Service bulletin TSB_ELE271_R3

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	11020869
Published by NHTSA	2025-07-23
Manufacturer's number	TSB_ELE271_R3
Manufacturer's date	2025-07-16
Campaign id or software version	SA515
NHTSA component	ENGINE
Manufacturer's system	ELE

NHTSA's summary

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: INVERTER COOLANT/DEBRIS FLUSHING /REPLACEMENT FOR CLUSTER MESSAGE “REFILL INVERTER COOLANT” (SA515) - 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 flush out the inverter low-conductivity coolant (BSC-1) on certain 2021-2022MY Sorento HEV (MQ4 HEV) vehicles produced from September 2, 2020 through September 29, 2021 and Sorento PHEV (MQ4 PHEV) vehicles produced from June 29, 2021 through October 1, 2021, which may exhibit a “Refill inverter coolant” message displayed on the instrument cluster due to poor flow of coolant/antifreeze inside the low-conductivity coolant pipe. In most cases, the inverter reservoir tank coolant may be filled to normal level and no diagnostic trouble codes (DTC)s are stored due to an increase operation of the electric water pump (EWP) that is 2,800 RPMs or more when checked.

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Engine

Vehicles listed
KIA SORENTO HYBRID	2021, 2022 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
KIA SORENTO PHEV	2021, 2022 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)

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

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
22V202000	2022-03-29. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PIPES, HOSES, AND FITTINGS

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
SC325_TSB_R1	2026-02-26. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: AEWP INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT (SC325) - 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 Auxiliary Electric Water Pump (AEWP), control harness wiring, and/or engine room junction box for coolant intrusion and/or corrosion on certain 2022-2023MY Kia Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid vehicles listed in the table below. The AEWP in the subject vehicles may crack internally and allow coolant to intrude into the AEWP circuitry. If coolant enters the AEWP circuitry, the Check Engine Light (CEL) may be illuminated with one or more DTCs listed on page 2. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the Active Air Flap (AAF) warning message can also activate, and coolant may eventually migrate through the wiring harness to the engine room junction block. This may result in a reduction of motive power and may cause the vehicle to release air pollutants which exceeds Federal and California standards. These standards were established to protect the public health and welfare from the dangers of air pollution.
TSB_ENG257	2025-12-10. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ITM REPLACEMENT AND ECM & TCM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (CA2508) - This bulletin provides information to replace the Integrated Thermal Management Module (ITM) and then upgrade the Engine Control Module ‘ECM’ and (if applicable) the Transmission Control Module ‘TCM’ system software on certain 2021-2023MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced from September 09, 2020 through December 19, 2023. The affected vehicles may experience an illuminated Multifunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) ‘ON’ with DTC(s) P218100, P2181F0, and/or P2181F1 stored. This condition may occur due to degradation of the diaphragm inside the ITM. There are no drivability or other symptoms associated with this condition.
TSB_ ENG256	2025-07-09. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CONTINUOUS VARIABLE VALVE DURATION (CVVD) ACTUATOR OIL SEAL REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to replace the Continuous Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) Actuator seal on some 2021-2022MY Sorento P/HEV (MQ4 P/HEV) vehicles produced from September 02, 2020, through February 24, 2022. The affected vehicles may experience a slow oil leak coming from the CVVD actuator oil seal and potentially associated oil smell due to the oil seal material degrading over time.
TSB_ENG222_R8	2025-04-18. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - 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 on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
TSB_ENG222_R7	2025-03-04. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - 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 on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
SC325_TSB	2025-02-12. Service bulletin. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: AEWP INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT (SC325) - This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the Auxiliary Electric Water Pump (AEWP), control harness wiring, and/or engine room junction box for coolant intrusion and/or corrosion on certain 2023MY Niro Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), 2023MY Sportage HEV/PHEV, and 2022-2023MY Sorento HEV/PHEV Kia vehicles listed in this bulletin. The AEWP in the subject vehicles may crack internally and allow coolant to intrude into the AEWP circuitry. If coolant enters the AEWP circuitry, the Check Engine Light (CEL) may be illuminated with one or more DTCs listed on page 2. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the Active Air Flap (AAF) warning message can also activate, and coolant may eventually migrate through the wiring harness to the engine room junction block. This may result in a reduction of motive power and may cause the vehicle to release air pollutants which exceeds Federal and California standards. These standards were established to protect the public health and welfare from the dangers of air pollution.
SC325_STKR	2025-02-05. Emissions. VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SC325_STKR: COMPLETION LABEL/STICKER
SC325_QA	2025-02-05. Emissions. VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC325) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign SC325.
SC325_POC	2025-02-05. Emissions. VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SC325_POC: PROOF OF CORRECTION CARD
SC325_OWNR_MQ4	2025-02-05. Emissions. VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC325) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia conducting Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign regarding the Auxiliary Electric Water Pump (AEWP) on certain 2022-2023 MY Sorento P/HEV vehicles. Kia has become aware that the Auxiliary Electric Water Pump (AEWP) in the subject vehicles may crack internally and allow coolant to intrude into the AEWP circuitry. If coolant enters the AEWP circuitry, the Check Engine light (CEL) may be illuminated. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the active air flap (AAF) warning message can also activate, and coolant may eventually migrate through the wiring harness to the engine room junction block. This may result in a reduction of drive power and may cause the vehicle to release air pollutants which exceed Federal and California standards. These standards were established to protect the public health and welfare from the dangers of air pollution.