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2010 Kia Forte Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)

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TSB Date Problem Area TSB Text
04/16/18 NHTSA ID: 10133170
TSB ID: PS539

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.
02/07/17 NHTSA ID: 10090804
TSB ID: PS267

Pitstop: thermostat re-installation procedure - repeat repair (dtc p0128) - when diagnosing a forte returning with a repeat dtc p0128 after replacement of the thermostat, remove the thermostat housing to verify if the thermostat was instal
03/16/16 NHTSA ID: 10060253
TSB ID: PS267

Summary to be provided on a future date.
05/14/12 NHTSA ID: 10044130
TSB ID: TSB-036-01

Kia: this bulletin provides information related to eps ecm software upgrade. *js
04/26/10 NHTSA ID: 10032671
TSB ID: TSB-020

Kia: on some vehicles equipped with the optional mdps (motor driven power steering) an upgrade will be provided on information related to an mdps ecu software. just after starting the engine, on some occasions the eps light may illuminate
04/26/10 NHTSA ID: 10032673
TSB ID: TSB-017

Kia: fuel cap replacement. an improved fuel cap with a larger handle design for improved feel during tightening and a full thread stop which produces one click during tightening instead of the several clicks heard on the previous fuel cap
NHTSA's feed only includes summaries. For the full text of TSBs:

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04/19/10 NHTSA ID: 10032607
TSB ID: TSB-049

Kia motors: engine compartment junction box relay replacement. some vehicles manufactured 7/16-8/20, 2009 may experience concerns of inoperative a/c blower, high/low cooling fans or engine starter motor. the concern may be caused by poor
09/25/09 NHTSA ID: 10030365
TSB ID: TSB-046

Kia motors: relating to oil control valve (ocv) used in constant variable valve timing (cvvt). if at any time ocv is suspected as a cause of rough idling, poor accelertion, camshaft timing misalignment related trouble codes, misfire related
02/13/17 Transmission and Drivetrain NHTSA ID: 10091489
TSB ID: TSBTRA046

Tsb: automatic transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin provides information relating to the correct automatic transmission fluids that are required for each kia model. refer to the shop manual on kgis for the specific kia model
10/27/10 Transmission and Drivetrain NHTSA ID: 10034236
TSB ID: TSB-070

Kia: ecm upgrade for p0304 due to vcm motor variation. provides the procedure to upgrade the powertrain control module (pcm) of some model year vehicles. reflash has enhanced vcm (variable charge motion) actuator logic to improve a rough
04/26/10 Transmission and Drivetrain NHTSA ID: 10032672
TSB ID: TSB-030

Kia: pcm upgrade-shift hesitation and shift delay improvement with 2.0l and 4 speed a/t (sa020). some vehicles may experience slight shift hesitation and/or transaxle shift delay. the transmission control module (tcm) is an integral part
04/26/10 Transmission and Drivetrain NHTSA ID: 10032675
TSB ID: TSB-026

Kia: driveshaft housing and transaxle oil seal inspection and replacement (sa011). some vehicles (6 speed manual transaxles) may have interference with the inner tri-pod housing contacting with the axle seal cage.
12/21/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10126423
TSB ID: TSBELE091R3

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.
08/30/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10116821
TSB ID: TSB-ELE091R1

Tsb: identifying head unit software version for direct exchange - identifying head unit software version for direct exchange (ele091) (rev 1) - this bulletin provides the procedure on how to identify and record the head unit software level
08/25/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10116101
TSB ID: PS474

Pitstop: tpms sensor position - when diagnosing tpms-related dtcs, make sure you are investigating the correct sensor. the tpms positioning from the manufacturer may be different from the positioning shown on a kds.
08/02/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10109855
TSB ID: PS493

Tsb: defogging logic ? normal operation, disabling, and enabling - starting with 2010my, all kia vehicles, except rio (jb), incorporate a defogging logic to prevent the interior windows from becoming excessively fogged. depending on the spe
02/17/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10092102
TSB ID: PS382

