Service bulletin TSBSC118

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	10089985
Published by NHTSA	2017-01-31
Manufacturer's number	TSBSC118
Manufacturer's date	2015-04-15
NHTSA component	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

NHTSA's summary

TSB: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: PCM LOGIC REPROGRAMMING (SC118) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) LOGIC FOR THE ADVANCED SMART CRUISE CONTROL (ASCC) IN CERTAIN 2016MY SORENTO (UMA) SX LIMITED (SXL) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.3L V6 ENGINE, TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE AND PRODUCED FROM OCTOBER 27, 2014 THROUGH MARCH 26, 2015. THE VEHICLES IN QUESTION MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE SPEED SET BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WHEN DRIVEN ON AN INCLINE OF 6% OR GREATER. TO RESOLVE THIS CONCERN, KIA HAS DECIDED TO REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) LOGIC. TO INSTALL THE NEW LOGIC, THE PCM SHOULD BE REPROGRAMMED USING THE GDS DOWNLOAD, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS BULLETIN. KIA IS REQUESTING THE COMPLETION OF THIS SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, INCLUDING DEALER STOCK, PRIOR TO DELIVERY. FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE LATEST REFLASH HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE YOU ARE WORKING ON, VERIFY ROM ID USING THE TABLES IN THIS TSB.

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, Transmission and driveline, Automatic transmission, Software, Transmission control module

Vehicles listed
KIA SORENTO	2016

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

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
22V612000	2022-08-10. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
PI1802_TSB_R8	2019-12-09. Service bulletin. TSB - Product Improvement Campaign: KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1802) - 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.
PI1802WX_TSB_R5	2019-04-30. Service bulletin. TSB: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802, Rev 6, 01/31/2019) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement". Specifically, this bulletin provides instructions on which procedures to follow if, after installation of the KSDS, any one of the subject vehicles below returns to the dealer with Diagnostic Trouble Code ("DTC"), P1326.
PI1802WX_TSB_R4	2019-04-30. Service bulletin. TSB: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1802W/X) - This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in July 2018 (PI1802, Rev 6, 01/31/2019) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement". Specifically, this bulletin provides instructions on which procedures to follow if, after installation of the KSDS, any one of the subject vehicles below returns to the dealer with Diagnostic Trouble Code ("DTC"), P1326.
VPI1802_QA	2018-08-06. Service bulletin. Q & A - This document is the Q & A for the new Product Improvement Campaign to provide information regarding a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
VPI1802_DSM	2018-08-06. Service bulletin. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTICE - This notice advised the dealer service manager of the new Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
VPI1802_DP	2018-08-06. Service bulletin. DEALER PRINCIPAL NOTICE - This notice advised the dealer principal of the new 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).
TSBTRA069R1	2017-08-25. Service bulletin. TSB: COMBINATION TSB / SERVICE ACTION: SHIFT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (SA292A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2016MY Optima (JFa) 2.0T, produced from September 11, 2015 through October 6, 2016, 2016MY Sorento (UMa) 2.0T, produced from October 23, 2014 through April 18, 2016, Sorento (UMa) 2.4L, produced from November 18, 2014 through January 19, 2016, and Sorento (UMa) 3.3L vehicles, produced from October 23, 2014 through April 18, 2016, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a harsh downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay. To correct this concern, apply the improved logic to the TCU using the KDS download as described in this bulletin.
TSBENG169R1	2017-08-25. Service bulletin. TSB: COMBINATION TSB / SERVICE ACTION: SHIFT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (SA295A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2016MY Sorento (UMa) 2.4L vehicles, produced from November 3, 2014 through April 18, 2016, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a harsh downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay. To correct this concern, apply the improved logic to the ECU and TCU using KDS download as described in this bulletin.