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Service bulletins for the 2016 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.

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

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Only bulletins with component: Transmission and driveline are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-23. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.
TSB_TRA046_R42024-06-04. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
TSB_TRA072_R52023-12-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: INHIBITOR SWITCH REPLACEMENT (SA317B/C) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the inhibitor switch on some 2017MY Optima (JFa), Sorento (UMa), Optima Hybrid (HEV), Optima Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), Sportage (QL), Forte (YD), and Sedona (YP), and some 2016-2017MY Optima (JF) vehicles, equipped with a front wheel drive 6-speed transmission, which may experience the concerns listed below. These concerns may be due to the inhibitor switch not allowing the correct gear position signal to be sent to various control units.
TSB_TRA072_R42023-07-05. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: INHIBITOR SWITCH REPLACEMENT (SA317B/C) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the inhibitor switch on some 2017MY Optima (JFa), Sorento (UMa), Optima Hybrid (HEV), Optima Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), Sportage (QL), Forte (YD), and Sedona (YP), and some 2016-2017MY Optima (JF) vehicles, equipped with a front wheel drive 6-speed transmission, which may experience the concerns listed below. These concerns may be due to the inhibitor switch not allowing the correct gear position signal to be sent to various control units.
TSB_TRA072_R42023-07-05. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: INHIBITOR SWITCH REPLACEMENT (SA317B/C) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the inhibitor switch on some 2017MY Optima (JFa), Sorento (UMa), Optima Hybrid (HEV), Optima Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), Sportage (QL), Forte (YD), and Sedona (YP), and some 2016-2017MY Optima (JF) vehicles, equipped with a front wheel drive 6-speed transmission, which may experience the concerns listed below. These concerns may be due to the inhibitor switch not allowing the correct gear position signal to be sent to various control units.
TSB_TRA046_R32022-12-06. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart starting on page 2.
TSB_TRA0982021-09-03. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION (DCT) ANTI-JUDDER LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to update the software logic of the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) system on some 2016-2020MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced from August 28, 2015 through June 1, 2020, equipped with Gamma 1.6L T-GDI engine and 7-speed DCT, which might exhibit clutch judder when accelerating from a stop.
TSB_TRA083_R12021-09-03. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 7-SPEED DCT JUDDER INSPECTION AND DUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace Dual Clutch Assembly and upgrade the TCU on some 2016-2020MY Kia vehicles listed in the table below, equipped with the 7 Speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which might exhibit clutch judder when accelerating from a stop.
TSB_TRA0832021-01-06. Service bulletin. STEERING; POWER TRAIN; EQUIPMENT. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 7-SPEED DCT JUDDER INSPECTION AND DUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace Dual Clutch Assembly and upgrade the TCU on some 2016-2020MY Kia vehicles listed on the table below, equipped with the 7 Speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which might exhibit clutch judder when accelerating from a stop. If the vehicle body vibrates without the steering wheel shuddering when performing creep driving test (driving the vehicle up to 3mph), the vehicle is exhibiting clutch judder. The creep test can be conducted by driving at a speed slower than 5 mph after releasing the brake.
TSB_TRA0592020-12-04. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 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.
TSB_TRA046_R12020-05-05. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles on page 2. Refer to the shop manual on KGIS for the specific Kia model for the correct transmission fluid check/fill procedures.
TSB_TRA072_R32020-02-04. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: INHIBITOR SWITCH REPLACEMENT (SA317B/C) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the inhibitor switch on some 2017MY Optima (JFa), Sorento (UMa), Optima Hybrid (HEV), Optima Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), Sportage (QL), Forte (YD), and Sedona (YP), and some 2016-2017MY Optima (JF) vehicles, equipped with a front wheel drive 6-speed transmission, which may experience the concerns listed in this bulletin. These concerns may be due to the inhibitor switch not allowing the correct gear position signal to be sent to various control units.
TSB_TRA0852020-01-04. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DCT ACTUATOR ROD LENGTH ADJUSTMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to adjust the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) actuator rod lengths using the applicable SST on some 2016MY~ vehicles equipped with 6 speed DCT (D6KF1) or 7 speed DCT (D7UF1) in order to prevent unnecessary replacement of both the DCT clutch actuator and clutch set together.
