Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10088429August 23, 2004
PARKING BRAKE
BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND FEEL LOW, CAR TOOK TIME TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BRAKE AT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH .STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT NOISE AT THE MOMENT. ON AUGUST 2000 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE WEATHERSTRIP JUST FEW INSIDE THE CAR AND IT LOOKS JUST LI A SNAKE AND I ALMOST CRASH. THE CAR HAD 1729 MILEAGE.FOLOWING WEEK THE REAR DOOR WINDSHIELD TRIM CAME OFF.THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WON'T WORK BECAUSE OF A CUT WIRE.EVERYTHING IN THIS CAR IS FALLING APART.I DIDN'T EXPECT A NEW CAR TO BE LIKE THAT.I FEEL SO UNSAFE IN THIS CAR SPECIALLY THE SMOKE THAT COMING FROM UNDER MY STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES.PLEAS HELP ME BEFOE I GET KILLED IN THIS UNSAFE CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088246August 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT THE END OF JULY 2004 MY KIA SPECTRA BEGAN TO ACT AS IF THE CAR WAS CHOKING AND NOT GOING TO START AFTER I TURNED ON THE IGNITION OF THE CAR. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR ONLY DID THIS AFTER IT HAD SAT FOR A WHILE (LIKE OVER NIGHT). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT A YEAR EARLIER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY THING WRONG WITH THE CAR IT WAS ACTING NORMAL. IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN WHY IS IT JUST NOW STARTING TO ACT LIKE THIS AND IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME. IF YOU ASK ME I THINK THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHILE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I BET IF I WHERE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AFTER MY WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT THEN THEY WOULD FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. GUESS WHAT FARRELL KIA OF SPARTANBURG I ONLY HAVE 11,500 MILES ON THIS 2002 KIA SPECTRA. BY THE WAY THE CAR IS STILL ACTING LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO TURN OFF OR CHOKING WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR SOMETIMES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089399August 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
SIX MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT EXPERIENCED IGNITION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION. DASHBOARD COMPONENT LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER. THE MAIN COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPUTER CHIP THE FAILURE OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN WHICH THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED A LOOSE IGNITION WIRE, REPLACED THE BATTERY, AND SERVICED A BAD CONNECTION IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS SAME ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067396August 20, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 13,500 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086219August 5, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ALL, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY USUAL CITY SPEED, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP GAINING SPEED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IN STOP-AND-GO TYPE TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY ROUGH, "CHOPPY" AND GEARS SLIP OFTEN. HE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL ALSO LOCK PERMANENTLY, WITH ONLY A REPLACEMENT FIXING THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087213August 4, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AIR BAG SENSOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SENSOR. THEREFORE, MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ENGINEER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO, STATED THAT IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083062July 31, 2004
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 2 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON IN HIS CAR SEAT IN BACK. HE WAS DRIVING APROX 50 MPH. HE WAS IN A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A WARRANTY UP TO 60000 MILES. WE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED THE CAR OFF. THEY SAID WE DID SOMETHING WRONG IE HIT SOMETHING THREW SOMETHING ECT. THEY CLAIMED THE FOUND A PEBBLE ON THE BACK LID (WE SEARCHED THE CAR) THE PEBBLE HAD THE SAME EPOXY FOUND ON THIER SHOP FLOOR. THEY DID NOT REPLACE NOR TAKE BLAME. WE WERE BLOWN OFF. AND SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PEBBLE TO FLY BACKWARDS INTO A REAR WINDOW AND SHATTER IT. THERE ARE NO OVER PASSES OR ANYTHING IN THAT AREA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10082658July 26, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
I HAVE OWNED MY 2002 SPECTRA SINCE NOV. 2001. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR UP IN THE MORNINGS THE CAR WILL STALL OUT AND THEN WHEN I GO TO RE-START THE CAR IT WILL FINALLY START THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THEY HAVE STATED TO ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOP OVER 7 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS PROBLEMS; THE STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE RECALL ON THE GAS LINE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN OUT OF IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082086July 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE IS CHANGING GEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080996July 13, 2004
