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Service bulletins for the 2011 Kia Optima

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.

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

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TSB-ELE091R12017-08-31. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. 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).
PS4932017-08-02. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. TSB: DEFOGGING LOGIC ? NORMAL OPERATION, DISABLING, AND ENABLING - Starting with 2010MY, all Kia vehicles, except Rio (JB), incorporate a defogging logic to prevent the interior windows from becoming excessively fogged. Depending on the specific model, the HVAC control head monitors ambient temperature and/or cabin humidity to determine which settings will best prevent the windows from fogging. If the system detects lower ambient temperature or higher cabin humidity, the defogging logic may automatically switch ON the A/C, and/or set the air intake mode to Fresh Air. If the user changes these settings, the defogging logic will take control again after 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the procedure in this publication.
TSB-CLI026R12017-08-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. TSB: A/C EVAPORATOR FREEZE-UP DURING EXTENDED DRIVE - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the evaporator temperature sensor of some 2011-2014MY Optima (TF/QF) and 2011-2013MY Sorento (XMa) vehicles ONLY (see production dates on Page 3), which may experience freezing of condensation on the evaporator core and the following A/C performance related concerns below. Do NOT refer to this bulletin or the resistance specifications listed in this bulletin for ANY other models.
TSB-GEN085R12017-08-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other similar hardware, including threaded fasteners with pre-applied ?thread-locking adhesives.? It is critical for technicians to be aware that ALL such locking fasteners, regardless of type, are for ?one time use? only.
TSB-TRA0552017-08-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. TSB: INHIBITOR SWITCH DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION - This bulletin gives information regarding the steps to take regarding the diagnosis of the Inhibitor Switch.
TSB-CLI017R42017-08-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. TSB: EV AND HYBRID A/C SYSTEM SERVICING REQUIREMENTS - The Soul Electric Vehicle (EV) and the Optima Hybrid use an A/C compressor that is driven by a high-voltage electric motor rather than by a belt. Both the motor and compressor are in one housing with a mix of refrigerant and oil flowing through both sections. Because the oil flows through the motor windings, it must have a high electrical resistivity (low conductivity).
TSB-GEN0852017-08-02. Service bulletin. LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other similar hardware, including threaded fasteners with pre-applied ?thread-locking adhesives.?
PS3382017-08-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. PITSTOP: HEATER BLOWING COLD AIR WHILE IN EV MODE - When diagnosing a concern related to the heater intermittently blowing cold air while in EV mode, check the Electric Water Pump (EWP) for the A/C system (NOT the main cooling system EWP), located on the rear of the transmission (A), for proper operation. To test EWP operation, disconnect connector CHG31/C131 (B) and apply power and ground to the EWP.
TSB-SC135R12017-08-02. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. TSB: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: EVAPORATIVE CANISTER INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT (SC135) - This bulletin provides information to inspect and/or replace the evaporative canister assembly on some Optima (TF) vehicles, produced from September 2, 2010 through November 29, 2014, some Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) vehicles, produced from February 15, 2011 through November 29, 2014, some Rondo (UN) vehicles, produced from April 1, 2009 through July 30, 2010, and some Sedona (VQ) vehicles, produced from April 1, 2009 through June 17, 2014. The subject vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one of twenty-eight (28) salt belt states may experience a leak detection warning of the evaporative emission systems, along with DTC(s) P0442 or P0455. For vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one of the twenty-eight (28) salt belt states, (AK, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV, KS, KY, NE, ND, SD and UT), the evaporative canister will be inspected, and if no leak is found, the mounting bracket will be replaced with a new improved part. If a crack in the evaporative canister is found, the canister will be replaced with a new improved part. Before conducting the procedure, verify the vehicle is included in the list of affected VINs. For vehicles in other states, Kia is extending the warranty on the evaporative canister from 5 years/60,000 miles to 10 years/120,000 miles, whichever occurs first starting from the date of first service. Follow the procedures outlined in this bulletin to resolve the concern.
PS3272017-08-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ENGINE. PITSTOP: RESETTING CYLINDER BALANCE ADAPTATION VALUES - When addressing a cylinder balance concern on a vehicle equipped with a 2.4L GDI engine, it is important to note that the DTC may recur after replacement of any faulty component(s) and resetting adaptive values. See this Article for information on resetting cylinder balance adaptation values.
TSB-CLI0242017-08-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. TSB: TESTING A/C COMPRESSOR FUNCTION USING GDS - This bulletin provides information on a new procedure to test A/C compressor function using the GDS.
TSB-CHA044R12017-08-02. Service bulletin. STEERING; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. TSB: MDPS FLEXIBLE COUPLING REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information related to the replacement of the flexible coupling in the MDPS motor of some of vehicles, which may experience a ?clicking? noise emanating from the MDPS when turning the steering wheel left or right, while stopped.
TSB-TRA0512017-08-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. TSB: 6 SPD A/T SOLENOID REPLACEMENT ? DTC P0741 - This bulletin provides information relating to the replacement of the Damper Clutch (D/C) Solenoid on 6-speed automatic transaxles with DTC P0741 (active or history), instead of replacing the transaxle. To reduce vehicle repair time, this procedure can be performed with the transaxle installed in the vehicle.
TT0602017-08-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. TECH TIP: HVAC Blower Stuck on High - This article give the procedure to follow when the HVAC Blower is stuck on high.
