2018 Kia Forte Technical Service Bulletins

100 technical service bulletins (TSBs) are on record for the 2018 Kia Forte. TSBs are notes manufacturers send to dealers about repair procedures for issues seen in the field. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault.

• 10202194Oct 5, 2021Engine cooling. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Product Improvement Campaign (PI2106).
• 10202192Oct 5, 2021Engine cooling. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage on 2017-2018 MY Kia Forte vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter Nu GDI engines, manufactured…
• 10202191Oct 5, 2021Engine cooling. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage on 2017-2018 MY Kia Forte vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter Nu GDI engines, manufactured from May 19, 2016 through May 7…
• 10201529Sep 13, 2021Exterior lighting, Body and structure. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - 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 some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
• 10201158Sep 1, 2021Engine cooling. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - 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 on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of…
• 10200551Aug 24, 2021Transmission and drivetrain. 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.
• 10200525Aug 3, 2021Forward collision avoidance, Electrical system. PITSTOP: FRONT RADAR SENSOR MOUNTING INSPECTION (PS704) - This pitstop provides information regarding front radar sensor alignment on 2014MY and later vehicles that may exhibit a warning light ON related to radar sensor alignment errors in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)/Smart Cruise Control (SCC) system.
• 10189545Mar 25, 2021Steering. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - 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 regarding the partial repair of the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Motor, Electronic Control Unit (ECU), Steering…
• 10183333Nov 25, 2020Engine cooling, Electrical system, Steering. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - 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.
• 10183332Nov 4, 2020Electrical system, Steering, Engine cooling. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - 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.
• 10181986Oct 6, 2020Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). PITSTOP: CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR RAISING WINDSHIELD WIPERS - 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. When servicing windshield wipers on the below listed vehicles, including during PDI, ensure to raise the wiper arms to a vertical position to avoid damaging the paint on the rear edge of the hood.
• 10179255Aug 25, 2020Equipment, Brakes. PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.
• 10177751Jul 27, 2020Engine cooling. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: MAINTENANCE REMINDER FEATURE - This bulletin provides information on setting the "Service Interval Reminder" feature available on most Kia vehicles. If the service interval reminder is set, the customer will be informed to have the next maintenance service performed, which can positively affect vehicle longevity and performance.
• 10177046Jun 17, 2020Latches, locks and linkages. TSB - This bulletin provides the procedure to perform a partial repair on the trunk latch base sub assembly on the certain Forte, Rio and Optima vehicles, which may exhibit a difficult-to-close/latch concern with the trunk lid.
• 10174520Apr 24, 2020Transmission and drivetrain. 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…
• 10174694Apr 9, 2020Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Other or unknown. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - PARTIAL REPAIR; COMPRESSOR FIELD COIL ASSEMBLY INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding A/C Compressor Field Coil Assembly inspection and replacement on some 2017-2020 Forte (YDm, BDm) vehicles. Follow the diagnostic procedures in this bulletin to isolate air conditioning compressor faults such as open field coil circuit. Kia has made the Field…
• 10172127Feb 28, 2020Electrical system, Engine cooling. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN - ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 AND/OR P219C00, P219D00, P219E00, P219F00 - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles, produced from May 15, 2016 through July 27, 2018, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) ON with DTC P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303…
• 10170778Jan 21, 2020Exterior lighting. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
• 10168850Nov 26, 2019Equipment, Steering, Engine cooling. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Motor, Electronic Control Unit (ECU) or Steering Column Housing on some 2010MY~ Kia models listed on page 5 equipped with a Column Motor Driven Power…
• 10167300Oct 16, 2019Engine cooling. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSBENG208_R1: ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 AND/OR P219C00, P219D00, P219E00, P219F00 - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles, produced from May 15, 2016 through July 27, 2018, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) ON with DTC P0300, P0301, P0302…
• 10167299Oct 16, 2019Engine cooling. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSBENG181_R1: SERVICE ACTION: IGNITION COIL OR COIL RFI SPRING REPLACEMENT FOR DTC P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, AND/OR P0304 (SA321) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace all four (4) ignition coils or replace all four (4) coil radio frequency interference (RFI) springs on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) 2.0L MPI vehicles, produced from May 16, 2016 through September 7, 2017…
• 10167301Oct 15, 2019Steering. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB084_R3: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Motor, Electronic Control Unit (ECU) or Steering Column Housing on some 2010MY~ Kia models listed on page 5 equipped with a Column Motor…
• 10164363Aug 29, 2019Fuel system. TSBBOD192_R1: COMBINATION TSB/SERVICE ACTION:FUEL FILLER DOOR OPENING IMPROVEMENT (SA388) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the fuel filler door opening mechanism on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles produced from May 23, 2016 through February 2, 2018 which may exhibit a fuel filler door that does not pop open and/or does not open…
• 10164362Aug 8, 2019Fuel system. TSBBOD192: COMBINATION TSB/SERVICE ACTION FUEL FILLER DOOR OPENING IMPROVEMENT (SA388) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the fuel filler door opening mechanism on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles produced from May 23, 2016 through February 2, 2018 which may exhibit a fuel filler door that does not pop open and/or does not open far enough. Before conducting the procedure, verify that the vehicle…
• 10163454Jul 11, 2019Engine cooling. TSB: DATA COLLECTION: EXTRACT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS DATA FROM ECU (DC18) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. 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.
