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Service bulletins for the 2012 Kia Forte

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.

72 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

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Bulletins, newest first
TSBTRA051R12017-02-17. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: 6 SPD A/T SOLENOID REPLACEMENT – MULTIPLE DTCS - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE REPLACEMENT OF VARIOUS SHIFT SOLENOIDS ON 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES WITH DTCS P0741, P0743, P0748, P0753, P0758, P0763, P0768, P0773, P1778 AND P2709. REPLACE THE SOLENOIDS IF CURRENT OR HISTORY CODES ARE PRESENT; DO NOT REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE. TO REDUCE VEHICLE REPAIR TIME, THIS PROCEDURE CAN BE PERFORMED WITH THE TRANSAXLE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. REFER TO KGIS FOR SOLENOID PACK REMOVAL AND REINSTALLATION PROCEDURES FOR THE SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE.
PS365R12017-02-17. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP: BLUETOOTH® ISSUES AFTER IPHONE® IOS 8 SOFTWARE UPDATE - THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO POSSIBLE BLUETOOTH CONCERNS WHEN USING AN IPHONE® WITH IOS 8.X (IOS 8, 8.0.1, 8.0.2, 8.1, 8.1.2, 8.1.3, ETC.) WHILE PAIRED TO A HEAD UNIT.
TSBTRA0462017-02-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CORRECT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH KIA MODEL. REFER TO THE SHOP MANUAL ON KGIS FOR THE SPECIFIC KIA MODEL, THEN REFERENCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SYSTEM/ REPAIR PROCEDURES/ INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT SECTION FOR THE CORRECT ATF CHECK/FILL PROCEDURES.
PS266R12017-02-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. PITSTOP: HVAC RECEIVER/DRYER - DESICCANT REPLACEMENT - IN THE EVENT OF A HVAC SYSTEM CONCERN IN WHICH METAL PARTICLES OR SHARDS HAVE CONTAMINATED THE SYSTEM, THE DESICCANT OR THE ENTIRE A/C RECEIVER/DRYER ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE ALL METAL CONTAMINANTS FROM THE RECEIVER/DRYER DURING THE A/C FLUSHING PROCEDURE. REFER TO THE INCLUDED TABLE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON COMPONENT REPLACEMENT BY MODEL. IF YOU SUSPECT A PLUGGED EXPANSION VALVE, THE INLET SCREENS CAN BE CLEANED. IF THE VALVE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN INLET SCREEN AND IS RESTRICTED, THE EXPANSION VALVE MAY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED.
TSBCHA074R12017-02-08. Service bulletin. STEERING. TSB REV1: MDPS FLEXIBLE COUPLING REPLACEMENT - THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE MDPS MOTOR OF SOME VEHICLES WHICH MIGHT EXPERIENCE A “KNOCK” NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE MDPS, WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THIS IS CAUSED BY PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE MDPS MOTOR. IF ANY “KNOCK” NOISE FROM THE MDPS OCCURS, REPLACE THE AFFECTED FLEXIBLE COUPLING ONLY WITH AN IMPROVED ONE, FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE BELOW.
PS2672017-02-07. Service bulletin. ENGINE; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. PITSTOP: THERMOSTAT RE-INSTALLATION PROCEDURE - REPEAT REPAIR (DTC P0128) - WHEN DIAGNOSING A FORTE RETURNING WITH A REPEAT DTC P0128 AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT, REMOVE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING TO VERIFY IF THE THERMOSTAT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING THE PREVIOUS REPAIR.
TSBBOD0952017-02-07. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY/WIPER. TSB: WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP INLET FILTER REPLACEMENT - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO POSSIBLE FOREIGN DEBRIS ACCUMULATION ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP INLET FILTER. OVER TIME, SOME KIA VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A LIMITED APPLICATION OF WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID WHEN THE WASHER FUNCTION IS USED. LIMITED APPLICATION OF WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID CAN BE CAUSED BY FOREIGN DEBRIS ON THE WASHER PUMP INLET FILTER. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, REPLACE THE WASHER PUMP INLET FILTER AND PERFORM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR FLUSHING PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THIS TSB.
PS2742017-02-06. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS. PITSTOP: ACU VARIANT CODING AFTER PARTS SUPERSESSION - KMA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF SOME 2011~13MY OPTIMA AND 2010~13MY FORTE VEHICLES NOT ACCEPTING THE VARIANT CODE LISTED ON KGIS, FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. IN SOME CASES, AN AIR BAG MODULE WITH A SUPERSEDED PART NUMBER MAY REQUIRE A DIFFERENT VARIANT CODE. KGIS IS BEING UPDATED IN PHASES AND WILL LIST BOTH VARIANT CODES (OLD AND NEW) IN CASE OF P/N SUPERSESSION.
TSBTRA047R12017-02-06. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: AXLE SHAFT SERVICEABILITY BY MODEL - THIS BULLETIN HAS BEEN REVISED. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING AXLE SHAFT SERVICEABILITY FOR KIA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REFER TO THE TABLE BELOW FOR A DETAILED LIST OF VEHICLE MODELS. INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PARTS SUCH AS AXLE BOOTS, JOINTS AND HARDWARE FOR INNER JOINT ARE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR PARTS DEPARTMENT.
TSBTRA0492017-02-03. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: 6-SPEED A/T TRANSMISSION ADAPTIVE VALUES RESET/RELEARN - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO RESET AND RELEARN THE ADAPTIVE VALUES AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT OR REPROGRAMMING/REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM/PCM.
