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: Equipment and accessories are shown. Show all
| TSBBOD102 | 2017-02-06. 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). |
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| PS235 | 2017-02-06. 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. |
| PS226 | 2017-02-06. 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. |
| TSBELE060R1 | 2017-02-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TSB: OPTIMA (QF) AND SOUL (AM) AVN AND BASE AUDIO SYSTEM UPGRADE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE FOR UPGRADING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND BASE AUDIO SYSTEM SOFTWARE OF SOME 2012MY OPTIMA (QF) AND SOME 2012MY SOUL (AM) VEHICLES, TO IMPROVE BLUETOOTH® CONNECTIVITY. |
| TSBGEN060 | 2017-02-02. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM. TSB: HYBRID FUEL EFFICIENCY TIPS AND TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURE - THE OPTIMA HYBRID (TF HEV) OFFERS CUSTOMERS THE POTENTIAL OF EXCELLENT FUEL ECONOMY. HOWEVER, BECAUSE SOME CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ACHIEVING THE PUBLISHED EPA-RATED CITY/HIGHWAY NUMBERS, THEY MAY BRING A VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP’S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED SO THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE WELL INFORMED TO ANSWER THE CUSTOMER’S CONCERN AND, IF NECESSARY, TO TROUBLESHOOT THE VEHICLE. |
| TSBELE038 | 2017-01-31. 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. |
| TT065 | 2017-01-30. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. "TECH TIP: BUZZING NOISE FROM DASH SYMPTOM: BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM DASH AREA. REPAIR: OPERATE THE AIR-TEMP CONTROLS OR THE VENT AIR POSITION CONTROL SETTING. IF THE NOISE STOPS AFTER ADJUSTING THE CONTROLS, THE NOISE MAY BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY AIR TEMP ACTUATOR OR AIR VENT POSITION ACTUATOR. TO RESOLVE THIS CONCERN, IDENTIFY WHICH BLEND ACTUATOR IS THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE (SEE IMAGE) AND REPLACE IT." |
| TSBCLI026 | 2017-01-27. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. TSB: A/C EVAPORATOR FREEZE-UP DURING EXTENDED DRIVE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR OF SOME OPTIMA (TF/QF) AND SORENTO (XMA) VEHICLES (SEE PRODUCTION DATES ON PAGE 3), WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE FREEZING OF CONDENSATION ON THE EVAPORATOR CORE AND THE FOLLOWING A/C PERFORMANCE RELATED CONCERNS. |
| TSBELE089 | 2017-01-27. 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. |
| TSB-CHA-060 | 2016-09-14. 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. |
| TT017 | 2016-03-31. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| PS274 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 103 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 097 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 056 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| PS235 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| PS226 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| PS292 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 104 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; SEAT BELTS:FRONT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| 060 | 2016-03-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE. |
| TSB-039 | 2012-12-11. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS. KIA: BULLETIN IS PROVIDING CAUTIONARY INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF WHEN BOLT HOLES OF REAR UPPER ARM ARE NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED WITH SUBFRAME, AND BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE. MODEL 2011-2013 OPTIMA. *PE |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.