TSB: KIA NIRO, NIRO EV, NIRO HYBRID, NIRO PHEV, NIRO PLUG-IN HYBRID, OPTIMA HYBRID, OPTIMA PHEV, SORENTO HYBRID, SOUL EV (2011–2021)
Bulletin PS702 — June 4, 2021
Bulletin Details
| Bulletin ID | PS702 |
| Manufacturer | KIA |
| Models | NIRO, NIRO EV, NIRO HYBRID, NIRO PHEV, NIRO PLUG-IN HYBRID, OPTIMA HYBRID, OPTIMA PHEV, SORENTO HYBRID, SOUL EV |
| Model Years | 2011–2021 |
| Date Issued | June 4, 2021 |
| Date Added to NHTSA | June 14, 2021 |
| Component | VISIBILITY |
| Vehicles Affected | 36 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
PIT STOP: A/C DYE FOR E-COMPRESSOR EQUIPPED VEHICLES - This bulletin provides information on the proper non-conductive A/C system leak detection dye to be used in all EV, HEV, and PHEV models equipped with an electric A/C compressor.
Affected Vehicles
| Make | Model | Year | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIA | NIRO | 2021 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SORENTO HYBRID | 2021 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO | 2020 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO EV | 2020 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO PHEV | 2020 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2020 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA PHEV | 2020 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2020 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO | 2019 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO EV | 2019 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO PLUG-IN HYBRID | 2019 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2019 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA PHEV | 2019 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2019 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO | 2018 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO EV | 2018 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO PHEV | 2018 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2018 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA PHEV | 2018 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2018 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO | 2017 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO HYBRID | 2017 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | NIRO PHEV | 2017 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2017 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA PHEV | 2017 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2017 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2016 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA PHEV | 2016 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2016 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2015 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2015 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2014 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | SOUL EV | 2014 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2013 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2012 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
| KIA | OPTIMA HYBRID | 2011 | 130000 VISIBILITY |
Related KIA Recalls
What Should You Do?
If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized KIA dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (PS702) 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.