Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10502779March 14, 2013
AIR BAGS
I ACTUALLY OWN 2 KIAS SAME YEAR AND MODEL. AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF WHEN SOMEONE WOULD SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT. THEN IT STARTED STAYING ON ALL THE TIME ON SO IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR. NOW MY HUSBANDS KIA IS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME, SO I HAVE TO RIDE WITH HIM AT MY OWN RISK BECAUSE I HAVE NO AIR BAG PROTECTION ON MY SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502191March 9, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK MY CAR STALLED A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD AT A STOP LIGHT. A FEW LIGHTS LATER IT STALLED AGAIN AND A FEW MORE LIGHTS IT STALLED ONCE MORE. I HEARD FROM OTHER KIA SPECTRA OWNERS THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM ISN'T UNCOMMON WITH THAT MODEL. AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK TO A NORMAL LEVEL THE CAR STALLS. I DIDN'T TOP OFF THE CAR AND IT WASN'T THE QUALITY OF THE GAS. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO KIA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T A DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFECT, EXPERIENCED BY MANY PEOPLE. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THEY MUST FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502137March 8, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK I WENT A FEW MILES AND STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. I DROVE A FEW BLOCKS AND STALLED AGAIN WHILE STOPPED. AFTER ANOTHER FEW BLOCKS I STALLED ONCE MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500601February 27, 2013
SEAT BELTS, SEATS, AIR BAGS
I OWN A KIA SPECTRA 2009 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND STAYS ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT THAT IS IN THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT (WHICH INDICATES IF ON/OFF) IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. CALLED KIA AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THE WARRANTY NOT COVER THIS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE COST OF THE SEAT REPLACEMENT IS GOING TO $1637.31. BY THE LOOKS OF THIS IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MODELS FOR KIA. I CAN NOT JUSTIFY THIS AMOUNT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT REPLACEMENT. WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT IT WOULD BE FORWARDED TO A MANAGER TO SEE IF ANY ASSISTANCE COULD BE OFFERED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT. IN THE STATE THAT I LIVE IN THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497775February 11, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR AUTOMATIC LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE INTERMITTENTLY BECAME LOCKED IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000. UPDATED 3/11/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOORS LOCK/UNLOCK BY THMSELVES. THEY WON'T ACTIVATE ON COMMAND. DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE HANDLE WILL NOT ACTIVATE RELEASE. UPDATED 06/17/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496700February 7, 2013
SEAT BELTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE LOCKED. ALSO, THE LOCKS ON ALL THE DOORS LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT'S INFANT CHILD TO BECOME LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE ALONE. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494777January 26, 2013
AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED MY KIA SPECTRA NEW IN 2009. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD VARIOUS TIMES WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD BE "OFF" SUGGESTING THAT NO ONE/ THING OVER 45 POUNDS WAS LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. DESPITE HAVING OTHER PEOPLE ACCOMPANY ME IN MY CAR, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ONLY WENT OFF WHEN I HAD A 6'1" 190 LB TEENAGER IN MY CAR. MORE RECENTLY (AND FREQUENTLY) I HAVE HAD A 165 LB 6' MALE FRIEND RIDING WITH ME. HE ALWAYS SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAS SHOWED "OFF" DESPITE FREQUENT ATTEMPTS BY MY FRIEND TO CHANGE HIS POSITIONING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. EVEN AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, AND LATER GETTING BACK IN, THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO SHOW AS IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EMPTY.. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAST, OR SLOW I WAS DRIVING, THE RESULTS WERE STILL THE SAME. I BOUGHT MY KIA DUE TO IT'S HIGH SAFETY RATING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493696January 21, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK ON MY AUNT'S 2007 KIA SPECTRA. AFTER FILLING THE TANK WITH FUEL, THE CAR STALLS AND CUTS OFF. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO KIA AND PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. HOWEVER, IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE. SHE WAS TOLD TO BE SURE NOT TO TOP OFF THE FUEL. SHE HAS NEVER TOPPED OFF OR OVER FILLED. YET IT STILL HAPPENS. SHE HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO THIS POINT BECAUSE IT HASN'T STALLED WHEN SHE'S BEEN ON A FREEWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493319January 17, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE FLUID PROPORTIONING VALVE IS LEAKING FOR NO REASON. NOT A SERVICEABLE PART. MUST BE REPLACED. NOT A WEAR AND TEAR PART EITHER. VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH 2002 AND 2003 RESEARCH STATED. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491709January 7, 2013
