Service bulletin TSBELE038

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	10090007
Published by NHTSA	2017-01-31
Manufacturer's number	TSBELE038
Manufacturer's date	2012-10-05
NHTSA component	EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA's summary

TSB: INFORMATION FOR DEALER UVO UPGRADE / RETAIL CUSTOMER - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE RETAIL CUSTOMER’S PROCEDURE FOR UPGRADING THE KIA UVO (YOUR VOICE) SYSTEM. KIA UVO OWNERS HAVE THE OPTION TO DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE UPGRADES DIRECTLY FROM THE KIA.COM WEBSITE AND CAN PERFORM THE UPGRADE THEMSELVES OR HAVE THE DEALER PERFORM THE UPGRADE IN WHICH CASE ADDITIONAL LABOR CHARGES MAY APPLY. FOR CUSTOMERS WHO PERFORM THEIR OWN UPGRADE, KIA PROVIDES THE CUSTOMER WITH SOFTWARE AND UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS. IF THE CUSTOMER OPTS TO HAVE THE DEALER PERFORM THE UPGRADE, THE UPGRADE PROCEDURE IS OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN.

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, Equipment and accessories

Vehicles listed
KIA OPTIMA	2012, 2013
KIA OPTIMA HYBRID	2012, 2013 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
KIA RIO	2013
KIA SORENTO	2012, 2013
KIA SOUL	2012, 2013
KIA SPORTAGE	2012, 2013

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

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
2023275	2023-05-08. Electrical

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
TSB_CLI049_R2	2026-09-02. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor assembly on some 2011MY~ Optima Hybrid (TF HEV, JF HEV/PHEV), 2015MY~ Soul EV (PS EV), 2017MY~ Niro (DE HEV/PHEV/EV), 2022MY~ EV6 (CV), 2021MY~ Sorento (MQ4 HEV/PHEV), 2023MY~ Sportage (NQ5 HEV/PHEV), and 2023MY~ Niro (SG2 EV/HEV/PHEV) vehicles.
SC269_OWNR_401	2026-07-21. Service campaign. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC269 FLIGHT #401) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the high-voltage fuse in 2013-2016 MY Optima Hybrid vehicles.
PI2103_OWNR_501	2026-03-12. Other. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2103 FLIGHT #501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2011-2013 MY Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter MPI 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”).
PI2103_OWNR_401	2025-07-09. Other. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI203) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2011-2013 MY Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter MPI 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”).
SC269_OWNR_301	2025-03-26. Service campaign. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC269) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the high-voltage fuse in 2013-2016 MY Optima Hybrid vehicles.
CS2311_TSB_R3	2024-10-23. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 15, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) are not able to receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In an effort to help prevent thefts of Kia vehicles that are not equipped with an immobilizer, a protective cover will be permanently affixed to the ignition cylinder. This Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector prevents the removal of the key lock cylinder thereby preventing access to the ignition tumbler.
SC269_TSB_R1	2024-08-21. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY SAFETY PLUG FUSE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT (SC269) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the High Voltage Battery (HVB) Safety Plug Fuse Assembly or Main Fuse on 2013-2016MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) vehicles produced from September 27, 2012 through July 22, 2015. The high-voltage fuse in the subject vehicles may have been replaced with an improper non-OEM aftermarket fuse by third-party repair facilities. A fuse of incorrect capacity may experience a shortened service life, which may result in illumination of the “Hybrid System Warning” and/or “Check Engine Light,” followed by a no-start condition. If an improper non-OEM aftermarket fuse is installed, it may fail and result in a fire.
SC269_OWNR_F2	2024-08-14. Service campaign. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC269) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the high-voltage fuse in 2013-2016 MY Optima Hybrid vehicles.
CS2307_TSB_R8	2024-06-13. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2307) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM) system on some 2012-2017MY Rio (UB) produced from May 30, 2011 through March 31, 2017 and 2018-2021MY Rio (SC) vehicles produced from June 1, 2017 through October 25, 2021, which may not be equipped with an immobilizer. This logic upgrade will add anti-theft ignition start logic to the vehicle's system operation which activates when the vehicle is locked with the use of the key fob.
CS2304_TSB_R7	2024-06-13. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2304) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM), or Intelligent Integrated Platform Module (IPM) system on certain 2011-2015MY Sorento (XMa), 2016-2020MY Sorento (UMa), and 2021-2022MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced within the dates outlined on page 13, which may not be equipped with an immobilizer. This logic upgrade will add anti-theft ignition start logic to the vehicle's system operation which activates when the vehicle is locked with the use of the key fob.