Subaru Forester: Towing / Removable towing hook: (if equipped). Integrated recovery hook: (if equipped)

• Exercise extreme caution whenever flat-towing the vehicle on its own wheels. A licensed driver must remain seated inside the towed vehicle at all times to maintain directional steering control and operate the foot brakes manually.

• Avoid abrupt acceleration, sudden braking, or erratic steering maneuvers that place severe shock loads on the emergency towing eyelet, rigging hardware, and towing strap or chain. Violent surges can cause the hardware or tow line to snap, creating a hazardous projectile that could lead to severe property damage or catastrophic personal injury.

• If the disabled vehicle is stuck, immobilised, or unable to roll freely due to mechanical binding, do not attempt to force the vehicle forward using the emergency towing hook. Discontinue towing attempts immediately and contact an authorized Kia dealer or professional flatbed recovery service.

• Position the recovery vehicle directly ahead and pull the disabled vehicle in a straight line whenever possible to prevent lateral stress on the threaded socket.

• Keep all bystanders and non-essential personnel at a safe distance from both vehicles and the active tow line during recovery operations.

• Use a heavy-duty commercial towing strap measuring under 16 ft (5 m) in length. Securely attach a bright white or red warning flag (approximately 12 inches / 30 cm wide) to the midpoint of the strap to ensure high visibility for surrounding traffic.

• Maintain consistent throttle input and steady distance so the towing strap remains taut, preventing slack that could cause the line to drag on the pavement or snag beneath the tires.

• A driver must remain behind the wheel of the towed Kia Telluride to operate steering and braking controls throughout the entire maneuver. Under no circumstances should passengers ride inside a vehicle being towed on flat ground.

• Attach the rated towing strap or cable exclusively to the designated threaded emergency towing hook.

• Never hook tow cables or recovery straps to suspension arms, axle shafts, tie rods, or body bumpers, as doing so can inflict severe structural frame damage to your vehicle.

• Utilize only high-strength cables, straps, or chains specifically manufactured for vehicle recovery. Ensure all clevis pins or hooks are fully latched and fastened securely onto the eyelet.

• Accelerate and decelerate smoothly and gradually, maintaining constant tension on the tow line when moving off or stopping, as violent jerking movements can pull the eyelet out of its mounting threads or damage chassis components.

• Flat-towing using the emergency hook is permitted only over short distances at low speeds on paved, hard-surfaced roads. Furthermore, all rolling components—including wheels, hubs, axles, driveshafts, steering linkages, and hydraulic brakes—must be fully functional and intact.

• Do not attempt to use the emergency recovery eyelets to pull a stranded vehicle out of deep mud, soft beach sand, snowbanks, or ditch inclines where the vehicle cannot move under its own power.

• Never attempt to tow a heavier vehicle with a lighter recovery vehicle, as the trailing mass can easily overpower the tow vehicle's traction and braking capacity.

• Establish clear communication signals between the drivers of both vehicles prior to moving, and check in frequently throughout the transport process.

• Thoroughly inspect the emergency towing hook for hairline fractures, metal fatigue, or damaged threads prior to mounting it to the vehicle bumper socket.

• Double-check that the towing line hardware is latched cleanly and securely around the loop of the eyelet before applying tension.

• Never apply abrupt snatch loads or yank on the hook. Apply pull force in a smooth, continuous, and controlled manner.

• To avoid bending the hook or damaging the bumper aperture, pull directly straight ahead. Never exert force at steep vertical or sharp side angles.

Transmission

• When emergency flat-towing a Kia Telluride with all four wheels contacting the road, the vehicle must always be pulled forward from the front towing eyelet. Verify that the gear selector is locked in N (Neutral) and that the ignition is set to the ACC or ON position to unlock the steering column. An alert driver must remain in the vehicle cabin throughout the move to steer and brake safely.

• Prior to flat-towing, perform a thorough visual check under the engine bay and subframe for fluid puddles or active transmission leaks. If automatic transmission fluid is leaking, do not flat-tow the vehicle; transport it exclusively using flatbed car carrier equipment or a wheel-lifting towing dolly.

• Integrated recovery hooks must be operated exclusively by individuals trained in proper off-road extraction protocols and vehicle recovery safety practices. Improper rigging, incorrect pulling angles, or misuse of equipment can cause hook failure or separation from the chassis, resulting in severe vehicle damage, serious personal injury, or death.

• Always ease the recovery vehicle forward to gently remove all slack from the recovery strap before applying full pulling force. Applying sudden shock loads or snatching against a loose strap can cause the recovery hooks to snap or the strap to burst violently, leading to serious personal injury or fatal accidents.

• Never join two recovery straps together using a steel clevis pin, shackle, or metal bolt. If either strap snaps under load, the metal pin or hardware becomes a high-velocity projectile capable of causing lethal injury or extreme damage.

• Never exert side-pull force on the integrated recovery hooks. Pulling at sharp lateral angles can fracture the mounting welds or twist the bumper frame. Always align the recovery vehicle to pull the stranded Kia Telluride straight ahead from the front or straight back from the rear.

Do not subject the recovery hooks to tensile loads that exceed the total Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your Kia Telluride, as excessive force can deform the underlying frame structures.