2023 shortage hybrid fwd

Try this?:

Thanks Steveo. I tried that and it does release but as soon as I tried to pull away the brake locks again.

Does the Owners Manual say anything about "recreational towing?"

I have not checked the manual because I knew before I bought it that my 2023 AWD hybrid cannot be towed 4-down or on a dolly. Most FWD cars can be towed on a dolly. You may need to tow in on a trailer, all 4 wheels off the ground.

When I was buying it we explained that we tow 5 months out of the year and they said it could be towed. So we bought and now that it’s time to go we find it can’t. Lying salesmen at Deland Kia! So now we will have to eat about $6000 because of their greed.

It is always a good idea to verify recreational towing in the owners manual before buying. I wonder whether the park brake for the rear wheels can be mechanically disabled so you can tow on your dolly. But park brake may activate only on the rear wheels and so disabling would not be a good idea.

But could this still be simply a parking brake deactivation issue? Do you have an LX/FWD?

If so, I think you should be OK drivetrain-wise. Have you been to the service desk and insist that they get help w/KIA Tech for an answer?

Tell them that you think it’s a warranty repair.

I did speak with Kia tech and the answer was all of Kia late models have the same breaking system and can’t be towed without flatbed or dollys.

Sorry, just to be clear - you are towing a FWD Sportage w/dolly on front wheels, but they are saying it needs a rear wheel dolly, too? All because the Sportage somehow senses movement in the rear wheels when it is “off” and pops the parking brake on?

Is there maybe a fuse that can be removed temporarily that is powering whatever this sensor is?

Something is off here. The manual specifically states that FWD can be towed w/front wheels off ground. Is there any chance that Auto Hold was on when you powered off the Sportage, as that would do it.

My only experience towing a car behind a motorhome was 4-wheels-down. Over the years, it seemed like there were fewer and fewer cars that could be towed 4-down, usually due to keeping the automatic transmission lubricated when the engine was not running. Automatic park brake is a new wrinkle. Steveo may be right that a fuse could be pulled for towing, but who knows what else may be on the same circuit. Perhaps something essential?