Service bulletin DEALERPSMSC126

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10089475
Published by NHTSA	2017-01-25
Manufacturer's number	DEALERPSMSC126
Manufacturer's date	2016-03-17
NHTSA component	ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

NHTSA's summary

DEALER SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC126) - KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN 2011MY KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4L ENGINE DESIGNED TO MEET CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS, MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 14, 2010 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (“ECM”), AS THE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CARB EMISSIONS REGULATIONS.

The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

Components

Electrical system, Engine, Software

Vehicles listed
KIA OPTIMA	2011

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
PI1803_TSB_R6	2021-08-02. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN - PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN PI1803_TSB_R6: KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU - LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1803) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
TSB_TRA059	2020-12-04. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HCU/TCU UPGRADE - FOR 100 MESH SOLENOID EQUIPPED HYBRID TRANSMISSIONS -This bulletin provides information related to a software upgrade of the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) of some 2011-2016 MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) vehicles after replacement of the transmission with improved 100 mesh solonoid filters has taken place. To apply the improved logic, the HCU/TCU should be reprogrammed using the GDS/KDS download, as described in this bulletin.
TSB_PI1803_R2	2019-06-04. Service bulletin. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN - KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1803) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
PI1803_OWN#2_OPT	2019-04-30. Service bulletin. OWNER LETTER: Dear Kia Optima Owner: Kia Motors America, Inc. is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on all 2011-2013 MY Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection ("GDI") and 2.0L Turbocharged GDI ("T-GDI") engines, and some 2014 MY Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L GDI and 2.0L T-GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge and will only involve the addition of newly developed computer software for the Engine Control Unit ("ECU").
VPI1803_DP	2018-11-13. Service bulletin. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (PI1803) - DEALER PRINCIPAL LETTER - Attention: All Kia Dealer Principals, Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
TSBELE091R3	2017-12-22. Service bulletin. TSB - IDENTIFYING HEAD UNIT SOFTWARE VERSION FOR DIRECT EXCHANGE - This bulletin provides the procedure on how to identify and record the head unit software level on various head unit platforms and generations.
TSB-ELE091R1	2017-08-31. Service bulletin. TSB: IDENTIFYING HEAD UNIT SOFTWARE VERSION FOR DIRECT EXCHANGE - Identifying Head Unit Software Version For Direct Exchange (ELE091) (Rev 1) - This bulletin provides the procedure on how to identify and record the head unit software level on various head unit platforms and generations. This procedure will now be required when ordering head units through the Direct Exchange Program (see Parts Bulletin 91-961-0005).
TSBTRA059R2	2017-08-02. Service bulletin. TSB:HCU/TCU UPGRADE ? FOR 100 MESH SOLENOID EQUIPPED HYBRID TRANSMISSIONS - This bulletin provides information related to a software upgrade of the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) of some 2011~2016MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) after replacement of the transmission with improved 100 mesh solenoids has taken place. To apply the improved logic, the HCU/TCU should be reprogrammed using the GDS/KDS download, as described in this bulletin.
TSB-ENG160R1	2017-08-02. Service bulletin. TSB: ECU UPGRADE ? MIL ON WITH DTC(s) P0420/P0171 - This bulletin provides information related to the ECU software upgrade for some 2012~2015MY Optima (QF) vehicles, produced from August 12, 2011 to October 2, 2015, some 2012~2015MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles, produced from April 19, 2011 to December 11, 2014, some 2011~2015MY Optima (TF) vehicles, produced from August 12, 2010 to July 23, 2015, and some 2014~2016MY Sportage (SL) vehicles, produced from September 30, 2013 to November 16, 2015, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated with the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) system-related DTC(s): P0420 and possibly P0171. This concern occurs most commonly during prolonged engine braking while descending a steep grade.
TSB-ENG160	2017-08-02. Service bulletin. TSB: ECU UPGRADE ? MIL ON WITH DTC(s) P0420/P0171 - This bulletin provides information related to the ECU software upgrade for some 2012~2015MY Optima (QF) vehicles, produced from August 12, 2011 to October 2, 2015, some 2012~2015MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles, produced from April 19, 2011 to December 11, 2014, some 2011~2015MY Optima (TF) vehicles, produced from August 12, 2010 to July 23, 2015, and some 2014~2016MY Sportage (SL) vehicles, produced from September 30, 2013 to November 16, 2015, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated with the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) system-related DTC(s): P0420 and possibly P0171. This concern occurs most commonly during prolonged engine braking while descending a steep grade.