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Service bulletins for the 2012 Kia Rio

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.

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

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Bulletins, newest first
TSBTRA047R12017-02-06. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: AXLE SHAFT SERVICEABILITY BY MODEL - THIS BULLETIN HAS BEEN REVISED. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING AXLE SHAFT SERVICEABILITY FOR KIA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REFER TO THE TABLE BELOW FOR A DETAILED LIST OF VEHICLE MODELS. INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PARTS SUCH AS AXLE BOOTS, JOINTS AND HARDWARE FOR INNER JOINT ARE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR PARTS DEPARTMENT.
TSBCLI0202017-02-03. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. TSB: PASSENGER FLOOR WET DURING A/C OPERATION - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE POSSIBLE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR DURING A/C OPERATION ON SOME RIO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM OCTOBER 15TH, 2011 TO SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2012 (FOR 4DR MODELS) AND JULY 11TH, 2011 TO SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2012 (FOR 5DR MODELS).
TSBENG1312017-02-03. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. TSB: ECM UPGRADE - KNOCK IMPROVEMENT - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO AN ECM SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR ALL 2012-2013 MY RIO (UB) 1.6L VEHICLES WHICH MAY EXHIBIT A KNOCKING OR PINGING CONCERN UNDER MODERATE OR HEAVY ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINED ROAD.
TSBTRA0492017-02-03. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. TSB: 6-SPEED A/T TRANSMISSION ADAPTIVE VALUES RESET/RELEARN - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURES NECESSARY TO RESET AND RELEARN THE ADAPTIVE VALUES AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT OR REPROGRAMMING/REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM/PCM.
TSBELE056R12017-02-02. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TSB: UVO UPGRADE – RIO (UB), SPORTAGE (SL), SOUL (AM), OPTIMA (QF) AND SORENTO (XMA) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE FOR UPGRADING THE UVO SYSTEM ON ALL 2012MY RIO (UB), SPORTAGE (SL), SOUL (AM), OPTIMA (QF) AND SORENTO (XM) VEHICLES.
PS4002017-01-31. Service bulletin. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; ENGINE. PITSTOP: SMART PEDAL FEATURE - THE “SMART PEDAL” IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) FUNCTIONALITY WHICH MONITORS AND PREVENTS THE SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVATION OF ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. WHEN ENGAGED, THE FEATURE REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO IDLE. MOST CUSTOMERS WILL NEVER NOTICE THE SMART PEDAL FEATURE WHEN ACTIVE, HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS WHO TEND TO REST THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING MIGHT DESCRIBE A HESITATION OR DELAY SYMPTOM AND NOT REALIZE THAT THE EMS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IS INTERVENING, AS DESIGNED.
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.
TSBENG146R12017-01-27. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE. TSB: ECM UPGRADE – RIO, SOUL MIL ON WITH DTC(S) P0456/P0461/P050A/P2188/P2192/P0128/P0326/P0441 - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ECM SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR SOME 2012~2014MY RIO (UB), SOME 2012~2013 SOUL (AM) AND SOME 2014MY SOUL (PS) VEHICLES, WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM-RELATED DTCS; P0456, P0461, P050A, P2188, P2192, P0128, P0326, P0441. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, THE ECM SHOULD BE REPROGRAMMED USING THE GDS DOWNLOAD AS DESCRIBED IN THIS BULLETIN. BEFORE PERFORMING THIS PROCEDURE FOR A SPECIFIC DTC CONCERN, VERIFY THE VIN AND DTC FALL WITHIN THE PRODUCTION RANGES, BY CONSULTING THE TABLE ON PAGE 10. FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE LATEST REFLASH HAS BEEN DONE TO A VEHICLE YOU ARE WORKING ON, VERIFY ROM ID USING THE TABLES IN THIS TSB.
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."
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.
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-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.
0562016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
PS2442016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
0202016-03-16. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
TSB-146 REV 12015-09-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. KIA: ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SOFTWARE HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES EXPERIENCING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) THAT ILLUMINATES AND ECM NEEDS REPROGRAMMING WITH LATEST GDS DOWNLOAD. MODEL 2012-14 RIO, 2012-14 SOUL. *PE
0672015-06-23. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. KIA: 2012-2013 MY RIO: BULLETIN INFORMATION REGARDING IN PANEL MODULE REPLACEMENT - DTC C1611 ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 7, 2011 THROUGH JULY 10, 2013. *LJ
0672015-04-16. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. KIA:MY RIO 2012-2013. THE IN-PANEL (IPM) MAY EXPERIENCE A DECREASE IN POWER STEERING ASSIST. *LJ
TSB-118-22013-12-30. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. KIA: NEW INFORMATION PROVIDED REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD BE REPROGRAMMED. MODEL 2012-13 RIO, SOUL. *PE
PS2032012-04-18. Service bulletin. STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE; STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. KIA: 5-DOOR REAR HATCH OUTER DOOR HANDLE (MANUAL RELEASE) REPAIR. *KB
TSB-1072012-01-04. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. KIA: INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED FOR SOME VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON SOFTWARE UPGRADE TO IMPROVE ACC (AUTO CRUISE CONTROL) LOGIC AND A/C (AIR CONDITIONER) PERFORMANCE. *PE

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