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAGS; FRONTAL; SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE: PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE CENTER CONSOLE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG (YELLOW OCCUPANCY) ON/OFF LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMENT WHEN PASSENGER SAT IN PASSENGER SEAT REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR MOTION, I.E., SHORTLY AFTER ENGINE STARTUP THROUGH SHUTDOWN (SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH PASSENGER IN SEAT). THE PROBLEM STARTED MID JULY 2012 AND CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT 6 MONTHS UNTIL THE RED AIRBAG INOPERATIVE LIGHT (IN THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER) CAME ON AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN LATE DEC 2012. APROX WEIGHT OF THREE PASSENGERS WHO FREQUENTED THE PASSENGER SEAT OVER THE 6 MONTH PERIOD) WERE 135, 150 AND 215 LBS RESPECTIVELY. PASSENGER (SEAT) AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION WAS CONFIRMED (DIAGNOSED AND ISOLATED) BY HOLMES AUTOMOTIVE OF FORT WALTON BEACH FL, ON 24 DEC 2012. BELIEVE IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NBR 12V244000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489492December 21, 2012
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED MONTHS LATER THE SEAT BELT SPRINGS FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488607December 12, 2012
AIR BAGS
DEALER STATES ISSUE WITH AIRBAG SENSOR MAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SAME ISSUE AS RECALLED ON THE 2006 RIO. A SIMILAR SPEC SENSOR MAT IS INSTALLED ON THE SPECTRAS AS WELL AND THEREFORE A RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON THOSE MODELS AS WELL. FAILURE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BASED ON THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS OF VEHICLE IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE AIRBAGS WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487557December 6, 2012
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE HIT FROM REAR AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE TO DRIVERS SIDE AND VEHICLE IN FRONT. FIRE DEPT AT SCENE SAID THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS AND SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF. DRIVER WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. CHILDREN IN BACK SEAT VERY MINOR INJURIES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10487390December 4, 2012
ENGINE
I PAID CASH FOR A KIA 08/09,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN IT WAS DROP OFF BY THE DEALERSHIP.I CALL RIGHT BACK I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN. THIS CONTINUE 3 TIMES AFTER, THE CRANK SHAFT WENT OUT,THE FUEL SENSOR WAS THE 4 TIME WITH ME 1 TIME WITH THE OTHER OWNER. SHE PUT 3500MI. ON THE CAR FACT. MY TITLE SAID, 200 MI. THEN, THE GAS PEDDLE WAS SO HOT I COULD NOT KEEP MY FOOT ON IT. I WAS CALL BY KIA, PARK THE CAR OR IT WILL BLOW UP ON YOU. I WAS ON THE ROAD NEXT TO A CANE FIELD NO HOUSES CLOSE TO ME. I'M 65 YRS. OLD, BEEN GOING FOR OVER 38 MO. BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS LOUISIANA NEW CAR COMMISSIONER(1) HE KEEPING ME AT BAY. THIS CAR WAS ON IT WAY BACK TO KIA MANFACTURE. BUT WAS SOLD TO ME BECAUSE I PAID CASH. THEY THEY TRIED TO BUY BACK THE CAR FROM A LOAN CO. WHERE I TOOK A LOAN ON IT. THEY LAUGH AT ME TELL ME I'M ON MY OWN. I STILL HAVE THE WARRANTY ON IT. COULD YOU HELP ME. THIS WAS A NEW CAR I WAS SOLD EVEN THOUGH SOME ONE ELSE HAD IT BEFORE ME FOR MONTHS 3500MI. YET ON MY TITLE IT SAID 200MI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486551November 30, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE DOOR PANEL OFF AND NOTICED THAT THE LINKAGE AND THE LATCH WERE BOTH FRACTURED. THE CONTACT COULD ONLY OPEN THE WINDOW AND THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE LATCH AND LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE PART AND MADE THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483155November 2, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED UNDER THE SECOND VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE EYE, FIFTH VERTEBRAE AND A COLLAPSED LUNG. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND REMAINED HOSPITALIZED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 DAYS BEFORE PASSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO LATER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT IMPACTED DUE TO THE POSITIONING OF THE VEHICLE IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10481543October 23, 2012
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE MASS AIR SENSOR FLOW FILTER AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED SURGING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER THE SURGING, THE RPM'S WOULD RACE TO HIGH NUMBERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481046October 18, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN STARTED LOOSING BRAKE FLUID RAPIDLY. MY PERFECTLY GOOD BRAKES WERE GOING OUT AND I ALMOST WRECKED MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN DICKINSON, TX IS CHARGING ME 300 DOLLARS + TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURE PART. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST PROPORTIONING VALVE HE HAS SEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED LIKE THIS IN 10+ YEARS. THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. I HAVE WROTE ALL NEWS STATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I AM PURSUING THIS AGGRESSIVELY. YOU ALL RECALLED THE 2004-2007 PROPORTIONING VALVES THEN IT SHOULD BE FOR THE EARLIER MODELS AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478411October 3, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARK HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN SOME OCCASIONS THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THE DOOR LOCK MODULE ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476893September 24, 2012
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE START-UP, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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