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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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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.
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:
PS3822017-02-17. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP: STOP LAMP SWITCH IDENTIFICATION MATRIX (SC098) - KMA HAS RECEIVED A NUMBER OF INCORRECT WARRANTY RETURN PARTS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN SC098 AND HAS DETERMINED THAT AT TIMES DEALER STAFF MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY IN QUICKLY AND EASILY IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT SWITCHES WHILE ORDERING PARTS, PREPARING TO PERFORM THE STOP LAMP REPLACEMENT OR WHILE PREPARING TO RETURN REPLACED SWITCHES TO KMA (IN CASE OF AN EXISTING MANDATORY PART RETURN (MPR) REQUEST). TO FACILITATE FASTER AND EASIER IDENTIFICATION OF THE CORRECT PARTS, A PICTURE GUIDE AS SHOWN ON PAGE 2 IS PROVIDED. THE GUIDE’S CONTENT WAS PURPOSELY FORMATTED TO FIT ON ONE PAGE SO IT CAN BE EASILY PRINTED AND KEPT ON OR NEAR A WORKSTATION, PARTS COUNTER OR TOOL BOX.
TSB SC1262017-02-16. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; ENGINE. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO UPDATING THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING (CALIBRATION) OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) ON SOME 2011 MY OPTIMA (TF) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4L ENGINE AND CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS, PRODUCED FROM OCTOBER 14, 2010 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, WHICH MAY HAVE ENGINE CALIBRATIONS THAT WERE NOT OPTIMIZED FOR EMISSIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARMING UP. THESE CALIBRATIONS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RELEASE AIR POLLUTANTS WHICH EXCEED CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCE BOARD (CARB) EMISSIONS REGULATIONS. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, PLEASE FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN.
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.
SC135QA2017-02-08. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL. Q AND A (SC135/WTY009) - EVAPORATIVE CANISTER VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN / WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM
SC135OWNER2017-02-08. Service bulletin. ENGINE. OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER (SC135) - DEAR KIA OWNER, KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN / WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM REGARDING THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER IN YOUR VEHICLE.
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.
TSBCHA072R12017-02-08. Service bulletin. STEERING. TSB REV1: MDPS FLEXIBLE COUPLING REPLACEMENT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (CS1604) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING (MDPS) ON SOME 2011-2014 MY OPTIMA (QF/TF/TFH) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM AUGUST 12, 2010 TO DECEMBER 18, 2013. THE MDPS UNIT MAY EXPERIENCE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. KIA’S ANALYSIS HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THIS CONDITION OCCURS MAINLY IN EXTREMELY HIGH HUMIDITY STATES ADJACENT TO WARM OCEAN WATERS DUE TO THE WEAR OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE MDPS, AFTER EXTENDED USAGE OVER YEARS. THE EXTREMELY HIGH HUMIDITY STATES ADJACENT TO WARM OCEAN WATERS INCLUDE: ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TEXAS. FOR VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN EXTREMELY HIGH HUMIDITY STATES ADJACENT TO WARM OCEAN WATERS, REPLACE THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING WITH A NEW ONE IF IT HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BEFORE CONDUCTING THE PROCEDURE, VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF THE AFFECTED VINS. FOR VEHICLES SOLD OR REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES, KIA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE MDPS FROM 5 YEARS/60,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE, STARTING FROM THE DATE OF FIRST SERVICE IN ORDER TO ENSURE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. IF THE MDPS UNIT EXPERIENCES NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, REPLACE THE AFFECTED FLEXIBLE COUPLING WITH A NEW ONE.
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.
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.
TSBCHA0402017-02-06. Service bulletin. SUSPENSION; SUSPENSION:REAR. SERVICE ACTION: REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE (SA150) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE FOR REPLACING BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON SOME OPTIMA (TF), OPTIMA (QF) AND OPTIMA HYBRID (TF HEV) VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2011 THROUGH APRIL 5, 2012, THAT ARE IN STATES WHERE HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED FOR DE-ICING IN THE WINTER MONTHS.
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).
PS2352017-02-06. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. PITSTOP: HORN CHIRP AND PARKING LAMPS INOP WHEN LOCKING DOORS WITH RKE FOB - THIS GIVES INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW IF YOU ENCOUNTER A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT RELATING TO THE VEHICLE NOT PRODUCING AN AUDIBLE TONE OR HORN CHIRP, AND THE PARKING LAMPS NOT FLASHING WHEN LOCKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE RKE FOB.
PS2342017-02-06. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP: MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPWITH DRIVE MOTOR DTC P0A41 OR P0A42 - THIS GIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW IF SOME OPTIMA HYBRID CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON CONDITION OR AN INTERMITTENT HYBRID SERVICE INDICATOR LAMP (SIL) ON CONDITION WITH ONE OF THE ABOVE DTCS IN THE MOTOR CONTROL UNIT (MCU) SYSTEM, EITHER IN ACTIVE, PENDING, OR HISTORY STATE.
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.
TSBELE0442017-02-06. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. "TSB: HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY ORDERING AND RETURN PROCEDURE - THIS BULLETIN OUTLINES THE ORDERING AND RETURN PROCEDURE FOR HIGH-VOLTAGE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES FOR OPTIMA HYBRID VEHICLES (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS ""HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERIES"" OR HVBS). EVERY KIA-APPROVED HYBRID DEALERSHIP’S PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THE FASTEST HANDLING TIME AND TO MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF CHARGE-BACKS."
PS224R12017-02-06. Service bulletin. SEATS. PITSTOP: VENTILATED SEAT OPERATION - SOME VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH VENTILATED FRONT SEATS TO IMPROVE OCCUPANT COMFORT BY DRAWING INTERIOR VEHICLE AIR TEMPERATURE THROUGH THE SEATING SURFACES. THE CUSTOMER PERCEPTION MAY BE THAT THE SEAT IS AIR CONDITIONED AND THE SEAT IS NOT GETTING COLD ENOUGH HOWEVER THE ACTUAL DESIGN INTENT IS TO DRAW AMBIENT AIR THROUGH THE SEAT WITH A SEPARATE BLOWER MOTOR ATTACHED TO THE SEAT ASSEMBLY.
PS2262017-02-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. PITSTOP: PANORAMA SUNROOF TRIM SEAL LOOSE - OPTIMA’S PRODUCED FROM SOP TO OCTOBER 24, 2012, EQUIPPED WITH PANORAMA SUNROOF OPTION, MAY EXHIBIT A LOOSE OR SAGGING SIDE TRIM SEAL (A). A PORTION OF THE SIDE TRIM SEAL MAY BECOME DETACHED AND CAUGHT UNDER THE SUNROOF, AS IT IS CLOSED, CAUSING POOR APPEARANCE AND IMPROPER SEALING. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED BELOW.
TSBENG132R12017-02-03. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. TSB: ECM UPGRADE - DRIVING PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (VER.2) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO A CONTROLLER SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR ALL 2011~2012MY OPTIMA HYBRID VEHICLES.
TSBCHA034R12017-02-03. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; SUSPENSION. TSB: OPTIMA VEHICLE TRACKING DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT SOME 2011MY OPTIMA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 TO AUGUST 31, 2011 THAT MAY BE SENSITIVE TO ROAD CONDITIONS AND EXHIBIT A SLIGHT DRIFT TO THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON LONG STRAIGHT ROADS, AND LEAD TO CUSTOMER ANNOYANCE COMPLAINTS. THIS BULLETIN OUTLINES PROCEDURES TO HELP CORRECT THE “DRIFT TO THE LEFT” CONDITION.

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