PS2232017-01-31. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. PITSTOP: FORTE LOCK CONFIRMATION INOP WITH REMOTE START ACCESSORY - SOME REMOTE START EQUIPPED FORTE’S MAY NOT INDICATE THAT THE DOORS HAVE BEEN LOCKED. THE CUSTOMER MAY STATE THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT FLASH THE HAZARD LIGHTS OR SOUND THE HORN WHEN LOCKING THE DOORS WITH THE TRANSMITTER. AS DESIGNED, THE VEHICLE SHOULD FLASH THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND SOUND THE HORN AFTER PRESSING THE LOCK BUTTON TWO (2) TIMES WITHIN FIVE (5) SECONDS. IF THIS CONCERN IS OCCURRING, VERIFY IF IT IS RELATED TO THE REMOTE START CONTROL MODULE BY CHECKING THE POSITION OF THE OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH. IF THE SWITCH IS IN THE “OFF” POSITION, MOVE THE SWITCH TO THE “DOOR” POSITION AND RETEST THE SYSTEM.
PS4002017-01-31. Service bulletin. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; ENGINE. PITSTOP: SMART PEDAL FEATURE - THE “SMART PEDAL” IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) FUNCTIONALITY WHICH MONITORS AND PREVENTS THE SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVATION OF ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. WHEN ENGAGED, THE FEATURE REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO IDLE. MOST CUSTOMERS WILL NEVER NOTICE THE SMART PEDAL FEATURE WHEN ACTIVE, HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS WHO TEND TO REST THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING MIGHT DESCRIBE A HESITATION OR DELAY SYMPTOM AND NOT REALIZE THAT THE EMS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IS INTERVENING, AS DESIGNED.
TSBTRA051R12017-01-27. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). TSB: 6 SPD A/T SOLENOID REPLACEMENT – MULTIPLE DTCS - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE REPLACEMENT OF VARIOUS SHIFT SOLENOIDS ON 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES WITH DTCS P0741, P0743, P0748, P0753, P0758, P0763, P0768, P0773, P1778 AND P2709. REPLACE THE SOLENOIDS IF CURRENT OR HISTORY CODES ARE PRESENT; DO NOT REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE. TO REDUCE VEHICLE REPAIR TIME, THIS PROCEDURE CAN BE PERFORMED WITH THE TRANSAXLE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. REFER TO KGIS FOR SOLENOID PACK REMOVAL AND REINSTALLATION PROCEDURES FOR THE SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE.
TSBCHA0742017-01-26. Service bulletin. STEERING. TSB: MDPS FLEXIBLE COUPLING REPLACEMENT - THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE MDPS MOTOR OF SOME VEHICLES WHICH MIGHT EXPERIENCE A “KNOCK” NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE MDPS, WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THIS IS CAUSED BY PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE MDPS MOTOR. IF ANY “KNOCK” NOISE FROM THE MDPS OCCURS, REPLACE THE AFFECTED FLEXIBLE COUPLING ONLY WITH AN IMPROVED ONE, FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE BELOW.
TSBTRA049R12017-01-24. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: 6-SPD. A/T ADAPTIVE VALUE RESET /RELEARN - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO RESET AND RELEARN THE ADAPTIVE VALUES AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT OR REPROGRAMMING/REPLACEMENT OF THE PCM/TCM. AFTER THE ADAPTIVE VALUES ARE RESET, THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER ADAPTIVE VALUES MUST BE RELEARNED BY DRIVING IN A PRECISE MANNER TO “TEACH” THE COMPUTER THE PROPER SOLENOID DUTY AND LINE PRESSURE FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER COMBINATION.
TSBELE0912017-01-23. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 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. THIS PROCEDURE WILL NOW BE REQUIRED WHEN ORDERING HEAD UNITS THROUGH THE DIRECT EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
TSBSST0412017-01-18. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. TSB: KDS - AUDIO UPDATE MODULE (AUM) - THE GDS AUDIO UPDATE MODULE (AUM) WAS INTRODUCED IN FOURTH QUARTER OF 2013. THIS SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL (SST) WAS DEVELOPED TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF UPDATING 2010MY, AND LATER, KIA AUDIO HEAD UNITS USING A GDS, AND NOW, THE SAME FUNCTIONALITY IS AVAILABLE ON KDS. SOME TECHNICIANS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE BENEFITS THE AUM TOOL HAS TO OFFER. THE AUM ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE USB FLASH DRIVES FOR SPECIFIC VEHICLE MODELS AND APPLICATIONS WHICH, IF MISAPPLIED, MAY RESULT IN AN IMPROPER AUDIO SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE AND/OR LOCKED UP HEAD UNIT. ADDITIONALLY, FIELD REPORTS HAVE INDICATED THAT USB DRIVES FOR AUDIO UPDATES ARE EASILY LOST OR MISPLACED.
PS2742016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
PS2672016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; ENGINE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
TSB-119 REV-12012-08-07. Service bulletin. ENGINE. KIA: WHEN ENGINE IS AT 2000 RPM AND OPERATING TEMPERATURE, IT MAY EXPERIENCE, FROM THE BALANCE SHAFT MODULE (BSM), A WHISTLING NOISE. *PE
1122012-04-18. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. KIA: VCM ACTUATOR REPLACEMENT AND ECM UPGRADE-TD/SL 2.0/2.4L MIL ON WITH DTC P200A. *KB
TSB-0232011-12-17. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES. KIA: INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEGATIVE (-) AND THE POSITIVE (+) BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL FOR SOME VEHICLES. *PE

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.