Kia Spectra Complaints (2004)

71 consumer complaints on file.

#10146396December 29, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND SHE RAN A STOP SIGN. SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140636October 24, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
DT: THE CONTACT PESUMES THAT THE SPINDLE BROKE ON THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE PULLED O THE LEFT. HE PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT SPINDLE WAS BROKEN. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WITH HOPES OF BUYING A NEW SPINDLE. THE CAR CAME WITH DRUM BRAKES, AND WHEN THE DEALER LOOKED UP THE VIN THE COMPUTER SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH DISC BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A NEW SPINDLE FOR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE ISSUE.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE SPINDLE WAS PROVIDED BYTHE DEALER ON NOV 1, 2005. AFTER THAT DAY OTHER PARTS WERE NEEDED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139671October 14, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING. SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO BE EXAMINED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK THEN BACK TO DRIVE. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A TEMPORARY FIX, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL HARD TO PULL OVER WHEN IN TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA, AND THEY TOOK HER INFORMATION AND HAD THE DEALERSHIP CALL HER BACK. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT THE DEALER, THEY SIMPLY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, THEN GAVE IT BACK TO THE CONSUMER AND TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN FIND THAT IS WRONG. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN THEY TREATED HER LIKE SHE MADE UP THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS CONSIDERED APPLYING FOR THE LEMON LAW IN HER STATE. *AK (12/08/05) THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER. KIA REPLACED THE COMPUTER BOARD IN RELATION TO THE TRANSMISSION. *SC UPDATED 1/25/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139372October 11, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I HAD NO INDICATION THAT MY SEAT BELT OR AIRBAG WERE FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH I STRUCK A CAR THAT TURNED LEFT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK AND I WAS LIFTED OUT OF THE SEAT AND HIT MY HEAD, SHOULDER, AND HIP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAG DIDN'T INFLATE CONSIDERING THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10138554October 4, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT AND HE WAS DRIVING. MY SEAT BELT LOCKED AND HIS DIDN'T ALLOWING HIM TO BE THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, THIS LEFT HIM WITH A SEVERELY BRUISED RIBCAGE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE BOTH REPLACED AS PART OF THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS STANDARD PROCEDURE AFTER AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE SINCE I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR A LITTLE LONGER THAN A YEAR. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10133000September 23, 2005
SEATS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONSUMER STATES THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS A FEATURE THAT HAS A LIGHT THAT COMES ON IF THE PERSON IN THE SEAT IS LESS THAN 90 POUNDS, STATING THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SEAT WAS SENT TO HOUSTON, AND IT WAS RECALIBRATED. THE SEAT WAS DOING THE SAME THING, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP TALKED TO A KIA REPRESENTATIVE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130380July 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER WILL OCCASIONALLY QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WILL QUIT ALTOGETHER-OTHER TIMES WILL JERK AROUND-DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128142July 8, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONSUMER'S ATTORNEY STATED THAT DURING A FRONTAL CRASH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A FRONT END COLLISION INTO THREE CEMENT CULVERTS. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING AND HE PASSED AWAY. A LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10126959June 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: CONSUMER HAS FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT #6259431 WITH FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON SAME ISSUE AS STATED IN ODI #10125427. ALSO, CONSUMER SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER KIA MOTORS. MANUFACTURER SAID SOMEONE WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH CONSUMER WITHIN 3 DAYS. IT HAS BEEN 2 WEEKS AND CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD ANYTHING. CONSUMER SAID THAT TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR FOR NO REASON. LAST TIME VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER IT WOULD NOT GO VERY FAST, AND THE ENGINE WAS VERY SLUGGISH. CONSUMER SAID THAT IT WAS LIKE TRYING TO PULL OUT IN A HIGHER GEAR THAN 1ST OR 2ND. GEAR. