Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#11002080June 29, 2017
POWER TRAIN
MY CAR HAS APPROX 145000 MILES. DRIVES GREAT EXCEPT FOR IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR YOU CAN BE DRIVING 5 MPH OR 60 MPH THE CAR WILL JERK HARD...FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC'S SAY THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THEY HAVE FIXED NUMEROUS ITEMS ON 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH THE TRANSMISSION; FLUSHED, WELDED, ETC . MECHANIC SAID THAT AFTER GOOGLING PROBLEM THAT MAY BE A COMPUTER DOWNLOAD THAT IS NEEDED. AS STATED ABOVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2007 THRU 2011 KIA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992266May 30, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT SWERVED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER TRYING TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM LACERATIONS TO THE TOP OF THE HEAD THAT REQUIRED SIX STAPLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10979055April 18, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AREA AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE HEAD, A BRUISED LEFT SHOULDER, BRUISED RIBS, AND BLEEDING FROM THE BREAST, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10966367March 16, 2017
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT ON MY KIA SPECTRA 2009 LOCKS UP ONCE IN A WHILE SO I CANNOT PUT MY SEATBELT ON. IT WILL LOCK NO MATTER IF I'M PULLING SLOWLY OR FAST. I AM NOT STEPPING ON THE BREAK WHEN IT LOCKS. THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY WHEN IT LOCKS. THIS HAPPENS 5 TIMES OUT OF 10 WHEN I AM IN THE CAR. IT IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10960134March 11, 2017
STEERING
STEERING IS LOCKED AND CANNOT BE ROTATED IN THE MORNING WHEN STARTED. IT HAPPENED TWICE FROM LAST DAYS WHILE I'M REMOVING CAR OUT OF GARAGE IN REVERSE MODE. I APPLIED BRAKES AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE STEERING AGAIN THEN IT WORKED WELL. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM WON'T COME WHEN I WAS ON FREEWAY. ODO METER IS AROUND 140000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10950009February 7, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE WILL STALL AFTER GAS TANK IS FILLED. GAS FUMES CAN BE SMELLED. CAR CAN STALL WHILE IDLING OR AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WHEN IT STALLS POWER STEERING IS LOST, POSING A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. THE KIA DEALERSHIP TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS MY FAULT - THAT I OVER FILLED THE GAS TANK. FROM 30 OTHER REPORTS I FOUND ON LINE, THE TANK ORVR IS NOT SEALING COMPLETELY AND IT ALLOWS FUEL TO SEEP INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND VACUUMED ALL THE WYA TO THE INTAKE VIA THE PURGE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE. DEALERSHIP'S THIRD ATTEMPT AT A REPAIR INCLUDES: REPLACING FUEL TANK, EVAP CANISTER, VENT SOLENOID, PURGE FLOW SOLENOID, AND CANISTER FILTER, WITH PARTS AND LABOR TOTALING OVER $1000. I HAVE EMAILED AND CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS BUT THEY WILL DO NOTHING. HOW CAN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM - A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - AND KIA JUST IGNORES IT. SAYS ALOT ABOUT A COMPANY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10938408December 29, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY IN MY VEHICLE RECENTLY,AFTER REMOVING THE OLD BATTERY I TRIED TO GET THE NEW BATTERY OUT OF THE CAR, WHICH WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE DOORS HAPPENED TO BE LOCKED BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW WAS DOWN. WITH THE BATTERY OUT NONE OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN, I REACHED IN THROUGH THE WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN EITHER. A PERSON COULD EASILY BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CAR IF IT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE BATTERY'S ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WERE DAMAGED, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937685December 27, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS MALFUNCTIONING,GOT LETTER FROM KIA SAYING IT IS UNDER WARRENTY AND DEALER WILL NOT FIX
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934704December 12, 2016
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND STEERING LIGHTS INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. TWO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10928686November 29, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID UNDERNEATH MY CAR ONE DAY AND CHECKED MY LEVEL TO FIND THAT THERE WAS BASICALLY NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. TURNS OUT IT'S THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A TREND AND HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS PREVIOUSLY. THE MECHANIC WAS SURPRISED THAT THIS WAS INDEED THE PROBLEM AFTER CALLING AND THEN GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED. THE LEAK CAME ON SUDDENLY AND WAS FAIRLY SEVER REQUIRING THAT I ADD BRAKE FLUID AFTER EVERY SHORT DRIVE. IF I HADN'T NOTICED THIS PROBLEM I LIKELY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP REAR-ENDING SOMEONE OR WORSE. IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT AMONGST THE 2000-2005 MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10927363November 22, 2016
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON IN MY 2005 KIA SPECTRA EX. THE ERROR CODE SAVED INDICATES THE OCS SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THERE IS AN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (PE15031) FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND MODEL CAR BUT FOR LATER PRODUCTION YEARS. IT INDICATES THAT THE ISSUE WILL BE REPAIRED FOR UP TO 15 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHY DOES THIS NOT COVER THE 2005 YEAR AS WELL?...UPDATED 04/20/17 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10927161November 21, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG REMAINED ILLUMINATED, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10925278November 9, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THEN IT WENT TO 25 MPH JUMPED TO 45 MPH. AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED AND THEN STARTED AGAIN, I WENT TO TURN LEFT AND IT LIST POWER FOR A SECOND ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE BUT REGAINED POWER AND MOVED ON. I WOULD PARK IN GARAGE AND NEXT DAY WORKING AGAIN. I WOULD PARK IN SUN AT WORK AFTER WORK SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK. NOW SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL I'M AFRAID OF GETTING A TICKET. I AM WORKING WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC THEY SCANNED IT NO CODES RELATING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10925081November 8, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCS MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,144.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10919273October 27, 2016
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL LUGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL LUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ UPDATED 6/28/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10918543October 24, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DEFECTIVE LOCKING SYSTEM ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR. HAD IT REPLACED/REPAIRED IN NOV OF 2014 AND AGAIN NOV OF 2015 AND THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANTED ME TO PAY AGAIN TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM. I SAID NO. ALREADY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR AND IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH 15 MODELS OF KIA VEHICLES FROM 2001-2004 AND MORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10917679October 20, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY SON WAS IN A COLLISION, HE REAR ENDED SOMEONE, THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE IN TOTALLY CAVED IN AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10916790October 18, 2016
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED WHEN PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10916209October 15, 2016
ENGINE
ON 9/19/2016 I WAS DRIVING ON THE 91 FREEWAY ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HOME, MY CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AND SHUT OFF, I WAS IN THE LEFT (FAST LANE) AND LOST ALL POWER, I PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND HONKED THE HORN AS I STEERED THE CAR TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY CROSSING SEVERAL LANES, LUCKILY I MADE IT WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT, I CALLED FOR THE NEAREST TOW COMPANY TO COME AND TOW MY CAR HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME I OPENED THE HOOD AND SEEN THE CRANKSHAFT CAME THROUGH THE PLASTIC...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10915748October 13, 2016
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON NOW ON MY DASH NEAR MY SPEEDOMETER. IT ALSO ILLUMINATES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS 'ON' AND 'OFF' WHILE MY HUSBAND IS SITTING THERE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW FOR THE DRIVER'S DASH LIGHT, AND 2 MONTHS FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS, NO ACCIDENTS, AND NOW A LEGALLY REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE APPEARS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THAT IS A HORRIBLE INVESTMENT, AND SHOULD NOT BE LEGALLY OK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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