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Service bulletins for the 2012 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.

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

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Only bulletins with component: Electrical system are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
TSBELE056R12017-02-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TSB: UVO UPGRADE – RIO (UB), SPORTAGE (SL), SOUL (AM), OPTIMA (QF) AND SORENTO (XMA) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE FOR UPGRADING THE UVO SYSTEM ON ALL 2012MY RIO (UB), SPORTAGE (SL), SOUL (AM), OPTIMA (QF) AND SORENTO (XM) VEHICLES.
PS2372017-02-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP: FORCE-STARTING OPTIMA HYBRID ENGINE USING GDS: IF YOU ENCOUNTER AN OPTIMA HYBRID WITH A NO-START CONDITION, CHECK IF THE “READY” LAMP IS FLASHING IN THE CLUSTER AND VERIFY THE HYBRID BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE (SOC) RANGES FROM 15% TO 20%. IF THESE CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT, A TECHNICIAN MAY USE GDS TO “FORCE START” THE ENGINE AND RESOLVE THE CONCERN.
TSBELE0382017-01-31. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 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.
TT0672017-01-30. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. "TECH TIP: DTC P1A89 - DC/DC CONVERTER CURRENT SENSOR FAULT SYMPTOM: DTC - MIL – P1A89 DC/DC CONVERTER CURRENT SENSOR FAULT AND ILLUMINATED BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LAMP IN THE CLUSTER. REPAIR: USE GDS/KDS TO CHECK THE LDC OUTPUT CURRENT UNDER LDC > CURRENT DATA (SEE IMAGE). IF THE OUTPUT IS ZERO AMPS, THIS MAY INDICATE AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE LDC MODULE INSIDE THE HYBRID POWER CONTROL UNIT (HPCU). REPLACEMENT OF THE HPCU WILL BE NECESSARY."
SC114QA2017-01-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. Q AND A: SC114 – ECU UPDATE – MIL ON WITH DTC P0087 / VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN Q&A
SC114OWNEROPTIMA2017-01-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. OWNER LETTER: DEAR KIA OPTIMA OWNER: KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO UPDATE THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU) IN CERTAIN 2012-2013 MY OPTIMA VEHICLES WHICH COULD OTHERWISE EXPERIENCE A DECREASE IN ACCELERATION ACCOMPANIED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE “CHECK ENGINE” OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL).
SC114DEALERSM2017-01-27. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER MEMO: ATTENTION: ALL KIA SERVICE MANAGERS - KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. WILL BE CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO UPDATE THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU) IN CERTAIN 2012-2014 MY SORENTO, 2012-2013 MY OPTIMA, AND 2012-2013 MY SPORTAGE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4L AND 2.0L TURBO GDI ENGINES. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES’ ENGINES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION (GDI) SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES A FLOW CONTROL VALVE (FCV) TO CONTROL THE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE FCV NEEDLE MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN IMPAIRMENT OF FUEL FLOW. IF THAT HAPPENS, AND TO PROTECT THE ENGINE, THE ECU MAY REDUCE ENGINE ACCELERATION WHILE ILLUMINATING THE “CHECK ENGINE” OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL). THE ECU UPDATE WILL IMPROVE THE DURABILITY AND OPERATION OF THE FCV NEEDLE.
SC114DEALERP2017-01-27. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO: ATTENTION: ALL DEALER PRINCIPALS - KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. WILL BE CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN, TO UPDATE THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU) IN CERTAIN 2012-2014 MY SORENTO, 2012-2013 MY OPTIMA, AND 2012-2013 MY SPORTAGE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4L OR 2.0L TURBO GDI ENGINES, WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE THE “CHECK ENGINE” LIGHT OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0087.
