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Service bulletins for the 2013 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.

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

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Bulletins, newest first
DC_201808282018-10-09. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; EQUIPMENT. DEALER COMMUNICATION - RECENT KIA MEDIA REPORTS - Dear Kia Retailer, You and your customers may have seen recent media reports regarding thermal incidents in Kia vehicles or NHTSA?s announcement of the opening of a Defect Petition for fire cases involving the 2011-14 Sorentos and Optimas, and I want to update you on KMA?s response to this issue. All automobiles contain combustible materials and a vehicle fire may be a result of any number of complex factors which must be carefully evaluated by trained technicians to, if possible, determine its cause and, ultimately, determine if a defect trend exists. At Kia, customer safety is paramount and although both KMA and NHTSA have independently concluded that no defect trends exist, KMA has significantly increased its committed resources to ensure that all thermal incidents are fully evaluated.
TSBTRA0792018-09-10. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: SERVICE ACTION: HCU/TCU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P1744 (400 MESH EQUIPPED TRANS) (SA351) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2013-2015MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) vehicles, produced from September 27, 2012 through September 5, 2014, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp illumination with DTC P1744. To correct this concern, apply the improved logic to the HCU and TCU using the KDS ECU Upgrade function as described in this bulletin.
TSBTRA068_CLOSED2018-09-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN. TSB: HCU/TCU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P1744 (400 MESH EQUIPPED TRANSMISSIONS ONLY) - TSB TRA068 CLOSED. REFER TO TSB TRA079/SA351
TSBELE1512018-09-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TSB: BMS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AFTER HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Battery Management System (BMS) on some 2011-2016MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) vehicles, produced from February 15, 2011 through July 22, 2015, to match the new generation high voltage (HV) battery assemblies.
TSBELE1472018-06-25. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TSB - BMS LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P1B70 - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Battery Management System (BMS) on some 2011-2016MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) vehicles, produced from February 15, 2011 through July 22, 2015, which may experience a malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination with DTC P1B70 even though there is no actual malfunction.
TSBTRA059_R42018-05-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); POWER TRAIN. TSB - HCU/TCU UPGRADE ? FOR 100MESH SOLENOID - EQUIPPED HYBRID TRANSMISSIONS - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information related to a software upgrade of the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) of some 2011-2016MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) after replacement of the transmission with improved 100 mesh solenoids has taken place.
TSBTRA059_R32018-04-16. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - HCU/TCU UPGRADE ? FOR 100MESH SOLENOID EQUIPPED HYBRID TRANSMISSIONS - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information related to a software upgrade of the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) of some 2011-2016MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) after replacement of the transmission with improved 100 mesh solenoids has taken place. To apply the improved logic, the HCU/TCU should be reprogrammed using the KDS download, as described in this bulletin.
PS5392018-04-16. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
TSBTRA047_R22018-03-13. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT. TSB - DRIVESHAFT SERVICEABILITY - This bulletin has been revised most recently to include additional information. This bulletin provides information regarding axle shaft serviceability for Kia vehicles equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission.
TSBCHA060_R12018-03-13. Service bulletin. STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR; STEERING. TSB - ECM UPGRADE ? STEERING LOGIC IMPROVEMENT -This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. 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.
TSBENG1722018-01-16. Service bulletin. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: TURBO OIL FEED LINE REPLACEMENT (SA300) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the turbo oil feed line on some 2011-2015MY Optima (TF), produced from November 1, 2010 through August 30, 2011, 2012-2015MY Optima (QF), produced from August 31, 2011 through October 2, 2015, and 2011-2015MY Sportage (SL) vehicles, produced from December 30, 2010 through November 6, 2015, equipped with Theta 2.0T-GDI engine, which may exhibit an oil leak at the turbo oil feed line.
TSBELE091R32017-12-22. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. 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.
TSBTRA0682017-11-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TSB - HCU/TCU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P1744 (400 MESH EQUIPPED TRANSMISSIONS ONLY) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) on some 2011-2012MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV), produced from February 15, 2011 through December 28, 2012, and both the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2013-2015MY Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) vehicles, produced from January 15, 2013 through March 27, 2015, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp illumination with DTC P1744. To correct this concern, apply the improved logic to the HCU only (11-12MY) or HCU and TCU (13-15MY) using the KDS ECU Upgrade function as described in this bulletin. For confirmation that the latest reflash has been applied to a vehicle you are working on, verify the ROM ID using the table on page 3 of this bulletin.
TSBBOD1722017-11-14. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. TSB - OUTSIDE REAR COMBINATION LAMP WATER INTRUSION - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the outside rear combination lamp pads on some 2011-2015MY Optima (TF), produced from August 12, 2010 through July 23, 2015, and some 2011-2016MY Optima (TF HEV) vehicles, produced from February 15, 2011 through July 22, 2015, which may exhibit evidence of water intrusion in the outside rear combination lamps.
WTY201709R52017-10-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. WTY - SC147 Claims Processing Procedures - REVISED - Authorization of Claims Processing for SC147 - See this bulletin for specific handling procedures regarding SC147.
PT20201-0002R42017-10-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. PARTS BULLETIN - THETA II ENGINE SAFETY RECALL (SC147) - This bulletin provides information related to the inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the engine assembly on certain 2011 to 2014 model year Optima, Sorento, and Sportage vehicles. For repair information please refer to Technical Service Bulletin SC147.
PS208R12017-08-31. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. PITSTOP: TF/QF PANORAMA RESET/INITIALIZATION PROCEDURE - This article explains the instructions for resetting the "one-touch" open/close feature of the sunshade and/or panorama sunroof.
TSB-BOD1032017-08-31. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL; VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. TSB: PANORAMA SUNROOF & SUNSHADE MOTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the panorama sunroof and sunshade motors on some 2012-2013MY Optima (QF) vehicles, produced from August 9, 2011 to August 14, 2013, which may exhibit a loss of the "one-touch" open/close feature of the sunshade and/or panorama roof.
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).
TSB-CHA066R12017-08-31. Service bulletin. SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR. TSB: 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.
PS4742017-08-25. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP: TPMS SENSOR POSITION - When diagnosing TPMS-related DTCs, make sure you are investigating the correct sensor. The TPMS positioning from the manufacturer may be different from the positioning shown on a KDS.
WTYCS201609RETIR2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BULLETIN 2016-09 - RETIRED FOR CERTAIN OPTIMA MODEL VEHICLES. SEE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BULLETIN 2017-01. FOR OTHER OPTIMA MODELS, SEE WTY BULLETIN2017-09 (SC147)
WTY201709R42017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. WARRANTY BULLETIN: 2017-09.R4 - SC147 Claims Processing Procedures - This Warranty Bulletin accompanies TSB SC147 Theta II Engine Inspection and/or Replacement and is provided to dealers for specific guidance with claim administration and processing of SC147 warranty claims.
PT20201-0002R32017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. PARTS BULLLETIN: 20201-0002 (Revision 3.1) - This bulletin provides information related to the inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the engine assembly on certain 2011 to 2014 model year Optima, Sorento, and Sportage vehicles.
SC141QA2017-08-02. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN SC141 ? UNDERBODY ? ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION TREATMENT

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