TSBTRA0782019-07-04. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: TRANSMISSION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to optimize the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on 2017-2018MY Soul (PS) and Forte (YDm) and 2016-2018MY Optima (JFa) vehicles equipped with 1.6T GDI that have one of the following three components replaced: Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) assembly; Transmission Control Unit (TCU), and Double Clutch Set.The friction material of the double clutch set has been changed and a TCU logic optimization must be performed in order to prevent initial shift shock.
VPI1802_QA2018-08-06. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE; POWER TRAIN. Q & A - This document is the Q & A for the new Product Improvement Campaign to provide information regarding a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
VPI1802_DSM2018-08-06. Service bulletin. ENGINE; POWER TRAIN; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTICE - This notice advised the dealer service manager of the new Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
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.
TSBTRA072A_R22018-03-13. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: INHIBITOR SWITCH - REPLACEMENT (SA317A) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the inhibitor switch on some 2017MY Optima (JFa), Sorento (UMa), Optima Hybrid (HEV), Optima Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), Sportage (QL), Forte (YD), and Sedona (YP), and some 2016-2017MY Optima (JF) vehicles, equipped with a front wheel drive 6-speed transmission, which may experience the following concerns: ? Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) ON with DTC P0705 - Transmission Range Sensor (TRS) Circuit Malfunction (active or history) ? CAN-related DTCs (For both Hybrids: CAN DTC C2243); ? Intermittent no crank/no start ? Erratic or harsh shifting; ? EPB and Hold lights illuminated intermittently; ? ?Key OFF? indicated after placing the selector lever into the ?P? position and depressing the Start/Stop button.Note: When this condition occurs, the ?P? position is not indicated on the instrument cluster.
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.
TSBTRA069R12017-08-25. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TSB: COMBINATION TSB / SERVICE ACTION: SHIFT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (SA292A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2016MY Optima (JFa) 2.0T, produced from September 11, 2015 through October 6, 2016, 2016MY Sorento (UMa) 2.0T, produced from October 23, 2014 through April 18, 2016, Sorento (UMa) 2.4L, produced from November 18, 2014 through January 19, 2016, and Sorento (UMa) 3.3L vehicles, produced from October 23, 2014 through April 18, 2016, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a harsh downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay. To correct this concern, apply the improved logic to the TCU using the KDS download as described in this bulletin.
PS4962017-08-25. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. PITSTOP: CUSTOMER TIP: ACCELERATOR PEDAL FUNCTION/DESCRIPTION - On all K900 (KH), Cadenza (VG, YG), and Optima (JF, JFa, JF-HEV, JF-PHEV) vehicles, the accelerator pedal features a small detent with a spring to provide increased resistance to help avoid unnecessary fuel consumption when applying full throttle. When the driver depresses the pedal beyond the resistance where the detent is felt (above 85% WOT), the pedal will easily reach WOT and kickdown shift will occur accordingly. For additional information, refer to the individual vehicle?s Owner?s Manual under section ?Driving Your Vehicle? ? Automatic Transmission (Drive).
TSBTRA0692017-08-02. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: COMBINATION TSB / SERVICE ACTION: SHIFT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (SA292) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2016MY Optima (JFa) 2.0T, produced from August 28, 2015 through October 7, 2016, Sorento (UMa) 2.0T, produced from October 29, 2014 through December 9, 2016, and Sorento (UMa) 3.3L vehicles, produced from October 27, 2014 through December 22, 2016, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a harsh downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay. To correct this concern, apply the improved logic to the TCU using the KDS download as described in this bulletin.
TSBTRA059R22017-08-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; POWER TRAIN. TSB: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 2011~2016MY 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 GDS/KDS download, as described in this bulletin.
TSBENG1682017-08-02. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES. TSB: COMBINATION TSB/SERVICE ACTION: IDLE STABILITY & SHIFT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (SA294) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2016MY Optima (JFa) vehicles, produced from September 3, 2015 through November 22, 2016, which may experience a vibration and/or hesitation when releasing the brake pedal after coming to stop, and/or a shift quality concern, such as a harsh downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay. To correct this concern, apply the improved logic to the ECU and TCU using KDS download as described in this bulletin.

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