TSB: KIA CADENZA, OPTIMA, SORENTO, SOUL, SPORTAGE (2010–2014)

Bulletin TSB-SST033 — April 15, 2014

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDTSB-SST033
ManufacturerKIA
ModelsCADENZA, OPTIMA, SORENTO, SOUL, SPORTAGE
Model Years2010–2014
Date IssuedApril 15, 2014
Date Added to NHTSAAugust 2, 2017
ComponentSTRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
Vehicles Affected36 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

TSB: SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL FOR HOOD RELEASE LEVER REMOVAL - This bulletin provides information related to the introduction of a new Special Service Tool (SST) (A) developed to prevent the hood release lever pivot point (B) from being damaged

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
KIA CADENZA 2014 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA CADENZA 2014 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA OPTIMA 2014 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA OPTIMA 2014 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SORENTO 2014 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SORENTO 2014 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SOUL 2014 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SOUL 2014 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SPORTAGE 2014 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SPORTAGE 2014 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA OPTIMA 2013 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA OPTIMA 2013 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SORENTO 2013 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SORENTO 2013 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SOUL 2013 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SOUL 2013 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SPORTAGE 2013 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SPORTAGE 2013 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA OPTIMA 2012 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA OPTIMA 2012 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SORENTO 2012 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SORENTO 2012 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SOUL 2012 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SOUL 2012 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SPORTAGE 2012 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SPORTAGE 2012 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA OPTIMA 2011 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA OPTIMA 2011 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SORENTO 2011 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SORENTO 2011 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SOUL 2011 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SOUL 2011 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SPORTAGE 2011 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
KIA SPORTAGE 2011 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SOUL 2010 162800 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
KIA SOUL 2010 176100 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Related KIA Recalls

CampaignModelYearComponentSummary
CARNIVAL 2024 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES,... Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fue...
CARNIVAL 2023 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES,... Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fue...
CARNIVAL 2022 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES,... Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fue...
CARNIVAL 2025 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES,... Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival vehicles. Fue...
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 (TSB-SST033) 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.