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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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Bulletins, newest first
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.
TSBCLI0262017-01-27. 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.
PS4142017-01-27. Service bulletin. SUSPENSION. PITSTOP: DIFFICULTY ASSEMBLING STRUT BEARING/INSULATOR - ON SOME OPTIMA VEHICLES, WHEN REPLACING THE STRUT INSULATOR OR STRUT BEARING WITH NEW PARTS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTY INSTALLING THE NEW STRUT BEARING INTO PLACE ON THE INSULATOR. THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO A CHANGE IN THE DESIGN OF THE STRUT BEARING (A) WHICH RESULTS IN TIGHTER TOLERANCES BETWEEN THE BEARING AND INSULATOR. REFER TO THE PROCEDURE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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.
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.
TSBCHA0722017-01-26. Service bulletin. STEERING. TSB: 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.
TSBCHA0662017-01-24. Service bulletin. SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR. "FRONT STABILIZER LINK REPLACEMENT - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS OF SOME OPTIMA (TF/QF), OPTIMA HYBRID (TF HEV) AND RIO (UB) VEHICLES, WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. TO RESOLVE THE NOISE CONCERN, PERFORM THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS WITH THE IMPROVED PARTS."
TSBTRA0592017-01-24. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. HCU/TCU UPGRADE - FOR 100 MESH SOLENOID EQUIPPED HYBRID TRANSMISSIONS -THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO A SOFTWARE UPGRADE OF THE HYBRID CONTROL UNIT (HCU) AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT (TCU) OF SOME 2011-2016 MY OPTIMA HYBRID (TF HEV) VEHICLES AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH IMPROVED 100 MESH SOLONOID FILTERS HAS TAKEN PLACE. TO APPLY THE IMPROVED LOGIC, THE HCU/TCU SHOULD BE REPROGRAMMED USING THE GDS/KDS DOWNLOAD, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS BULLETIN.
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"
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.
TSBGEN0762017-01-18. Service bulletin. ENGINE. TSB: PROPER OIL GRADE / VISCOSITY SELECTION FOR TURBO EQUIPPED VEHICLES - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PROPER ENGINE OIL GRADE / VISCOSITY TO BE USED WHEN SERVICING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TURBOCHARGER. IN ADDITION TO FOLLOWING THE TURBO-SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE INTERVAL SCHEDULES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE GRADE AND THE SAE OIL VISCOSITY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE APPLICABLE SERVICE MANUAL TO ENSURE THE PROPER LUBRICATION IS DELIVERED TO THE TURBOCHARGER AND TO PREVENT ENGINE DAMAGE.
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.
TSB-ELE-077-R12016-09-14. Service bulletin. BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM. TSB: REAR VIEW CAMERA DIAGNOSIS/REPLACEMENT - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION TO DIAGNOSE AND/OR REPLACE THE REAR VIEW CAMERA OF SOME KIA VEHICLES (SEE TABLE ON PG. 6 FOR SPECIFIC MODELS AND PRODUCTION DATES) WHICH MAY EXHIBIT INADEQUATE IMAGE QUALITY FROM THE REAR VIEW CAMERA. DIAGNOSE THE CONCERNS USING THE INFORMATION IN THIS BULLETIN AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE REAR VIEW CAMERA WITH AN IMPROVED PART BY FOLLOWING THE APPLICABLE SERVICE PROCEDURE ON KGIS.
TT0172016-03-31. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
PS2742016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
1032016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
0972016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER. 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.
PS2352016-03-16. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
PS2262016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.

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