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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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Bulletins, newest first
TSBBOD182_R32018-04-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: FLOOR CONSOLE INNER PANEL INSPECTION & CORRECTION/REPLACEMENT (SA328) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and correct or replace the floor console inner side panels on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) vehicles, produced from August 1, 2017 through October 27, 2017, which may exhibit a peeling condition of the panel surface.
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.
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.
TSBBOD182_R12018-02-12. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: FLOOR CONSOLE INNER PANEL INSPECTION & CORRECTION/REPLACEMENT (SA328) -This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and correct or replace the floor console inner side panels on some 2018MY Optima (JFa) vehicles, produced from August 1, 2017 through October 27, 2017, which may exhibit a peeling condition of the panel surface.
PS500_R12018-02-12. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). PITSTOP - PREMIUM NAVIGATION OR UVO eco WITH NAVIGATION (AVN 5.0) - This Pitstop provides information regarding the features and functionality on the latest generation Premium Navigation or UVO eco with Navigation (designated as AVN 5.0) system that is applied to some 2018MY Sportage (QL), Optima (JFa), Soul (PS), Stinger (CK), and Niro PHEV (DE) vehicles. This system features a dual core processor which should result in a faster system response and loading performance between applications as compared to the previous navigation system.
TSBENG1782018-02-12. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL. TSB - DATA COLLECTION: EXTRACT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS DATA FROM ECU (DC18) - This bulletin provides information related to extracting ?in use performance tracking? emissions data from the Engine Control Unit (ECU) of certain vehicles sold in California.
PS5312018-01-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP - KEY FOB AND BATTERY VIN LABELS - To assist in improving product quality and warranty claims, key fobs/smart keys and the vehicle battery now have labels (A) containing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). These labels have been applied beginning with October 21, 2017 production for Optima (JFa) and Sorento (UMa) from the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) plant.
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,
PS5242017-11-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK. PITSTOP - OPTIMA TRUNK TORSION BAR ADJUSTMENT - On some 2016-2018MY Optima (JFa) vehicles, there may be a concern with the trunk not opening as designed when using transmitter key fob or Smart Trunk feature. This may be caused by improper assembly of the trunk torsion bar (A) and trunk lid hinge. Follow the procedure in this publication to correct this concern.
PS5222017-11-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP - ECO-COASTING (ECOASTING) & ECO-DAS (DRIVING ASSISTANT SYSTEM) OVERVIEW ? CUSTOMER TIP - This Pitstop provides information regarding Eco-Coasting Guide (eCoasting) and Eco-Driving Assistant System (DAS) found on 2017-18MY Niro (DE HEV), Niro Plug-in (DE PHEV), Optima Hybrid (JF HEV), and Optima Plug-in (JF PHEV) vehicles.
PS5202017-11-14. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PITSTOP - HYBRID POWER CONTROL UNIT 30A DC FUSE - The 2017MY~ Optima Hybrid (JF HEV), Optima Plug-in Hybrid (JF PHEV), and Niro (DE HEV) vehicles are equipped with a replaceable 30A fuse for the eCompressor. This fuse is easily accessible under a cover between the power cable connector and inverter cable, as shown below. However, the housing for the fuse is internally bolted to the HPCU assembly and is only available as part of the HPCU assembly. Forcibly removing the fuse housing assembly will result in damaging the internal HPCU terminals which will require replacement of the entire HPCU assembly and is not covered under Warranty.Follow the procedure in this ublication to inspect and/or replace the fuse, or refer to the ?Hybrid Control System ? Hybrid Control System ? DC Fuse ? Repair procedures? chapter in the applicable Shop Manual on KGIS.

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