to dealers. Sent out today

 

[TellmeyourWHAT?]

NOW we are talking !!

He talks about a reduced price ...... but no price mentioned?

 

[lcornice]

Except I have a hitch in the garage and the Hyundai harness gets here tomorrow. Should have waited a week!

 

[MNBackpacker]

Well, I'll be darned.. There IS a latch replacement! Glad I'm already on the waiting list!

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[TellmeyourWHAT?]

Except I have a hitch in the garage and the Hyundai harness gets here tomorrow. Should have waited a week!

Yeah, I wasn't about to mess with non-KIA stuff. But I also had the luxury of waiting.

 

[lcornice]

Yeah, I wasn't about to mess with non-KIA stuff. But I also had the luxury of waiting.

It's a Kia hitch that I bought at the dealer. I'm guessing I can return the harness if needed, I won't open the package until I get some clarity. I'll call the dealer next week and see what my options are, or continue to watch this board closely!

 

[steve-o]

Official from Kia to dealers. Sent out today

Thanks for that!
My biggest gripe in this whole situation is the lack of information. When I bought my Kia in Dec 2022, the dealer said the hitch would be available in a "couple of months". After 7 months there was still no information on it, not even a part number for the wiring harness. I needed to tow, so I got Ziebart to install a Curt tow bar, got the Hyundai harness, and installed it myself. All is functional.
Now I'm worried about the latch. Is my warranty voided? Can I get the latch replaced later when they are available as a single item? Time will tell.

 

[Sharky]

Official from Kia to dealers. Sent out today

Letter says a Tailgate Latch Assembly is needed (and included). Anyone have any experience with installing/replacing these? I'd prefer to install everything myself, if possible. But, wondering if it's getting too complicated. TIA.

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[steve-o]

Letter says a Tailgate Latch Assembly is needed (and included). Anyone have any experience with installing/replacing these? I'd prefer to install everything myself, if possible. But, wondering if it's getting too complicated. TIA.

The letter calls the kit a "Dealer Installed Option".

 

[amark]

Finally some progress! I just called one of the local dealerships and placed an order for the hitch kit. They were not able to give me an estimated arrival date, so still a waiting game, but it seems to be coming to an end.

 

[Jonesfamily2024]

Installed today the S8F67-AC700 4pin/7pin Trailer harness 2023 Palisade. Took 1.5 hrs total.

Honestly, pulling the rear jack compartment out, the sill plate, and popping open the two left trim panels was fairly straight forward. The trick was sorting the best way to run the harness through the OEM rubber grommet. I modified it slightly more than the directions.

First, the white 8 pin harness plug above the rubber gromet just inside the trim panel, was there under a piece of white padding. The white connector was taped with athletic type tape to the harness that runs to the rubber plug. I felt around inside and the white plug's harness had no slack. I was afraid to un-tape it and have it shrink back inside the panel and cause stress once the new harness was plugged into it. So, I left it taped and plugged the new harness into it as it was.

The rubber plug lifts out of the body metal hole quite easily. The rubber is very, very soft. I opted to drill the gromet with a 1/2 hole and then use tin snips to cut the gromet from the edge to the hole. This allowed for a better fit of the harness vs it spreading the cut too wide. There is only 3\4 inch room to drill the hole between the harness already running through it and the lip of the gromet that the body metal fits into. You'll see I drilled the hole fairly close to the harness already going through the grommet. There is no way the new harness can somehow rub against the metal body panel.

I then installed the 7pin plug harness through the gromet. To maximize the amount of harness going to the hitch, the new harness is inserted through the gromet so just 1 inch of the convoluted plastic tube is protruding into the trunk area. I connected everything inside the trunk first and then pulled it tight to make sure I maximized that length going to the bumper. That allowed me to RTV seal the gromet to the plastic tubing vs the cloth covering.

Lastly, I did not photograph the RTV application to both sides. I'm sure you can sort that out. Though, work the gromet and squeeze it some to minimize the gap in the cut before sealing with RTV.

When the Redarc brake controller arrives this week, I'll take some photos of the install as well.

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Fist ten photos. .............................

Any word on the brake controller install? Thank you much for all of the info you’ve posted along with others here. You guys rock

 

[Sqrob]

Official from Kia to dealers. Sent out today

Any chance we could get a picture of the S9F67AC700CCC wiring harness connector to the Telluride connector? I'd like to see if it might work on Canadian KIAs (Even if built in the USA)

I know there are some minor differences between the two country builds, immobilizers for one. I wonder if our vehicles would also require the 81800S9600CCC latch.

My dealer installed the hitch at time of purchase and just this week, KIA Canada said there would NOT be a Canadian wiring harness "sorry". They also said there wouldn't be a Canadian hitch...but as mentioned, my dealer sold and installed one on mine.

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[bennyhanna]

I picked up my SXP X-Pro on Tuesday and on Thursday found there was a hitch kit, so I ordered it. Of course it’s on back order with no expected delivery date. The dealer did say it came with the bumper trim insert.

I was a little mad that I didn’t get at least some of the labor as a “we owe”. Fortunately I don’t “need” to tow any of my toys over the next 8 weeks while my broken ankle heals, but I sure hope it comes in soon.

 

[TellmeyourWHAT?]

I was a little mad that I didn’t get at least some of the labor as a “we owe”. Fortunately I don’t “need” to tow any of my toys over the next 8 weeks while my broken ankle heals, but I sure hope it comes in soon.

You are getting some of the labor waived (along with the hatch latch).

Model Year 2023 and early MY 2024 (produced before October 2023) Tellurides will require Tailgate Latch replacement when installing a Tow Hitch Kit to comply with testing standards. To promote customer satisfaction, KUS will absorb the incremental cost of the parts and labor for the Tailgate Latch Assembly (81800S9600CCC and 81800S9500CCC) from the 2022 MY DIO Tow Hitch for the affected vehicles for a limited time.

Plus there is this .....

2. Why is the Kit offered at a reduced price? KUS has discounted the pricing to ensure customers get a similar pricing level to the 2022MY DIO Tow Hitch installation despite the incremental Tailgate Latch labor and part cost. We ask all dealers to pass on these discounts to customers and be conscientious that customer satisfaction is key.

 

[steve-o]

Any chance we could get a picture of the S9F67AC700CCC wiring harness connector to the Telluride connector? I'd like to see if it might work on Canadian KIAs (Even if built in the USA)

I know there are some minor differences between the two country builds, immobilizers for one. I wonder if our vehicles would also require the 81800S9600CCC latch.

My dealer installed the hitch at time of purchase and just this week, KIA Canada said there would NOT be a Canadian wiring harness "sorry". They also said there wouldn't be a Canadian hitch...but as mentioned, my dealer sold and installed one on mine.

Judgeschambers has a couple of posts a 2 pages back (quoted below) that show the hitch wiring that you have. It looks identical to the wiring that I installed, the S9F67AC800, which is a Canadian product.

 

[steve-o]

BTW, here are some photos of the new USA harness as I unboxed it.

2023 Palisade
Trailer Hitch & Harness

USA PN's
S8F67-AC700 4pin/7pin Trailer harness 2023 Palisade
S8F61-AU300 Hitch Calligraphy with bumper cover
S8F61-AU200 Hitch Non-Calligraphy with Bumper cover

Photos of harness S8F67-AC700
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Post 2 of photos....View attachment 31537View attachment 31538View attachment 31539