Kia Spectra Complaints (2003)

90 consumer complaints on file.

#10149445February 4, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 KIA SPECTRA 4 DOOR POWER DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK THEMSELVES BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE UNATTENDED. LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SEVERAL OF THEIR VEHICLES HAD SAME PROBLEM RECENTLY AND THAT THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IS IN A FUSE BLOCK RELAY. HOWEVER, AS WITH MOST PROBLEMS WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED, WE ARE JUST PAST THE WARRANTY. WE CONTACTED THE MFG BUT THEY TOO WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. BUT I BELIEVE THIS MAY TURN OUT TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT WHICH THEY ARE LEAVING TO THE CONSUMER TO BEAR, THE COST OF WHICH IS OVER $500 PLUS LABOR. AS AN ASIDE, HAD WE NOT RECENTLY MOVED TO WASHINGTON, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE WARRANTY. BUT WARRANTY OR NO, IF THESE RELAYS ARE GOING OUT ON OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL, THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WORTH LOOKING INTO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148444January 24, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOOK THE CAR TO WALMART FOR FLUID CHECKS. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER LEAVING THERE, I HIT AN ICY PUDDLE AND LOST THE ABILITY TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CAR RECOVERED, BUT AFTER THAT WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I RETURNED TO WALMART WHO ADVISED ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS WARM. ALSO, THEY ADVISED ME THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FINE. SINCE THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THERE WAS INTERNAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER EXPERIENCE TELLS ME IT'S PROBABLY THE FLYWHEEL. NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY CLAIMING FLUIDS WERE NOT CHANGED. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLUIDS. ALSO THERE IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM, ODI 10112469, WHICH WOULD IMPLY THIS COULD BE A DEFECT. MY CAR HAD 54,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147349January 10, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE IS LEAKING AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP HAVING THIS REPLACED. THIS IS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THIS PART APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE AND ELSEWHERE. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I CANNOT BELIEVE IS LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE. ALSO, THE INTERIOR COMPONENTS STARTED FALLING OFF WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP. THE CONSOLE LID BROKE, THE CAPS FOR THE GAS RELEASE LEVER AND THE TRUNK LEVER HAVE ALL COME OFF NUMEROUS TIME. THE CAR JACK SNAPPED THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME IT WAS USED TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145280December 15, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAVE REPLACED BOTH HIGH & LOW HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES EACH. HEATER IS NOT WORKING. JUNCTION BOX NEEDS REPLACED 12/15/05. CAR IS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA WITH 97,500 MILES ON IT. IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144843December 9, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR WHILE BRAKING OR PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE REVVED AND LURCHED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - THE TRANSMISSION LINE HAD COME OFF AND CAUSE COOLANT TO LEAK. THE LINE WAS REPAIR AND TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED BUT TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THREE TIMES AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR THREE TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE GENE PULSE ASSEMBLY. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLE SPEED ACTUATOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143392November 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR.*AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143244November 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA [XXX] WITH A BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE THAT STARTED LEAKING ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED. ARE THESE VALVES DEFECTIVE BECAUSE MY OTHER DAUGHTER WITH A 2002 KIA RIO [XXX] HAD THE SAME VALVE REPLACED LAST YEAR ON HER RIO. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140057October 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAKAGE. I TOOK MY CAR TO KIA DEALER FOR ENGINE AN LIGHT. THEY REPLACED THE GAS CAP AND THE ORVR VALVE IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE OTHER NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME I SMELLED GAS WENT TO ACCELERATE AND CAR STARTED TO STALL I GAVE IT MORE GAS AND STARTED TO SPUTTER THE CAR BEHIND ME STARTED BEEPING AND FLASHING THE LIGHT. THEY PULLED NEXT TO ME AND SAID GET OUT OF THE CAR GAS WAS POURING OUT. I PULLED OVER SHUT ENGINE OFF THE GAS STOPPED POURING OUT THE NEXT MORNING MY HUSBAND GOT UNDER THE CAR AND THE FUEL LINE TO THE BACK OF THE FILTER HAD JUST CAME OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136028October 6, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT SO HARD THAT THE BUMPER CAME OFF AND PUSHED THE ENGINE AND HOOD UP. THE FIREMAN SAID THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND TWICE. THIS BROKE THE REAR AXLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE ENDED UP SIX FEET FROM WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S BACK WAS SORE FOR A FEW WEEKS. A POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10134346August 26, 2005