• 10162047Jun 26, 2019Engine cooling. TSB: ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 AND/OR P219C00, P219D00, P219E00, P219F00 - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles, produced from May 15, 2016 through July 27, 2018, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) ON with DTC P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P219C00…
• 10162043Jun 20, 2019Electrical system. PITSTOP: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACEMENT, MILEAGE SETTING WITH KDS - This publication provides the KDS service procedure for mileage setting on the listed vehicles with newly replaced instrument clusters.
• 10162049Jun 11, 2019Transmission and drivetrain. 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…
• 10162040Jun 11, 2019Seat belts, Electrical system. PITSTOP: SRS DTC B176200 AND/OR B168400- This Pitstop provides information regarding a possible mismatch of a SRSCM (Supplemental Restraint System Control Module) and driver seat belt buckle that may set the SRS DTC(s) B168400 and/or B176200 on the models listed below. When diagnosing a vehicle that has been in an accident and/or has recently had a superseded SRSCM replaced, it may be necessary to inspect and…
• 10159245Apr 16, 2019Engine cooling. 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. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) requires the emissions data from vehicles with a minimum of 3,000 accumulated miles without reprogramming or resetting.
• 10159240Apr 5, 2019Equipment, Electrical system. TSB: STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED AUDIO CONTROL MALFUNCTION - This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and, if necessary, replace the clock spring assembly on some 2014-2018MY Forte (YD/YDm) vehicles, produced from February 20, 2013 through June 30, 2018, which may experience intermittent malfunctioning steering wheel audio controls due to a clock spring connector pin deformation, with no related DTCs for this…
• 10155382Mar 12, 2019Equipment. TSB: SERVICE ACTION: A/C REFRIGERANT OVERFILL (SA372) - This bulletin provides the procedure to recover and recharge the air conditioning system on certain 2019MY Niro Hybrid (DE HEV) and Niro Plug-in Hybrid (DE PHEV) vehicles, produced from July 9, 2018 through December 21, 2018, which may experience poor air conditioning performance due to a possible overfill of refrigerant. Follow the procedure in this bulletin…
• 10152915Jan 18, 2019Fuel system. TSB: SPECIAL SERVICE INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS FOR GDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information relating to all Kia vehicles equipped with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. In these engines highly pressurized gasoline is injected via a common fuel rail and injectors that deliver fuel directly into the combustion…
• 10147325Oct 19, 2018Equipment, Engine. PITSTOP: CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information regarding the inspection and installation of the steel sealing ball on: * 3.3L & 3.8L Lambda engines for 2007-2008MY Sorento (BL), * 2.0L Nu engines for 2010-2019MY Soul (AM, PS), and * 1.8L & 2.0L Nu engines for 2010-2018MY Forte (TD, YD/YDm), 2019MY~ Forte (BDm). When replacing the cylinder heads on these engines…
• 10144229Aug 24, 2018Electrical system. PITSTOP: BATTERY DEALER / CUSTOMER MODE SWITCH - This Pitstop provides information regarding a new interface related to the electronic Dealer / Customer Mode Switch setting on the new Forte (BDm).