TSBSC114R12017-01-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE. TSB: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: ECM UPGRADE - MIL ON WITH DTC P0087 (SC114) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO AN ECM SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU) IN CERTAIN 2012~2014MY SORENTO, 2012~2013MY OPTIMA, AND 2012~2013MY SPORTAGE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4L AND 2.0L TURBO GDI ENGINES. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE’S ENGINES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION (GDI) SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES A FLOW CONTROL VALVE (FCV) TO CONTROL THE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE FCV NEEDLE MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN IMPAIRMENT OF FUEL FLOW. IF THAT HAPPENS, AND TO PROTECT THE ENGINE, THE ECU MAY REDUCE ENGINE ACCELERATION WHILE ILLUMINATING THE “CHECK ENGINE” OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL). THE ECU UPDATE WILL IMPROVE THE DURABILITY AND OPERATION OF THE FCV NEEDLE.
TSBELE0892017-01-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; 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.
PS4222017-01-26. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP: ABS HECU REPLACEMENT DUE TO HESITATION CONCERNS - WHEN ADDRESSING CUSTOMER CONCERNS REGARDING HESITATION FROM THE VEHICLE ON HARD ACCELERATION, TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY THE CONCERN. PRIOR TO TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ELIMINATE COMMON ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) TRIGGER FACTORS SUCH AS EXCESSIVE OR UNEVENLY WORN TIRES AND SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. IF DURING HARD ACCELERATION TESTING THE ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH AND ABNORMAL HESITATION IS EXPERIENCED, REPLACE THE ABS HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (HECU) WITH A MODULE CONTAINING THE LATEST S/W VERSION. NOTE: ALWAYS VERIFY LATEST APPLICABLE P/N INFORMATION USING EPC.
PS3912017-01-24. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. "PITSTOP: OPTIMA HYBRID (TF HEV) WITH DTC B1695 - LOST COMMUNICATION WITH E-COMP - WHEN ADDRESSING A CUSTOMER CONCERN RELATED TO AN A/C SYSTEM NOT BLOWING COLD AIR AND DTC B1695 IS ACTIVE IN THE A/C CONTROL UNIT, THIS COULD BE THE RESULT OF ONE, OR MORE, OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: • A BLOWN HIGH-VOLTAGE (HV) FUSE IN THE E-COMP 270 VOLT SUPPLY CIRCUIT. • A CIRCUIT CONCERN BETWEEN THE A/C CONTROL UNIT AND THE E-COMP • A HIGH-VOLTAGE (HV) CIRCUIT CONCERN"
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.
TSB-CHA-0602016-09-14. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR. TSB: ECM UPGRADE - STEERING LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE MDPS ECU SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR SOME 2011 ~ 2014MY OPTIMA (TF/QF) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM JOB #1 THROUGH JULY 27, 2014, WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE A NOTCHY FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE EVALUATED USING THE MDPS EFFORT MEASUREMENT S/W, DETAILED IN THE ATTACHED REPAIR PROCEDURE, TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN IMPROVED STEERING LOGIC SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE MDPS ECU, OR IF AN MDPS COLUMN REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED. TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE UPDATED MDPS ECU REFLASH APPLIES TO A VEHICLE YOU ARE WORKING ON, OR WHETHER IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, VERIFY ROM ID USING THE TABLES IN THIS TSB.
PS2742016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
0562016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
PS2922016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
0602016-03-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
TSB-0252013-11-18. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. KIA: DUE TO SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCING AN ILLUMINATION MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL), THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED AND REPROGRAMMED WITH GDS DOWNLOADS TO PREVENT AND/OR CORRECT THIS SITUATION. MODELS 2011-2012 OPTIMA, SPORTAGE. *PE
TSB-1322013-08-21. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. KIA: SOME VEHICLES REQUIRE A CONTROLLER SOFTWARE UPGRADE. VERIFY THE NECESSITY FOR THE UPGRADE PER THE TABLES IN THIS BULLETIN. *JS
TSB-1102012-01-24. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. KIA: SOME VEHICLES WARNING LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE MAY ILLUMINATE. VOLTAGE SHOULD BE RECORDED ON RO SHEET. USE GDS FOR LOWER MECHANICAL STOP OF BOOST PRESSURE. *PE
PS1722011-05-25. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. KIA: ON SOME 2011 OPTIMA MODELS THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT MAY BE ON WITH A STORED TROUBLE CODE. PROBLEM IS WITH THE WASTEGATE ACTUATOR. *RM UPDATED 12/20/11. *PE

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