TSB: KIA SPORTAGE (2011–2014)

Bulletin PS329 — July 1, 2014

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDPS329
ManufacturerKIA
ModelsSPORTAGE
Model Years2011–2014
Date IssuedJuly 1, 2014
Date Added to NHTSAAugust 2, 2017
ComponentELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicles Affected16 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

PITSTOP: ADJUSTING REAR HATCH CLOSING EFFORT - When encountering a customer concern related to excessive rear hatch closing effort on some 2011MY to 2014MY Sportage (SL) vehicles, first, verify the customer concern by comparing the closing

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
KIA SPORTAGE 2014 174200 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
KIA SPORTAGE 2014 350000 EQUIPMENT
KIA SPORTAGE 2014 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KIA SPORTAGE 2014 162600 STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
KIA SPORTAGE 2013 174200 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
KIA SPORTAGE 2013 350000 EQUIPMENT
KIA SPORTAGE 2013 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KIA SPORTAGE 2013 162600 STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
KIA SPORTAGE 2012 174200 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
KIA SPORTAGE 2012 350000 EQUIPMENT
KIA SPORTAGE 2012 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KIA SPORTAGE 2012 162600 STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
KIA SPORTAGE 2011 174200 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
KIA SPORTAGE 2011 350000 EQUIPMENT
KIA SPORTAGE 2011 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KIA SPORTAGE 2011 162600 STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

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CARNIVAL 2026 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES,... Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fue...

What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized KIA dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (PS329) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.