Kia Spectra Complaints (2008)

121 consumer complaints on file.

#10763364September 13, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761732September 4, 2015
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD SOMETIMES WORK ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, OR WHILE THEY SHIFTED IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT THAT SAYS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF WOULD STAY ON (MEANING THE SENSOR WOULD NOT DETECT SOMEONE IN THE SEAT) AND THE RED ERROR LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD STAY ON. NOW THE SENSOR DOES NOT WORK AT ALL (AND HAS NOT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS). THIS WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND ASKING MY MECHANIC SAID I SHOULD TAKE IT TO AN UPHOLSTERER TO GET IT FIXED. THE ISSUE STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO THE ESTIMATED COST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10750044August 20, 2015
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
INTERMITTINGLY, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGINS REVVING. INTERMITTINGLY, WHILE SLOWING & STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ENGINE BEGINS REVVING AND ATTEMPTS TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BREAK VERY HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. FRED ANDERSON KIA, RALEIGH, NC INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM ON 7/10/15 BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY RE-CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED ON AND OFF SINCE THEN. ON 8/20/15, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT & THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING DRAMATICALLY & THE CAR JERKED NOTICEABLY AS IT WENT INTO GEAR. I BACKED INTO THE SPOT & PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AGAIN JERKING. I LET THE CAR IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES & MOVED IT IN & OUT OF GEAR. THE REVVING WORSENED, THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO LURCH FORWARD EVEN WITH BOTH THE BREAK & EMERGENCY BREAK & CONTINUED JERKING WITH EVERY GEAR CHANGE. I HAVE AN APPT. ON 8/21/15 WITH FRED ANDERSON KIA TO INVESTIGATE. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AS I HAVE SEEN AN INDICATION OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER KIA VEHICLES ON THIS SITE & OTHER SITES. IT SEEMS AS IF KIA IS NOT RESOLVING THE ISSUE AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749226August 17, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,500. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER FROM THE CONSUMER'S LAWYER, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ARISING UNDER THE DASHBOARD, APPARENTLY FROM THE BLOWER/VENTILATION SYSTEM. UPDATED 09/14/15. *JB MA 10/5 STATUS UPDATED 11/19/15.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY LIABILITY. THEY BLAMED THE FIRE ON A PAST INCIDENT, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH TOO MUCH OIL. UPDATED 04/25/16.*JB *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10723379June 4, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON BOTH ARMS AND RIGHT HAND FROM CHEMICALS USED IN THE AIR BAGS. THE FRONT PASSENGER ALSO SUFFERED AN INJURED RIGHT HAND AND SHOULDER FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10723276June 3, 2015
AIR BAGS
I WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN A PASSENGER TRUCK TURNED ILLEGALLY IN FRONT OF ME FROM THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS WOULD THINK IT SHOULD AT THAT SPEED. FORTUNATELY, MY SEAT BELT PREVENTED ME FROM GETTING A MORE SERIOUS INJURY. I DID RECEIVE A SEVERE BRUISE THAT TOOK MONTHS TO DISAPPEAR AND AGGRAVATED AN EXISTING BACK CONDITION. PERHAPS IT IS JUST AS WELL OR BETTER THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE AIRBAG MAY HAVE GIVEN ME A MORE SERIOUS INJURY. FORTUNATELY, I HAD NO PASSENGER AND THE OTHER PERSON IN THE TRUCK DID NOT GET HURT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I AM THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I AM ALIVE TODAY....UPDATED 12/10/15 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10717725May 21, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER SAIID IF WOULD COST A $100 TO TELL YOU WHAT WAS WRONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716313May 13, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10713606April 29, 2015
STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, MARCH 2013 AND THE CAR DIED WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS AT A RED LIGHT IN MAY 2014 AND THE CAR DIED AT THE STOP LIGHT. FOR THOSE TWO INCIDENTS THE KIA DEALERSHIP INDICATED AN ISSUE WITH THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. NOW, I HAVE A THIRD INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED APRIL 25, 2015, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN STREET. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 BUSINESS DAYS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE CAR IS STOPPING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. THESE INCIDENTS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE HOWEVER; THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE. I AM SHARING THIS INFORMATION JUST IN CASE OTHER DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713104April 27, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT APPEARS TO BE FAILING, SIMILAR TO OTHER KIA MODELS. THE LIGHT INDICATING THE AIRBAG IS OFF IS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705387April 13, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE SENSOR LIGHT TURNED ON AND DISABLED AIRBAGS. WE TOOK IT TO THE ALL STAR KIA IN BATON ROUGE OFF OF SIEGEN LANE. