Installation Instruction Notes for Installing Curt Hitch # C13152 on a 2015 Kia Sorento

Question:

I just installed this hitch a couple days ago on a 2015 Kia Sorento SX V6 AWD and I experienced a variety of different scenarios/issues that both the paper directions from the manufacturer and the etrailer.com installation video do not address properly. These issues made the installation significantly more time consuming and complicated. Below is a list of some of them: 1. My installation did not require the need to cut off the bumper alignment pins- they were not in the way of anything. 2. There were several obstacles not addressed that interfered with the installation of the passenger side of the hitch. The spare tire winch assembly was in the way and did not allow me to properly get my socket flush over some of the nuts. I had to temporarily remove the assembly. In addition, there is a plastic pin sticking through the body of the vehicle that makes the nut on the horizontal bolt closer to the rear of the vehicle inaccessible. This is a plastic bracket that one of the body screw mounts to from inside the vehicle. This particular screw is near the jack. I had to temporarily remove this screw, cut the plastic bracket the screw mounts into, and re install the screw in this now partially damaged plastic bracket. Were these issues unique to just my install? I would assume that many other Sorentos specifically the SX models have the exact same configuration.

asked by: Eric

Expert Reply:

I am glad you were able to get the Curt hitch # C13152 installed on your 2015 Kia Sorento. Sometimes you have to improvise a bit with hitch installs. That may not be the ideal answer you want to hear, but in some situations you might have to use a wrench instead of a ratchet, or you'll have to use a swivel extension on the ratchet. Most vehicles are made to the exact same specs so the same tools can be used or the install instructions can be followed to the letter, but some vehicles can be made slightly different if they came from a different plant, or year to year changes cause slight variances.

We really do appreciate you following up with how your install went. The information you provided might help a future customer who is installing this hitch.

expert reply by: Jameson C