Kia bulletin SC338
Kia filed this with NHTSA as a emissions communication dated Sep 12, 2025, received Jun 25, 2025, about the fuel/propulsion system — 11 documents under this number: SC338_OWNR_SG2_102, SC338_OWNR_NQ5_102, TSB_SC338_R1, SC338_OWNR_SG2 and more. It names 4 model years (2023–2024). A emissions communication is not a safety recall — there is no NHTSA campaign number and no federal requirement — but it is usually work the manufacturer pays for on the vehicles it names; the dealer checks the VIN against the manufacturer’s list.
What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: BMS S/W LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC P1BB2 (SC338) - 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 to upgrade the Battery Management System ‘BMS’ software logic on certain 2023-2024MY Sportage HEV (NQ5 HEV) vehicles produced from February 15, 2022 to December 15, 2023, and 2023MY Niro HEV (SG2 HEV) vehicles produced from June 21, 2022 through April 25, 2023. Due to a software issue, the Battery Management System (BMS) may inadvertently overcharge the 12V Lithium battery. If the 12V Lithium battery becomes overcharged, the subject vehicles may experience a reduction in motive power accompanied by the ‘Check Hybrid System, Stop Safely’ warning message, Hybrid system warning lamp, Service warning lamp, Charging system warning lamp, and a rapid beeping sound for approximately ten (10) seconds. (Note: This Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign supersedes SC335).
Documents filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC338_OWNR_SG2_102 | Emissions | Sep 12, 2025 | 11023098 | not yet checked |
| SC338_OWNR_NQ5_102 | Emissions | Sep 12, 2025 | 11023097 | not yet checked |
| TSB_SC338_R1 | Emissions | Aug 15, 2025 | 11022364 | not yet checked |
| SC338_OWNR_SG2 | Emissions | Jun 27, 2025 | 11019728 | not yet checked |
| SC338_OWNR_NQ5 | Emissions | Jun 27, 2025 | 11019724 | not yet checked |
| SC338_TSB | Service bulletin | Jun 26, 2025 | 11019904 | not yet checked |
| SC338_STKR | Emissions | Jun 25, 2025 | 11019732 | not yet checked |
| SC338_QA | Emissions | Jun 25, 2025 | 11019731 | not yet checked |
| SC338_POC | Emissions | Jun 25, 2025 | 11019729 | not yet checked |
| SC338_DPSM | Emissions | Jun 25, 2025 | 11019722 | not yet checked |
| SC338_DP | Emissions | Jun 25, 2025 | 11019721 | not yet checked |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Kia SC338 a recall?
No. A emissions communication is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SC338 repair free?
A emissions communication is usually paid by the manufacturer on the vehicles it names, within the terms and time limit the document sets; the dealer checks the VIN against the manufacturer’s list.
Which vehicles does SC338 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 4 model years: 2024 Kia Niro, 2023 Kia Niro, 2024 Kia Sportage, 2023 Kia Sportage. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.