Front Sonar location and front plate?

RichGags said:

Hey y'all. I just picked up a 2023 Sorento SX-Prestige. I will need to mount a front plate and I see the dimples in the front bumper. I really do NOT want to drill into the front bumper. Im thinking about a custom bracket that passes through the grill somehow. My question is... is the large black flat area in the grill the location of the front facing sonar? If I mount the plate in front of it, will it effect the sonar's operation?

Best,
Rich
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vehpotneros said:

Vehicles delivered to states that do not require front license plates are not sent out from the factory with the front license plate bracket. If those vehicles are later transferred to a jurisdiction that does require front plates, the bracket can be supplied and installed by a local dealer. There are two dimples in the front bumper where the bracket is installed (not suitable for affixing the license plate to, though).

Easiest would be to contact a local Kia dealer and have them provide/install the bracket. The part is like $15. I think the part number is 86519 R5300. No promises that's the exact right one.

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vehpotneros said:

See: Front Sonar location and front plate?

There are little dimples which guide the attachment of the license plate bracket.

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cmworleyjr said:

Thanks for the reply and the link. The page that opens from that link is the same page that the parts gal (at local Kia dealer) printed for me, but she said her system shows that the page applies to an SX Prestige that doesn't have the front camera and cruise assist "radar" (which sits below the grill behind a flat area). Then she printed a second/different page that looks very similar to the first one, it does show the camera and radar, but the license plate 86519M is absent, as if it's not an option.
But this doesn't make sense to me, since I know Kia has shipped SX Prestige X-Line vehicles like mine to states that require a front license plate (like VA), so there HAS to be an answer.
I plan to go to a different dealership this week and hope to find someone who's able to think a little farther outside the box.
Surely they can call someone upstream who can solve this.

My girlfriend was laughing and saying, "you're going to all this trouble just so you can install your alma mater's license plate on your car?!!". Lol, it appears so.

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