• 10144233Aug 8, 2018Engine cooling. TSB: ADAPTIVE VALUES RESET FOR DTC P0016 - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the procedure to reset adaptive values on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) 2.0L MPI vehicles, produced from May 15, 2016 through June 22, 2018, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp illumination with DTC P0016 due to a stuck intake CVVT assembly. To correct this concern, reset…
• 10141384May 22, 2018Equipment, Electrical system. PITSTOP - CLOCK CONCERNS ON UVO eSERVICES (UVO 3.0) - This Pitstop contains information regarding possible concerns with the clock on UVO eServices (UVO 3.0) head units installed on 2017-2018MY vehicles.
• 10136501Apr 30, 2018Electrical system. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT (SA342) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the spark plugs on some 2018MY Forte (YDm), produced from November 21, 2017 through April 12, 2018, and 2018MY Rio (SC) vehicles, both produced from November 22, 2017 through February 6, 2018, which may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) ON with DTCs P0300 through P0304 due to the spark plug porcelain…
• 10136500Apr 17, 2018Engine cooling. TSB - DATA COLLECTION: EXTRACT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS DATA FROM ECU (DC18) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. 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.
• 10133175Mar 29, 2018Back-over prevention (rear camera), Latches, locks and linkages. PITSTOP - RATTLE NOISE FROM REAR OF THE VEHICLE (PS551) - This Pitstop contains information regarding a rattle type noise heard from the rear of the vehicle when closing a door or trunk on some 2016MY-2018MY vehicles.
• 10133170Mar 2, 2018Engine 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.
• 10130104Feb 16, 2018Transmission and drivetrain. 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.
• 10128612Jan 31, 2018Electrical system. PITSTOP - INSTANTANEOUS FUEL MILEAGE NOT PRESENT ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY - This Pitstop provides information regarding the instantaneous fuel mileage not displayed in the fuel economy menu of the trip computer in Type A instrument clusters on some 2014-2018MY Forte (YD) and 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles. In some cases, an inadvertent press of the RESET (A) button may toggle the instantaneous MPG display…
• 10128619Jan 24, 2018Body and structure. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: SUB FRAME REPLACEMENT (SA323) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the sub frame on some 2018MY Forte (YD), produced from August 31, 2017 through September 4, 2017, and some 2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles, produced from October 10, 2017 through October 23, 2017, which may experience a squeak noise at the sub frame area when driving.
• 10128583Jan 23, 2018Engine cooling. 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.
• 10127032Dec 12, 2017Electrical system. TSB - SERVICE ACTION: IGNITION COIL OR COIL RFI SPRING REPLACEMENT FOR DTC P030X (SA321) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace all four (4) ignition coils or replace all four (4) coil radio frequency interference (RFI) springs on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) 2.0L MPI vehicles, produced from May 16, 2017 through September 7, 2017, which may experience a malfunction indicator lamp illumination (MIL) ON…
• 10127034Dec 6, 2017Transmission and drivetrain. TSB - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL PRESSURE CHARACTERISTIC VALUES DATA TRANSFER - This bulletin provides information regarding data transfer of automatic transmission (A/T) characteristic values on 2015MY-2018MY K900 (KH) vehicles equipped with A8TR1 8-speed A/T and 2017MY~ Sportage (QL), Forte (YDm), and Cadenza (YG) vehicles equipped with the GEN2 Type (A6MF2-2 6-speed / A8LF1 8-speed) A/T.
• 10123325Oct 12, 2017Equipment. TSB - ANTENNA POLE LOCATION DURING TRANSPORT - This bulletin provides information regarding the shipping location of the antenna pole in all 2018MY Forte (YDm) 5 Door SX and all 2018MY Rio (SC) vehicles at delivery to dealers and Transportation claims related to the antenna pole.
• 10119115Sep 5, 2017Electrical system. PITSTOP - BLUETOOTH® INFORMATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING - This Pitstop contains information on pairing a device on 2018 MY vehicles; the differences in pairing instructions if it is the 1st phone or a 2nd phone that needs to be paired; and how to diagnose and troubleshoot customer Bluetooth complaints.:
• 10115237Jul 14, 2017Equipment. PITSTOP: QUICK START GUIDE (QSG) DISCOLORATION - Some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) vehicles may experience some fading/discoloring (yellowing) of the Quick Start Guide (QSG) installed prior to delivery to your dealer. In the event you encounter this issue, a replacement QSG can be ordered and shipped to your dealer in maximum quantities of five (5) per order, at no charge. Overnight shipping is available at an…

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