Kia Sorento: Towing. Towing without wheel dollies when using a towing service

Towing service

If emergency towing is necessary for your Kia Sorento, have your vehicle towed by an authorized Kia dealer or a commercial towing service.

Proper lifting and towing procedures are necessary to prevent damage to your vehicle. The use of wheel dollies (1) or a flatbed is recommended.

1. Wheel dollies

NOTE

Your AWD Kia Sorento should never be towed with the wheels on the ground. This can cause serious damage to the transmission or the AWD system.

WARNING

Side and curtain air bag

If your vehicle is equipped with side and curtain air bags (if equipped), press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ACC position when the vehicle is being towed.

The side and curtain air bag may deploy when the ENGINE START/STOP button is in the ON position and the rollover sensor detects the situation as a rollover.

NOTE

If the EPB does not release normally, load your vehicle onto a flatbed tow truck and take it to an authorized Kia dealer to have the system inspected.

Towing without wheel dollies when using a towing service

When you need to tow your Kia Sorento in an emergency without wheel dollies, carefully follow these standard operational steps:

1. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button to place the vehicle in the ACC position.

2. Shift the gear selector to the N (Neutral) position.

3. Completely release the electronic parking brake to ensure free wheel rotation.

   CAUTION

   Towing gear position

   Failure to shift the gear to N (Neutral) may cause internal damage to your vehicle transmission.

   NOTE

   • If any of the loaded wheels or suspension components are damaged, or the Kia Sorento is being towed with the driven wheels on the ground, use a towing dolly under the driven wheels.

   • Do not tow the vehicle backwards with the driven wheels on the ground, as this may severely damage the internal transmission components.

   • Attaching straps directly to the chassis, suspension components, or other vulnerable parts of the body can cause structural damage.

   • Do not tow with sling-type equipment; always use professional wheel lift or flatbed equipment.

   • If your Kia Sorento is equipped with an Automatic Transmission (AT) or Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT), towing the vehicle with all four wheels in contact with the ground will seriously damage the transmission system. Do not tow your vehicle while it is connected to other vehicles including camper vans.

   WARNING

   • If you tow the vehicle while the driven wheels are touching the ground, the motor may generate electricity and damage the motor components or cause an electrical fire.

   • When an electrical or battery issue causes a vehicle fire, there is a serious risk of a secondary fire outbreak. Always contact the local fire department when towing an affected vehicle.