Subaru Forester: Trailer towing: (if equipped) / Driving with a trailer

Towing a trailer with your Kia Telluride requires practice and careful preparation. Before beginning a long trip, spend time becoming familiar with how the vehicle responds with the additional weight of the trailer. Acceleration, braking, cornering, and overall handling will feel different than when driving without a trailer, and your combined vehicle length will require extra attention in all driving situations.

Before every trip, carefully inspect the trailer hitch, hitch platform, safety chains, electrical connectors, lighting system, tires, and mirror adjustment. If the trailer is equipped with electric brakes, begin moving slowly and manually activate the trailer brake controller to verify that the trailer brakes respond correctly. This also confirms that the electrical connection between the trailer and your Kia Telluride is functioning properly.

Following distance

Always leave at least twice the normal following distance you would maintain when driving without a trailer. The additional stopping distance provides more time to react safely and helps reduce the need for sudden braking or abrupt steering maneuvers.

Passing

Passing another vehicle while towing requires significantly more space and planning. Because your Kia Telluride and trailer combination is considerably longer, allow ample distance before overtaking another vehicle and wait until the entire trailer has safely cleared the vehicle being passed before returning to your lane.

Backing up

Place one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel while reversing. Moving your hand to the left causes the trailer to move left, while moving your hand to the right directs the trailer to the right. Reverse slowly, make small steering corrections, and whenever possible, ask another person to guide you from outside the vehicle for improved visibility and safety.

Making turns

Allow additional space when turning with a trailer attached. Wider turns help prevent the trailer from striking curbs, road shoulders, traffic signs, trees, or other roadside obstacles. Avoid sudden steering inputs and always activate your turn signals well before changing direction.

Turn signals when towing a trailer

Every trailer should be equipped with its own turn signals and the appropriate wiring harness. When properly connected, the green turn signal indicators on the Kia Telluride instrument cluster flash during turns or lane changes, while the trailer lights operate simultaneously to alert surrounding traffic.

Keep in mind that the instrument cluster indicators may continue flashing even if one or more trailer bulbs have failed. Because of this, it is important to inspect the trailer lighting regularly. Always verify that every trailer light operates correctly before each trip and every time you reconnect the electrical connector.

Never connect a trailer lighting system directly to your vehicle's electrical wiring. Always use an approved trailer wiring harness that is specifically designed for the Kia Telluride to ensure reliable operation and protect the vehicle's electrical system.

Have the trailer wiring harness installed by an authorized Kia dealer to ensure proper compatibility and safe operation.

For the best results and continued reliability, visit an authorized Kia dealer whenever trailer towing equipment requires inspection or installation.

WARNING

Detection of trailer light connection

Your Kia Telluride can automatically recognize a connected trailer only when genuine Kia towing accessories, including the approved tow bar and wiring harness, are used. These components communicate with the vehicle's electronic systems and enable trailer-specific functions.

After connecting the trailer electrical socket, press the brake pedal or activate the turn signals. The electronic control unit detects the electrical load created by the trailer lighting system and switches the vehicle into trailer recognition mode. When the trailer is disconnected, press the brake pedal or operate the turn signals once again so the control unit can confirm that the trailer has been removed. Any driver assistance features that were automatically adjusted or disabled during trailer operation will then return to their normal operating state.

It is your responsibility to verify that every electrical connection is secure and that all trailer lighting functions correctly before starting your trip and throughout the towing journey. These inspections must always be performed manually, even if the vehicle does not display any warning messages.

TIP

Driving on grades

Reduce your speed and select a lower gear before descending a long or steep grade. Engine braking helps control vehicle speed and reduces the amount of continuous braking required. Relying excessively on the brake pedal may cause the brakes to overheat, reducing braking performance.

When climbing long or steep inclines, shift to a lower gear and reduce your speed to approximately 45 mph (70 km/h). Doing so helps minimize engine and transmission load and reduces the likelihood of overheating while towing with your Kia Telluride.

NOTE

Parking on hills

Whenever possible, avoid parking your Kia Telluride on an incline while a trailer is attached. If the trailer unexpectedly rolls, serious injury, death, or significant damage to both the vehicle and trailer could result.

WARNING

If parking on a hill cannot be avoided, follow these procedures carefully:

1. Position your vehicle in the parking space and turn the steering wheel toward the curb—right when facing downhill and left when facing uphill.

2. Apply the parking brake securely and switch the vehicle off.

3. Place wheel chocks firmly against the downhill side of the trailer wheels.

4. Restart the vehicle, press and hold the brake pedal, shift into N (Neutral), release the parking brake, and gradually release the brake pedal until the trailer's weight rests against the wheel chocks.

5. Press the brake pedal again and firmly reapply the parking brake.

6. Turn the vehicle off and release the brake pedal while leaving the parking brake fully engaged.

WARNING

When you are ready to leave after parking on a hill

1. Press and hold the brake pedal while you:

   • Start the vehicle.

   • Select the appropriate driving gear.

   • Release the parking brake.

2. Gradually release the brake pedal while maintaining full control of the Kia Telluride.

3. Drive forward slowly until the trailer has completely cleared the wheel chocks.

4. Stop safely and have another person retrieve and properly store the wheel chocks before continuing your trip.