Kia bulletin TSB_TRA096
What it saysThis bulletin provides the procedure to replace two (2) solenoid valves (35R and 4&OD) and improve the gear shift logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2015-2016MY K900 (KH) vehicles, equipped with Tau… NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Kia filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Aug 20, 2021, received Aug 25, 2021, about the power train. It names 1 model year (2016). 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 communicationWhat it applies to, as the document itself states it — the build window in the manufacturer’s own words, read by machine from the PDF NHTSA serves. The build date is on the certification label in the driver’s door jamb; the dealer settles a borderline vehicle by its VIN.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 8AT (A8LR1-SBW) SOLENOID VALVE REPLACEMENT AND TCU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace two (2) solenoid valves (35R and 4&OD) and improve the gear shift logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on some 2015-2016MY K900 (KH) vehicles, equipped with Tau 5.0L engine and 8-speed automatic transmission w/Shift-By-Wire (A8LR1-SBW), which may exhibit symptoms of abnormal shift shock during an upshift (2nd-->3rd, 3rd-->4th, 4th-->5th). This condition occurs on vehicles with mileage over 12,000 miles and may be due to possible premature wear of the solenoid valve. To correct this concern, replace the 35R and 4&O/D solenoid valves with added “H” ventilation port, perform TCU relearn, and, if applicable, apply the improved logic to the Transmission system using the KDS ECU Upgrade function as described in this bulletin.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSB_TRA096 | Service bulletin | Aug 20, 2021 | 10200512 | PDF, 878 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 themA 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 1 model year this bulletin names have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA since 2015.
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 group3 other manufacturer communications filed against the Kia K900 under the same component group (power train), newest first.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB_TRA046_R5 | Service bulletin | Apr 17, 2025 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/rev… |
| TSB_TRA046_R4 | Service bulletin | May 16, 2024 | This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush… |
| TSB_TRA046_R3 | Service bulletin | Nov 18, 2022 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission f… |
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_TRA096 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_TRA096 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_TRA096 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 1 model year: 2016 Kia K900. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone. The document itself sets the build window: Tau 5.0L GDI: built 1 Jan 2014 – 25 Sep 2014; K900 (KH): built 1 Jan 2014 – 25 Sep 2014 — the build date is on the certification label in the driver’s door jamb.