OWNER LETTER: WTY004 - DEAR KIA OPTIMA OWNER: KIA MOTORS AMERICA TAKES PRIDE IN PROVIDING YOU WITH HIGH QUALITY AND DEPENDABLE VEHICLES. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THESE STANDARDS, KIA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE, TO ALL OWNERS, FOR THE ENGINE’S “SHORT BLOCK” ASSEMBLY ON 2011-2014 MODEL YEAR OPTIMA VEHICLES WITH 2.4L GDI OR 2.0L TURBO GDI TO 10 YEARS STARTING FROM THE DATE OF FIRST SERVICE OR 120,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THE SHORT BLOCK CONSISTS OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS, CONNECTING RODS AND BEARINGS AND PISTONS. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDRESSES ISSUES WITH CONNECTING ROD WEAR WHICH RESULTS IN KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE KNOCKING NOISE INCREASES IN FREQUENCY AS THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN WITH A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING, THE BEARING CAN FAIL AND MAY RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE.