SEATS, AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION CAUSING MY CAR TO BE SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE. I HAVE RECEIVED A LOWER BACK INJURY, SHOULDER AND ARM INJURY, AND HEAD INJURY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, SO THERE ARE NO REPAIRS TO BE DONE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THROUGH SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND OTHERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, (SEAT BACK FAILURE) AND I DO KNOW THERE IS A SUIT PENDING IN THE STATE OF FL. I AM SURE THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE, ( SINCE THERE IS A SUIT PENDING) YET THEY HAVE NOT MADE STRIDES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10080079June 28, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE COMING AROUND A BEND INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE'S REAR END COMMENCED TO JERK/PULL, AND REAR END HIT A SIGN. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS STILL UNDETERMINED. NEITHER DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078880June 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(1)BRAKES FEEL INSUFFICIENT UNTIL PRESSED VERY HARD (2) 2 ACCIDENTS WHERE I AS THE DRIVER REAR ENDED DRIVERS (3) COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO SHOLZ KIA WHEN I WENT TO HAVE ORVR RECALL TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY STATED THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL FOR THE MODEL. ALSO: (1)OCCASIONALLY WHEN VEHICLE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN REVERSE (2) THE CAR DRIVES FORWARD (3) I CALLED SHOLZ KIA AND CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH-KIA OR PARAMUS AND WAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079960June 25, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED ENGINE MADE A TAPPING NOISE BECAUSE OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE ENGINE MOTOR SEAL. A FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS MODEL VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075853June 8, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING BELT FAILED AT 15,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED THE PART. HOWEVER, CONSUME R NOTICED THAT THE PART NUMBER WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL. CONSUMER WAS WILLING TO SEND FAILURE PART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075744June 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. DEALER STATED ROTORS WERE WARPED AT 15,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073299May 28, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
MY DAUGHTER, WHOM IS 7, WENT IN THE TRUNK TO RETRIEVE SOME BELONGINGS AND THE TRUNK CLOSED ON HER. SHE DID EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS TAUGHT AND PULLED THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE. THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY (THE BALL AT THE END OF THE CABLE DISENGAGED FROM THE LATCH) AND MY CHILD WAS LOCKED IN THE TRUNK FOR 20 MIN. SHE STRUGGLED SO HARD TO GET OUT THAT SHE HAD CUTS ON HER HANDS AND FEET. I THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY KIA SPECTRA 2003 INSPECTED. THE SERVICE TEC. STATED TO ME THAT IS WAS MOST DEFINITELY A PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS THAT WAY ON ALL 2003 KIA SPECTRAS. HE WOULD THEN TELL ALL THE APPROPRIATE HIGHER UPS ABOUT PROBLEM. I WAS CONTACTED A WEEK OR SO LATER AND A KIA SPOKES PERSON STATED TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ETR AND THAT CHILDREN SHOULD NOT PLAY IN CARS. HE TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW TERRIFIED OF THE CAR AND WANTS TO GET A VAN SO THIS WONT HAPPEN AGAIN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10072691May 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE DROPS SERIOUS POWER WHEN THE AC AND RADIO ARE ON. IF I TRY ROLLING WINDOWS DOWN WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT WITH THE AC AND RADIO ON, LOSE MORE POWER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073571May 13, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET IT SUDDENLY DISENGAGES BY ITSELF. WHEN THIS OCCURS VEHICLE DECELERATES TO A LOW SPEED. THEN, WITHOUT WARNING CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES AT THE SPEED IT WAS PREVIOUSLY SET. DEALERSHIP REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL MODULE, AND REPAIRED THE WIRING AT THE HARNESS TO THE PIN CONNECTOR BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE. HOWEVER, FAILURE RECURRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065749April 8, 2004
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BOTH HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT. AT APPROX. 17,000 MILES THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. REPLACED WITH STANDARD BULB. AT APPROX. 22,000 MILES, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BLEW OUT. REPLACED BOTH LOWBEAM HEADLIGHTS AT THAT TIME WITH SYLVANIA H7 CB COOL BLUE REPLACEMENTS AS PER LOCAL DEALER RECOMMENDATION. NOW THREE MONTHS LATER AT APPROX. 27,000 MILES, THE DRIVERSIDE HEADLIGHT HAS BURNED OUT AGAIN. THESE WERE ALL PUT IN BY A MECHANIC AND THE BULB WAS NEVER TOUCHED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064274March 31, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS LETTER IS BEING WRITTEN AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT (CASE # FHPH040FF003275) INVOLVING MY 2003 KIA SPECTRA GSX AND ANOTHER VEHICLE ON MARCH 6, 2004.*AK THE CRUISE CONTROL CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL ABOUT 1:00PM ON INTERSTATE 10 WHEN I WAS IN THE SLOW LANE AND DRIVING AT 70 MPH (SPEED LIMIT) WITH THE CRUISE ON. I WAS SLOWLY CATCHING UP TO TWO TRUCKS IN MY LANE, WHEN THE REAR TRUCK STARTED TO PASS THE SLOWER TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS CATCHING UP TO ME AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PASSING TRUCK PULLED INTO THE PASSING LANE. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO SLOW DOWN SO I PRESSED DOWN ON THE COAST SET BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL, FOUR OR FIVE TIMES AND MY KIA SLOWED DOWN TO 65 MPH. THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN TO LET THE PASSING TRUCK IN THE FAST LANE GET BY. I PRESSED THE SAME COAST SET BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL FOUR OR FIVE TIMES TO SLOW THE KIA AND NOTHING HAPPENING. THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE KIA CONTINUED ITS SPEED OF 65 MPH. I THEN PRESSED THE SAME COAST SET BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KIA INCREASED SPEED. I PRESSED THE CANCEL BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KIA INCREASED SPEED. I STEPPED ON THE BREAK AND THE KIA CRUISE CONTROL DIDNT DISCONNECT. I PRESSED DOWN THE CLUTCH AND STEPPED ON THE BREAK THREE TIMES AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDNT OR WOULDNT DISCONNECT. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE COAST SET, CANCEL, AND RES ACCEL BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND PRESSED CANCEL A NUMBER OF TIMES. EVERY TIME I PRESSED THE CANCEL BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR ACCELERATED BUT NOW I WAS OUT OF ROOM AND TIME. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING LITTLE DAMAGE TO THEIRS, RUBBED THEIR BUMPER BUT A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MINE, $1500 - $2000. WHEN OUR TWO VEHICLES COLLIDED THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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