Bike Rack Is Triggering Backup Sensors On 2024 Kia Sportage - Will Wiring Harness Resolve This?

Updated 09/03/2024 | Published 08/28/2024

Question:

Hello, I have a 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid Prestige and I purchased a hitch from your company last week, the installation was issue free, but my question concerns your T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector, Part Number: TK32VR. Which your site states it fits the 2024 Kia Sportage. My question is: does this part fit the hybrid also? Your hitch fit the hybrid. The reason being is because my prestige trim has back up sensors and cameras and with my bike rack on the hitch the sensors continually think I am going to hit something when I am backing up and slams on the emergency brake... or I have to shut the parking sensor off... EVERY TIME I back up but the alarm sound still goes on. Kia states that a wiring harness will stop this because the vehicle thinks it is towing a trailer BUT does the wiring harness need to be connected to something to make the vehicle think it is connected to a trailer wiring harness or, do you have any idea, just by adding your harness will this stop the reverse emergency braking?

asked by: Brian W

Expert Reply:

Hello Brian, thanks for reaching out. The Tekonsha T-One # TK32VR is for all models of the 2024 Kia Sportage, and this includes the Hybrid model. That said, it is common for backup sensors to go off when you have a bike rack installed. The wiring harness can be used to help resolve this, but you will have to have something plugged in to the 4-way for the vehicle to recognize the trailer. If nothing is plugged in to the 4-way, the vehicle will not detect a trailer and the sensors will continue to go off.

So if you are just using a bike rack, you would have to install some kind of light kit for the rack to plug in to the 4-way. Otherwise the only solution will be to disable the sensor every time you back up.

expert reply by: Jesse M

Brian

9/3/2024

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it. And I have researched that plugging a light into the wiring harness is the only solution for the sensors. Per Kia, there is no permanent way to disable it.

Jesse M.

9/3/2024

@Brian Ok great thanks for confirming! Take a look at the Curt Auxiliary LED Indicator Lights # C53201. This is the closest thing we have to a universal bike rack light kit. I am not sure what bike rack you have, but adding this kit and plugging it in will resolve the issue.