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD BE 1549. TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED CORPORATE OFFICE SPOKE TO [XXX] , HE TOLD ME HE WOULD SEND THE CASE TO REGIONAL OFFICE SINCE I WANTED THEM TO PAY FOR IT. THREE DAYS LATER [XXX] CALLED ME AND SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF OF THE COST, WE DECLINED HE SAID HE WOULD THEN SEND IT TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE. I REMINDED HIM HE HAD SAID THAT THREE DAYS AGO. FINALLY I REACH A [XXX] IN REGIONAL WHO WAS NOT VERY PLEASANT AND SHE SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, SO THEY COULD NOT PAY FOR IT. I TOLD HER I WOULD NOT LET THIS GO. TODAY 4-13-15 SHE CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE ON MY PHONE SAYING THAT THE DEALER WOULD PAY HALF OF THE COST AND THAT I HAD 30 DAYS TO ACCEPT. I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY CONSUMERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM SAME MODEL CAR. THEY RECALLED 146,000 THOUSAND OTHER CARS DIFFERENT MODELS AND YEARS FOR THE SAME THING. JUST WANT THEM TO BE HONEST AND DO THE RIGHT THING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703863April 6, 2015
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. AT 140,000 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE, I AM NOW AT 158,000. I HAVE READ WHERE THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO DO SO. . .UPDATED 07/21/15 *BF UPDATED 9/23/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693582March 11, 2015
SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN UPDATED 9/28/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10684236February 19, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY GOING 45 MPH ON A RURAL STREET USING MY CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I WAS COMING UP TO THE STOP, I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE RAN FASTER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (THE ENGINE RPMS RED-LINED), AND TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP, AND TESTED THE PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT DISENGAGING WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CHECKED THE BRAKE LIGHTS, AND THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT SWITCH AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WITH THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. IF I HAD NOT APPLIED THE BRAKES FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE, I AM CERTAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BUSY INTERSECTION AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681321February 4, 2015
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG MAT SENSOR FAILED.SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON UNFORTUNATELY. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS OF YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676937January 21, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR LATCH FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10677080January 21, 2015
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NOT ON LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, KIA DOES NOT SELL JUST THE SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. KIA HAS NO RECALL FOR THE DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT/SENSOR COMBINATION FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL ALTHOUGH IT DOES FOR OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR AND PROBLEM. KIA SHOULD HAVE AN AIRBAG SEAT/SENSOR RECALL. *TR ...UPDATED 07/13/16 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10673071January 16, 2015
AIR BAGS
I OWN A 2008 KIA SPECTRA AND HAVE HAD AIR BAG SYSTEM ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OCS MAT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO,I HAD THE SEAT REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU CAN NOT CHANGE OUT THE MAT ITSELF. THIS CLEARED UP THE ISSUE AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WORKED FINE. FOR A WHILE. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN WITH AN ADULT MALE SITTING IN THE SEAT IT SAYS THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED. IF YOU PUSH ON THE SEAT TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE SEAT BOTTOM WHILE SITTING IN THE SEAT, THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE. WHEN YOU STOP PUSHING ON THE SEAM THE SYSTEM DEACTIVATES. I SPOKE WITH KIA DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE ITEM. YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW SEAT BOTTOM FROM THEM AT A COST OF $1397.45 PARTS ONLY. THE PARTS ARE ONLY COVERED UNDER A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE( ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP ) WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND ALL OTHERS THAT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE OCS MAT? THEY SEEM TO BE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY FOR A PART THAT THEY KNOW AND HAVE CONFIRMED AS BEING DEFECTIVE AT THE COST AND SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654522November 12, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/22/14*LJ UPDATED 9/05/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652527November 4, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I DRIVE A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ROUGHLY 4 YRS. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH MY CAR CONTINUES TO STALL. THIS OCCURS GENERALLY WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP AND TURNING. THE DASH LIGHTS WILL ALL COME ON AND MY WHEEL LOCKS UP IN THE DIRECTION I WAS TURNING. WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON, THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF, BUT MY RPM'S REV UP TO A MINIMUM OF 3. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO AUTO MECHANICS. THEY HAVE CHANGED A FUEL TEMP. SENSOR AND SWITCHED OUT ALL MY SPARK PLUGS. BOTH MECHANICS HAVE PLUGGED THE VEHICLE UP TO THE MACHINE AND IT READS CLEAR. THEY CANNOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE VEHICLE ACTS UP RANDOMLY, THEY ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WHEN IT'S IN THEIR POSSESSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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