PS3032017-08-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. PIT STOP: HIGH VOLTAGE (HV) INSULATED GLOVES RE-CERTIFICATION - The purpose of this Pitstop is to remind dealer personnel about the importance of having the High Voltage (HV) insulated gloves, used by technicians to service hybrid electric vehicles, recertified on a six month or yearly basis.
WTY004OWNER2017-03-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; ENGINE. OWNER LETTER: WTY004 - DEAR KIA OPTIMA OWNER: KIA MOTORS AMERICA TAKES PRIDE IN PROVIDING YOU WITH HIGH QUALITY AND DEPENDABLE VEHICLES. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THESE STANDARDS, KIA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE, TO ALL OWNERS, FOR THE ENGINE’S “SHORT BLOCK” ASSEMBLY ON 2011-2014 MODEL YEAR OPTIMA VEHICLES WITH 2.4L GDI OR 2.0L TURBO GDI TO 10 YEARS STARTING FROM THE DATE OF FIRST SERVICE OR 120,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THE SHORT BLOCK CONSISTS OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS, CONNECTING RODS AND BEARINGS AND PISTONS. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDRESSES ISSUES WITH CONNECTING ROD WEAR WHICH RESULTS IN KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE KNOCKING NOISE INCREASES IN FREQUENCY AS THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN WITH A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING, THE BEARING CAN FAIL AND MAY RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE.
WTY002DEALERPSM2017-03-07. Service bulletin. AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION; EQUIPMENT. DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO: WTY002 - 2008~2011MY RIO PASSENGER SEAT OCS SENSOR MAT WARRANTY EXTENSION (WTY002) - KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) SENSOR MAT FOR CERTAIN 2008-2011 MY RIO VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 8, 2007 AND ALL 2006-2010 MY OPTIMA VEHICLES TO 15 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE, STARTING FROM THE DATE OF FIRST SERVICE. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION WILL ADDRESS FAILURES OF THE OCS SENSOR MAT AS REPORTED BY SOME VEHICLE OWNERS.
TSBELE0892017-02-17. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). TSB: NAVIGATION HEAD UNIT SD CARD REPLACEMENT - THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE SD CARD EXCHANGE/REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE RELATED TO ERROR MESSAGES THAT MAY BE DISPLAYED ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WHEN THE INCORRECT SD CARD IS INSERTED. NOTE: ONLY NEW MODELS (DURING PDI INSPECTION OR AT THE POINT OF PURCHASE) OR COMPATIBILITY MISMATCHES THAT OCCUR AFTER HEAD UNIT REPLACEMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS PROGRAM.
PS3872017-02-17. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). PITSTOP: NAVIGATION HEADUNIT AND SD CARD COMPATIBILITY - THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO POSSIBLE COMPATIBILITY ISSUES BETWEEN NAVIGATION HEAD UNITS AND SD CARDS WHEN REPLACING HEAD UNITS FOR MULTIMEDIA ISSUES. IF AFTER REPLACING A NAVIGATION HEAD UNIT THE ORIGINAL SD CARD DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY, FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE:
SC135DEALERPSM2017-02-08. Service bulletin. ENGINE; EQUIPMENT. DEALER PARTS & SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC135) - ATTENTION: ALL DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN / WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM TO INSPECT THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER. KIA HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FOLLOWING KIA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES WHERE HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, MAY EXHIBIT AN EVAPORATIVE CANISTER LEAK DUE TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT
SC135DEALERP2017-02-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ENGINE. DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC135) - ATTENTION: ALL DEALER PRINCIPALS, KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN / WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM TO INSPECT THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER. KIA HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FOLLOWING KIA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES WHERE HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, MAY EXHIBIT AN EVAPORATIVE CANISTER LEAK DUE TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT
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.
TSBSC1352017-02-08. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ENGINE. TSB: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: EVAPORATIVE CANISTER INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT (SC135) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION TO INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER ASSEMBLY ON SOME OPTIMA (TF) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 THROUGH NOVEMBER 29, 2014, SOME OPTIMA HYBRID (TF HEV) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2011 THROUGH NOVEMBER 29, 2014, SOME RONDO (UN) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM APRIL 1, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010, AND SOME SEDONA (VQ) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM APRIL 1, 2009 THROUGH JUNE 17, 2014. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ONE OF TWENTY-EIGHT (28) SALT BELT STATES MAY EXPERIENCE A LEAK DETECTION WARNING OF THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEMS, ALONG WITH DTC(S) P0442 OR P0455. FOR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ONE OF THE TWENTY-EIGHT (28) SALT BELT STATES, (AK, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV, KS, KY, NE, ND, SD AND UT), THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER WILL BE INSPECTED, AND IF NO LEAK IS FOUND, THE MOUNTING BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW IMPROVED PART. IF A CRACK IN THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER IS FOUND, THE CANISTER WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW IMPROVED PART. BEFORE CONDUCTING THE PROCEDURE, VERIFY THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF AFFECTED VINS. FOR VEHICLES IN OTHER STATES, KIA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER FROM 5 YEARS/60,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST STARTING FROM THE DATE OF FIRST SERVICE. FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN TO RESOLVE THE CONCERN.
PS2632017-02-07. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. PITSTOP: INTERMITTENT OPERATION FROM A/C OR HEATER DTC - P1237 - WHEN DIAGNOSING A CONCERN RELATING TO INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER OR THE HEATER, CHECK FOR THE PRESENCE OF DTC P1237 (ACTIVE AIR FLAP FEEDBACK VOLTAGE HIGH) IN THE ACTIVE AIR FLAP (AAF) SYSTEM.
TSBBOD1022017-02-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. TSB: SEAT BACK COVER REMOVAL PROCEDURE - THIS BULLETIN OUTLINES THE PROCEDURE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE FRONT SEAT BACK COVERS ON OPTIMA (QF) AND SORENTO (XMA).

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