Pitstop: stop lamp switch identification matrix (sc098) - kma has received a number of incorrect warranty return parts related to campaign sc098 and has determined that at times dealer staff may have difficulty in quickly and easily identif
02/08/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10090945
TSB ID: PS266R1

Pitstop: hvac receiver/dryer - desiccant replacement - in the event of a hvac system concern in which metal particles or shards have contaminated the system, the desiccant or the entire a/c receiver/dryer assembly may need to be replaced. t
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01/23/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10089354
TSB ID: TSBELE091

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 req
01/18/17 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10088983
TSB ID: TSBSST041

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
12/19/11 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10042573
TSB ID: TSB-036

Kia: on some vehicles with 4 speed, information is providing for upgrading transmission control modules (tcm) to improve torque converter clutch while the cruise control is activated.
05/31/11 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10037640
TSB ID: TSB-073

Kia: information on replacing the airbag control unit.
10/29/10 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10034244
TSB ID: TSB-051 REV

Kia: auto cruise control logic update for uphill driving performance improvement. the action will involve a reprogram of the cruise control logic and improve rough idle and/or p0304 logic for 2.0l vehicles with vcm (variable charge motion a
10/20/10 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10034148
TSB ID: TSB-070 REV 1

Kia: pcm upgrade for p0304 due to vcm motor variation. procedure to upgrade the powertrain control module (pcm) of some vehicles. this reflash has enhanced vcm (variable charge motion) actuator logic to improve a rough idle condition at s
NHTSA's feed only includes summaries. For the full text of TSBs:

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09/20/10 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10033813
TSB ID: SC-081

Kia: airbag control unit (acu) reprogram. information relating to an upgrade of the functioning of the logic in the air bag control unit in some vehicles to increase the range of impacts in which the side and curtain airbags will deploy.
04/26/10 Electrical and Air Conditioning NHTSA ID: 10032670
TSB ID: TSB-059

Kia: service action: pcm upgrade dtc p0304 cylinder mis fire with 2.0l engine and a/t logic (sa0250 some vehicles may experience a mil on with dtc p0304 stored in memory. in most cases the dtc is set only during a cold start and normally
08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109877
TSB ID: SC141QA

Questions and answers for voluntary service campaign sc141 ? underbody ? additional anti-corrosion treatment
08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109876
TSB ID: SC141DPSM

Service manager memo: sc141 - service campaign - attention: all kia service managers - kia motors america, inc. will be conducting a voluntary service campaign, as a preventative measure, to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the u
08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109816
TSB ID: SC141OWNERTD

Service campaign: owner letter - advises owners of certain 2011-2013 my forte and forte koup vehicles currently registered in the states where heavy amounts of road salt are used of a service campaign to add additional anti-corrosion materi
08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109817
TSB ID: TSB-SC141R1

Tsb: sc141 - service campaign - application of additional anti-corrosion material - to improve customer satisfaction, kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components of certain
NHTSA's feed only includes summaries. For the full text of TSBs:

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08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109875
TSB ID: SC141DP

Dealer principal memo: sc141 - service campaign - attention: all kia dealer principals - kia motors america, inc. will be conducting a voluntary service campaign, as a preventative measure, to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the
08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109812
TSB ID: TSB-GEN085R1

Tsb: mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware - by design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? some example
08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109777
TSB ID: TSB-GEN085

Tsb: mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware - by design, certain fasteners utilized in various kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with sta
08/02/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10109874
TSB ID: TSB-SC141

Tsb: sc141 - service campaign - application of additional anti-corrosion material - to improve customer satisfaction, kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components of certain
02/07/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10090713
TSB ID: TSBBOD095

Tsb: windshield washer pump inlet filter replacement - this bulletin provides information relating to possible foreign debris accumulation on the windshield washer pump inlet filter. over time, some kia vehicles may exhibit a limited appli
01/31/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10090005
TSB ID: SC119QA

