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Service bulletins for the 2018 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.

170 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_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_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_TRA0882020-03-05. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT (TCU) GEAR SHIFT LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the gear shift logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JF, JFa) vehicles produced from April 18, 2017 through July 11, 2018, equipped with 2.0L T-GDI and 2.4L GDI engines, which may harsh downshifts (including 2-1 gear change).
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.
TSBENG177B_R1CLO2018-04-16. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.4L SHIFT QUALITY & WAKE-UP LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA316B) - This bulletin has been CLOSED and superceded by TSB-ENG177C R3.
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.
TSBENG177B_R12018-02-12. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.4L SHIFT QUALITY & WAKE-UP LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA316B) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.4L, produced from April 18, 2017 through September 7, 2017, and some 2017MY Sorento (UMa) 2.4L vehicles, produced from March 31, 2017 through December 6, 2017, which may experience an extended crank and/or a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBTRA071AR12017-12-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.0t & 3.3l SHIFT QUALITY LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA315A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.0T, produced from April 19, 2017 through July 10, 2017, and some 2018MY Sorento (UMa) 2.0T and 3.3L vehicles, produced from March 23, 2017 through September 18, 2017, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBTRA071A2017-12-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). TSB - SERVICE ACTION: SHIFT QUALITY LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA315A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.0T, produced from April 19, 2017 through July 10, 2017, and some 2018MY Sorento (UMa) 3.3L vehicles, produced from March 31, 2017 through July 25, 2017, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBTRA0712017-12-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM). TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.0T & 3.3L SHIFT QUALITY LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA315) - CLOSED - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.0T, produced from April 19, 2017 through July 10, 2017, and some 2018MY Sorento (UMa) 2.0T and 3.3L vehicles, produced from March 31, 2017 through July 25, 2017, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBENG177B2017-12-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.4L SHIFT QUALITY & WAKE-UP LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA316B) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.4L, produced from April 18, 2017 through September 7, 2017, and some 2018MY Sorento (UMa) 2.4L vehicles, produced from March 31, 2017 through October 19, 2017, which may experience an extended crank and/or a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBENG177A (2)2017-12-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.4L SHIFT QUALITY & WAKE-UP LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA316A) - CLOSED - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.4L vehicles, produced from April 18, 2017 through September 7, 2017, which may experience an extended crank and/or a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBENG177A2017-12-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.4L SHIFT QUALITY & WAKE-UP LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA316A) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.4L vehicles, produced from April 18, 2017 through September 7, 2017, which may experience an extended crank and/or a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBENG1772017-12-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.4L SHIFT QUALITY & WAKE-UP LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA316) - CLOSED - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.4L, produced from April 18, 2017 through September 7, 2017, and some 2018MY Sorento (UMa) 2.4L vehicles, produced from March 31, 2017 through October 19, 2017, which may experience an extended crank and/or a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBTRA0712017-11-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.0T & 3.3L SHIFT QUALITY LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA315) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.0T, produced from April 19, 2017 through July 10, 2017, and some 2018MY Sorento (UMa) 2.0T and 3.3L vehicles, produced from March 31, 2017 through July 25, 2017, which may experience a shift quality concern, such as a hard downshift, upshift, and/or shift delay.
TSBENG1772017-11-14. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: 2.4L SHIFT QUALITY & WAKE-UP LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA316) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) 2.4L, produced from April 18, 2017 through September 7, 2017, and some 2018MY Sorento (UMa) 2.4L vehicles, produced from March 31, 2017 through October 19, 2017, which may experience an extended crank and/or a shift quality concern,

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