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DURING THE FIRST ACCIDENTCONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY SOMEONE IN FRONT. IN TURN A SUV HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE. DURING THE SECOND ACCIDENT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED A CAR IN FRON. THIS WAS A FRONT TO REAR COLLISION AT 25 T-30 MILES MPH. THERE WAS INJURIES IN THE SECOND ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. ALSO, THERE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OIL CIRCULATION. ITHE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10130718July 31, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EVERY TIME I TAKE OFF FROM A STOP SIGN ECT. MY TRANSMISSION KICKS WHEN SHIFTING FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. IN AN AUTOMATIC,IT IS RARE. IT IS ONLY A 2003 TOO. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT TRANSMISSIONS ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT. BULL!!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121188May 17, 2005
WHEELS:HUB
THE LITTLE CENTER HUB CAPS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO ALUMINUM WHEEL FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALER TWICE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS HIS FAULT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117613April 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES HESITATION, LOST OF POWER, AND STALLING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON TEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PART, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115669March 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, STRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE FRONT PANEL IN THE CONSUMER'S 2003 KIA SPECTRA MADE NOISE. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN, DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE, FAULTY SPEAKER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THERE WOULD BE A CLICKING SOUND IF IT WAS FORCED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH FOR 10 MINUTES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112781March 9, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
FRONT BUMPER COVER COMING LOOSE ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA WITH 38,050 MILES. DUE TO THE COVER COMING LOOSE, THE INSIDE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL ALSO CAME LOOSE AND RUBBED AGAINST FRONT TIRE DAMAGING BOTH THE TIRE AND THE THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE PER KIA DEALER AND OUTSIDE MECHANIC. KIA REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING THAT THE FRONT BUMPER COVER COMING LOOSE AND CAUSING THIS PROBLEM IS AN "ADJUSTMENT ISSUE". THE OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A NOT AN ADJUSTMENT ISSUE, RATHER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND A LIKELY SAFETY ISSUE. SHOULD THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL HAVE CAME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FRICTION CREATED FROM IT RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE COULD HAVE INCREASED THE TIRE TEMPERATURE IN SUCH A WAY THAT COULD HAVE LED TO CATASTROPHIC FRONT TIRE FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER CORRECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS PART OF THEIR (IRONICALLY) BUMPER TO BUMBER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112469March 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THIS CAR CAME WITH A 100K MILE WARRANTY. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2003 IT HAD ONLY 79 MILES ON IT. IN DECEMBER OF 2004 WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT, IT GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW IN THE ROAD BLOCKING TRAFFIC. WE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET. AFTER PUSHING FOR A SHORT TIME TRANSMISSION BURNED UP AND IS NOW DESTROYED. I LIVE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY SO I GET SNOW OCCASIONALLY. DOES THIS MEAN THAT ANYONE LIVING WHERE IT SNOWS SHOULD NOT BY A KIA? I AM AWARE OF THE STIPULATION IN THE WARRANTY THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER DAMAGE DONE BY SNOW, ICE, ROAD DEBRIS ETC. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS, A SATURN FOR INSTANCE WITH CLOSE TO 100K MILES ON IT. IT HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN THE SNOW SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I LIVED IN OHIO. I HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF A SNOW DRIFT, SPUN THE TIRES. NEVER DID I HAVE A TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NEVER WOULD I THINK THAT A NEW CAR WOULD BE DESTROYED THAT EASILY, NOR DO I THINK THAT IT IS RIGHT FOR THE DEALER TO SAY IT IS ALL MY FAULT. ARE KIA OWNERS NOT SUPPOSED TO TRY TO GET TO WORK IF IT SNOWS. THIS IS KENTUCKY, NOT MICHIGAN. I THINK PURCHASERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CAR. FOR INSTANCE, A COOLER PART THAT ?MAY? HAVE METAL PARTICLES IN IT, HAS TO BE REPLACED AND WAS PRICED AT $400. WHEN I CONTACTED KIA'S CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS DIRECTLY I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE DISTRICT MANAGER HAD INSPECTED THE CAR AND MADE THE FINAL DECISION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105603January 2, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE CRASH (FRONT END) AT !@55 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10101516November 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION AT 15 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10098474November 8, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON THE 29TH OF OCTOBER. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY WAS NO GOOD. THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED BUT THE THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN...TWO DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED. THE BATTERY CORD HAD TO BE JIGGLED IN ORDER FOR IT TO START UP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WHERE THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED, THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR EXCEPT THAT THE BATTERY CORD HAD TO BE TIGHTENED. ANOTHER TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR DOESN'T START AGAIN AND WON'T START UNLESS THE BRAKE AND GEARS ARE MANIPULATED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083260September 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NEITHER DUPLICATE NOR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *LA NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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