Q and a: for voluntary service campaign (sc119) 2010 my forte, 2010 my soul, and 2011 my sorento replacement of the valve stem assembly
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01/31/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10089999
TSB ID: SC119DEALERPSM

Dealer parts and service manager memo: attention: all kia parts & service managers - kia motors america, inc. is conducting a voluntary service campaign to replace the tire valve stem assemblies to prevent gradual loss of tire pressure in c
01/31/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10090001
TSB ID: SC119OWNERFORTE

Owner letter: dear kia forte owner - kia motors america, inc. is conducting a voluntary service campaign to replace the tire valve stem assemblies in certain 2010 my forte vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in
01/31/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10089998
TSB ID: SC119DEALERP

Dealer principal memo: attention: all dealer principals - kia motors america, inc. will be conducting a voluntary service campaign, to replace the tire valve stem assemblies in certain 2010 my soul, 2010 my forte, and 2011 my sorento vehicl
01/31/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10090010
TSB ID: PS223

Pitstop: forte lock confirmation inop with remote start accessory - some remote start equipped forte?s may not indicate that the doors have been locked. the customer may state that the vehicle will not flash the hazard lights or sound the h
01/30/17 Other NHTSA ID: 10089831
TSB ID: TSBSC119R1

Tsb: voluntary service campaign - as a preventative measure, effective immediately, voluntary service campaign sc119 has been expanded to include ?all states?. this bulletin provides the procedure to replace the tire valve stems to preve
03/16/16 Other NHTSA ID: 10060314
TSB ID: PS274

Summary to be provided on a future date.
NHTSA's feed only includes summaries. For the full text of TSBs:

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05/20/11 Other NHTSA ID: 10037347
TSB ID: TSB-078

Kia: there is a procedure to reset the electronic throttle control value.
08/18/10 Other NHTSA ID: 10033510
TSB ID: TSB-057

Kia: sunroof noise repair (sa 030). provides information relating to some forte koup (td) vehicles built that may have abnormal noise from the sunroof due to interference between sunroof rail and roof panel while driving on uneven roads
04/14/10 Other NHTSA ID: 10032572
TSB ID: TB-SC-078

Kia: in some vehicles, the driver's side seat belt buckle may not recognize that the seatbelt is buckled. this may result in the intermittent illumination of the seat belt warning light and sounding of the seatbelt warning chime, even wit
09/18/09 Other NHTSA ID: 10030290
TSB ID: TSB-022

Kia: load carrying capacity label requirements and instructions to comply with fmvss 110. providing information for the new requirements related to load carrying capacity (lcc) when certain accessories are added to a completed vehicle pri0

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Kia Forte TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins)

Some things are often misunderstood about recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs). Plus a disclaimer.

  1. Recalls do not have to be issued only because something is prone to failure. NHTSA (a government agency) can only require a recall if a failure will affect safety, emissions, fuel economy, or compliance with some other regulation or law. Manufacturers can voluntarily recall cars for problems that do not affect these, though.
  2. Recalls often apply to only some cars of a specific model year, rather than all of them. You should receive a letter from the manufacturer if your car has been recalled. You can also check with the dealer, which will know which (if any) recalls pertain to your car.
  3. The primary purpose of TSBs is to inform dealers about known problems with a car and how to fix them. They are not the same as recalls. As with recalls, TSBs often only apply to some cars, not the entire model year.
  4. Dealers often will not provide a preventive repair just because a problem described in a TSB might happen to your car. They'll usually want to observe symptoms that the problem is already affecting your car.
  5. Even if there are symptoms, a manufacturer doesn't have to pick up the cost of a TSB repair if the car is out of warranty, though sometimes they do.

We provide the text of recalls and TSBs as provided by NHTSA. There can be errors in the text. If you sign up for notifications in My Garage, we will try to get these to do, but for various reasons (some beyond our control) cannot guarantee you will receive them. When in doubt about a recall or TSB, contact the dealer.