Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10519605June 13, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND ENGAGE THE HANDLE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO EXIT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THE HANDLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515719June 7, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND EXHIBITED A KNOCKING SOUND PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR THAT CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO RUN DRY AND NOT SEND COOLANT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515286June 5, 2013
SEAT BELTS
EVER SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2010, THE REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK-UP FOR NO REASON. NOW, NEITHER REAR OUTBOARD RETRACTOR WILL UNWIND. THE CENTER SEATBELT STILL WORKS FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515126June 4, 2013
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, AIR BAGS
THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS LEADING UP TO A FAILURE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA EX SUDDENLY CAME ON. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO A DEALER, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENTIRE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR COULD NOT TELL IF THERE WAS A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS DEACTIVATED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE HERE: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2008/KIA/SPECTRA/AIR_BAGS/PROBLEM.ASPX. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN ISOLATED ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY KIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514578May 31, 2013
AIR BAGS
THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE DURING A STATE INSPECTION. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAT, WHICH COST ME $2,231.93. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTOSHOP, AND BY 2 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALOT IN KIAS. I THINK THAT KIA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT. I SEE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS. THIS MODEL SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513013May 21, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT GOING NORTH TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION. THE OTHER PARTY FAILED TO YIELD GOING SOUTHEAST AT THE SAME INTERSECTION. I DID HIT THEIR VEHICLE, DODGE HEMI RAM 1500, HEAD ON THEIR RIGHT SIDE. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN IN FACT ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, IT SHOULD HAVE FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. NOT TO MENTION THIS IS THE SECOND COLLISION THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND THE AIRBAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE AIRBAG NOT WORKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS. DUE DO THIS, I OBTAINED A HEAD AND NECK INJURY AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10512707May 19, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITANTLY ON AND OFF, I HAVE CHANGED THE SPEED SENSOR AND DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, I WENT TO KIA BLOGS AND FOUND OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH KIA CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511230May 9, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN I FILL MY TANK WITH GAS IT SPILLS OUT IN THE OVERFLOW. IT STALLS EVERY STOPLIGHT AND IN TRAFFIC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511243May 9, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO POWER OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511241May 9, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510333May 1, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I WAS ABOUT TO STOP DOWN A STEEP HILL MY BRAKES GAVE AWAY AND JESUS TOOK THE WHEEL IS ALL I CAN SAY.BRAKE CAME ON NO BRAKE FLUID .I GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES IT JUST LEAKS OUT AS SOON AS I REPLACE IT. MECHANIC FOR 40 YEARS SAID NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON A CAR. THE CONNECTOR WERE THE VALVES OR CONNECTING IS LEAKING ALL THE BRAKE FLUID OUT . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509483April 24, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
JANUARY 2013 I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE PAINT PEELING OFF OF THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR BUT REALIZED THAT IT WAS A CLEAR COAT OVER THE PAINT. I WENT TO A LOCAL KIA DEALER AND A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2010 WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT DAY THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PLACES WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IT IS A VERY POOR JOB DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND THERE ARE NO EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509315April 23, 2013
AIR BAGS
THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY SENSE THE FRONT PASSENGER, RESULTING IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR BEING IN THE "OFF" MODE EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING THERE. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY A KIA DEALER, WHO SAID THE COMPUTER DID NOT NOTE ANYTHING WRONG. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID "WITH SOME KIA'S, THE SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT UNLESS THEY ARE SITTING DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT." THIS CONCERNS US GREATLY, AS, IF WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE SENSOR DOES NOT REGISTER A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509140April 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505671April 9, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR..UPDATED 07-08-15 *BF UPDATE (JULY 9, 2015): THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES, REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON SITTING IN THE FRONT. WHEN THE SYSTEM WORKED, THE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AT THE END OF 2012, HOWEVER THE LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE KIA CAR DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTOMATIVE DEPARTMENT THAT IT MEANT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NO LONGER WORKING AND WE SHOULD BRING IT IN. WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR, WE WERE TOLD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT OPERATES THE AIR BAG WAS NO LONGER WORKING, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT AN ITEM UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ALMOST $2,000. THE CAR WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.*SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507214April 5, 2013
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE UNTIL I REALIZE THAT MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX WAS NOT ON THE LIST OF RECALL FOR BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. SO I STARTED SEARCH FOR REPORTING IT. I KNOW MY AFFECT PART IS ENGINE, BUT MY HUSBAND & I CAR IS FALLING APART. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT FIX. THE ENGINE IS THE LAST PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD SO FAR.IT STALL IF YOU GO TOO FAST AROUND 55. IT STALL ALL THE TIME. MY HUSBAND STOP AT A RED LIGHT IT CUT OFF. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD PAY FOR THE PROBLEMS. THEY HAD NO PROBLEM ASKING FOR A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM US. BOTH OF THE PROBLEMS I STATED ARE DANGEROUS. PLEASE HELP IN DOING SOMETHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507314April 5, 2013
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR FAILED TO TURN ON WHEN ADULT PASSENGER SAT IN SEAT. AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED AND WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED ISSUE WAS A DEFECTIVE OCS MAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504605March 26, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
I STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY SEAT BELT'S AND I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND AN ISSUE I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM'S TOOK IT BACK SEVERAL TIME'S AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING NOW MY SEAT BELT'S IN THE BACK OF MY CAR DO NOT WORK AT ALL I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEN AFTER THAT I STARTED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND AIR BAG THE LIGHT ON THE DASH NEXT TO THE CLOCK WOULDN'T GO OFF OR IT JUST FLICKERED AND THE AIR BAG ICON WITH THE PERSON ON IT CAME ON AND HASN'T WENT OFF I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND THE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT NOW THAT THE LIGHT NEXT TO THE CLOCK HAS GONE OUT AND THE PERSON ICON WITH THE AIR BAG ON MY DASH JUST STAY'S ON I TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A PASSENGER SEAT FOR $1,900.00 BECAUSE MY WARRANTY FOR THAT PART WAS UP. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD FIX THESE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND I TRANSPORT SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503923March 21, 2013
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOUSING FELL APART AND WITH IT, THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE BUCKLE STOPPED WORKING. NO ABUSE OR MISUSE WAS INVOLVED. WE GOT INTO THE CAR ONE DAY, BUCKLED THE BUCKLE AND THE HOUSING FELL APART. IT WOULD STILL BUCKLE FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WON'T ACCEPT THE SEAT BELT ANYMORE SO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE WITH A USED PART FROM A JUNK YARD. I'VE READ THIS WITH A LOT OF KIA SPECTRAS, AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503234March 16, 2013
ENGINE, WHEELS, AIR BAGS
I WAS VISITING MY FIANCE IN UTAH WHEN A TAN CAR HIT MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT END. WE BOTH WERE PUT INTO A SPIN AND HE HIT ME A SECONDARY TIME. MY CAR HAS SINCE BEEN TOTALED OUT AND LABELED AS BEYOND SALVAGE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS MISSING AND THERE IS SEVER ENGINE DAMAGE. THE AUTO BODY SHOP AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID I NEEDED TO CONTACT KIA AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE AIRBAG FAILURE TO DEPLOY. KIA SAID MY CAR IS BUILT TO COLLAPSE A CERTAIN AMOUNT BEFORE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY. THEY ALSO SAID SINCE I WAS PUT INTO A SPIN MY CAR DID NOT DECELERATE FAST ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE AIRBAGS, BUT SINCE I HAD DECELERATED WHILE SPINNING THAT'S WHAT PREVENTED THEM FROM DEPLOYING UPON THE SECOND IMPACT. THEY ONLY INVESTIGATED MY CAR VIA PHOTOGRAPHS AND MY VERBAL STATEMENT TO THEM. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM IN MY CAR, BUT ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE THERE ARE MULTIPLE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURES WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL CAR. I ASKED KIA IF THEY WOULD PUT WHAT THEY HAD CONCLUDED IN WRITING AND AT FIRST THEY SAID YES BUT NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT WILL TAKE A WHILE. I AM CONCERNED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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