Kia bulletin TSB_TRA046_R4
What it saysThis bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Kia filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated May 16, 2024, received Jun 4, 2024, about the power train. It names 102 model years (2016–2025). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationThis bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSB_TRA046_R4 | Service bulletin | May 16, 2024 | 11000787 | PDF, 248 KB |
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 themand 62 more on this site: 2019 Kia Optima, 2018 Kia Optima, 2017 Kia Optima, 2016 Kia Optima, 2023 Kia Rio, 2022 Kia Rio, 2021 Kia Rio, 2020 Kia Rio, 2019 Kia Rio, 2018 Kia Rio, 2017 Kia Rio, 2016 Kia Rio, 2021 Kia Sedona, 2020 Kia Sedona, 2019 Kia Sedona, 2018 Kia Sedona, 2017 Kia Sedona, 2016 Kia Sedona, 2025 Kia Seltos, 2024 Kia Seltos, 2023 Kia Seltos, 2022 Kia Seltos, 2021 Kia Seltos, 2025 Kia Sorento, 2024 Kia Sorento, 2023 Kia Sorento, 2022 Kia Sorento, 2021 Kia Sorento, 2020 Kia Sorento, 2019 Kia Sorento, 2018 Kia Sorento, 2017 Kia Sorento, 2016 Kia Sorento, 2024 Kia Soul, 2023 Kia Soul, 2022 Kia Soul, 2021 Kia Soul, 2020 Kia Soul, 2019 Kia Soul, 2018 Kia Soul, 2017 Kia Soul, 2016 Kia Soul, 2024 Kia Sportage, 2023 Kia Sportage, 2022 Kia Sportage, 2021 Kia Sportage, 2020 Kia Sportage, 2019 Kia Sportage, 2018 Kia Sportage, 2017 Kia Sportage, 2016 Kia Sportage, 2023 Kia Stinger, 2022 Kia Stinger, 2021 Kia Stinger, 2020 Kia Stinger, 2019 Kia Stinger, 2018 Kia Stinger, 2024 Kia Telluride, 2023 Kia Telluride, 2022 Kia Telluride, 2021 Kia Telluride, 2020 Kia Telluride.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 102 model years this bulletin names have filed 15,820 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 1,690 of them name Power Train — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
On the 2020 Kia Soul, the 60 owners who gave an odometer reading for Power Train reported it at a median of 9,000 miles. That figure is one model year’s, not the whole range this bulletin covers — medians from different model years are not averaged.
I bought this car in nov. '20. The first time that the temp dropped below 65, on the first "auto stop" occurence after reaching operating temperature, after about a second of the engine turning off,a loud beep occurred and a message popped up saying the system has shut down and I needed to shift into n or p and press the start button to…
2019 Kia K900 · Power Train · filed with NHTSA Mar 12, 2021 · ODI 11402610
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle could be shut off while it was engaged in any gear. On several occasions, the contact shut off the vehicle without it being parked and the vehicle rolled away. The last time the failure occurred, the contact fell to the ground while attempting to get in the vehicle.
2016 Kia Sorento · Power Train · filed with NHTSA Feb 10, 2016 · ODI 10825373
I have a 2019 Kia Optima. In december I was going up a hill and the vehicle started violently shaking. I was pressing on the gas and not going anywhere. I had to put it in reverse to back down 2 rods to get back to my driveway. Had it towed to dealer and they said they could not figure out what was wrong. It was not showing any "codes".
2019 Kia Optima · Power Train · filed with NHTSA Mar 9, 2020 · ODI 11317001
In depth: 2016 Kia Optima transmission and drivetrain problems → · 2021 Kia Seltos transmission and drivetrain problems → · 2022 Kia Sorento transmission and drivetrain problems → · 2021 Kia Sorento transmission and drivetrain problems →
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the power train
Source: same model, same component group33 other manufacturer communications filed against these Kia models under the same component group (power train), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Kia list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB_CHA129_R1 | Service bulletin | Sep 23, 2026 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (Revision 1) - This bulletin has been revised to include additiona… |
| CA2604 | Service bulletin | Aug 25, 2026 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ELECTRIC OIL PUMP REPLACEMENT (CA2604) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the Electric Oil Pump… |
| SA648 | Service bulletin | Jun 26, 2026 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (SA648) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional in… |
| TSB_CHA129 | Service bulletin | May 23, 2026 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AWD COUPLER NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the 4-Wheel Drive… |
| TSB_CHA128_CLSD | Service bulletin | May 23, 2026 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 4WD COUPLING NOISE/VIBRATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT) - CLOSED & SUPERSEDED BY CHA129 - This bulletin is now closed an… |
| SC363 | Service campaign | Apr 17, 2026 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OIL LEVEL PLUG (OLP) INSPECTION, AND OLP GASKET AND/OR ATF FILLER BOLT REPLACEMENT O… |
| SC199_TSB_R1 | Emissions | Feb 19, 2026 | VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: IVT SOFTWARE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND/OR IVT REPLACEMENT (SC199) - This bulletin has been revised to incl… |
| SC345Z | Service bulletin | Oct 9, 2025 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: FRONT MOTOR REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (SC345Z) - This bulletin provides info… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Kia, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Kia TSB_TRA046_R4 a recall?
No. A service bulletin 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 TSB_TRA046_R4 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way. Every Kia warranty extension on file lists the ones Kia has filed.
Which vehicles does TSB_TRA046_R4 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 102 model years: 2020 Kia Cadenza, 2019 Kia Cadenza, 2018 Kia Cadenza, 2017 Kia Cadenza, 2016 Kia Cadenza, 2025 Kia Carnival and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.