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE CAR WOULD DOWN SHIFT TO A LOW GEAR AND IT WOULD DROP TO 35 MPH. DEALER INDICATED THAT SOMETHING WAS MAKING THE VEHICLE DROP INTO SAFE MODE, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STAY IN SECOND GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM), REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, AND HAS DONE SOMETHING TO THE GROUNDS. IN FEBRUARY THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION . CURRENTLY THEY REPLACED THE TCM, ADDED A NEW COMPUTER , AND ADJUSTED LINKAGE CABLES FOR TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118969May 13, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION GEAR WILL NOT CHANGE. VEHICLE LOCKED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO LOCK UP AND PRODUCED A BURNING SMELL. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116289April 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
THE GEAR SHIFT SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT STRIKING A PARKED CAR. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS, NO INJURIES HOWEVER. IN OCTOBER OF 2004 THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE AS A TRUCK WAS APPROACHING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CAR DID MOVE BY PUTTING GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRA AS THE DRIVER TRIED ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF THE WAYL. THIS CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD TRANSMISSION, WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114128March 15, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
MY COMPLAINT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL "FAILURE" AS YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT KIA HAS REDESIGNED THE AIRBAG MODULE IN THEIR NEWLY DESIGNED SPECTRA MODEL, AND DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY PLANS FOR RETRO-FITTING THE NEW DESIGN TO SAME MODEL SPECTRAS MANUFACTURED BEFORE JAN 2005. THE NEW DESIGN WAS AN IMPROVEMENT TO ALLOW THE SPECTRA TO RAISE ITS "POOR" OFFSET IIHS FRONTAL CRASH RATING TO SOMETHING BETTER. THE NEW TESTS OF THE REDESIGNED MODULE UPGRADED OFFSET FRONTAL CRASH RESULTS TO "ACCEPTABLE". SMALLER VENTING HOLES IN THE AIRBAG ARE DESCRIBED AS THE PRIMARY CHANGE. IT IS STATED THAT THE TEST CAR WAS INDEED A 2004.5 MODEL RETROFITTED WITH THE NEW AIRBAG MODULE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF KIA COULD RETROFIT AN 2004.5 MODEL AT TO OBTAIN A NEW TEST FROM IIHS, THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER THAT MODULE UPGRADE FREE-OF-CHARGE TO PURCHASERS OF THE 2004.5 AND 2005 MODELS BUILT BEFORE JAN 2005. SEE THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE OF THE SPECIFIC IIHS DETAILS. === IIHS TEST WITH OLD AIRBAG DESIGN RESULTING IN A "POOR" RATING HTTP://WWW.HWYSAFETY.ORG/VEHICLE%5FRATINGS/CE/HTML/0417.HTM === IIHS TEST WITH NEW AIRBAG DESIGN RESULTING IN A "ACCEPTABLE" RATING: HTTP://WWW.HWYSAFETY.ORG/VEHICLE%5FRATINGS/CE/HTML/0502.HTM . *AK ===
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113741March 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
KIA SPECTRA 2004, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111139February 8, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106871January 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105761January 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A LIGHT AND UPON THE LIGHT TURNING GREEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR AND MY TACHOMETER NEEDLE WENT UP TO 4 AND HIGHER UNTIL I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. UPON PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN IT DID THE SAME THING (IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC) AND I HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND BACK INTO DRIVE. MY KIA STILL DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT SO I PUT IT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN AND PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO REV THE RPMS AND THEN PUT BACK INTO DRIVE AND IT DROVE OK. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR AND THE KIA DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN UNPREDICTABLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101465November 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099734November 10, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099828November 5, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
FRONT AIR BAG LIGHT DOESN'T CONSISTENTLY TURN ON WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT APPROXIMATELY 125 POUNDS. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER ARE BOTH UNDERWEIGHT TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. *TC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101053November 5, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2004 KIA SPECTRA EX EXPERIENCED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT PROBLEMS. PERSON IN PASSENGER SEAT SYSTEM NOT RECOGNIZING THEM. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THE MECHANIC COULD DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT CONSISTENTLY TURN ON WHEN INDIVIDUALS WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Spectra