Kia Spectra Complaints (2008)

121 consumer complaints on file.

#10373285December 29, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SAME SENSOR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MOTOR SHOOK, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME VERY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 232 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. UPDATED 04-05-13 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365479November 12, 2010
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SHOWS "OFF' WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE IS 5 FT. EVEN, AND WEIGHS OVER 135 LBS. BUT THE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF FOR HER. I TRIED IT (I WEIGH AROUND 200) AND IT WENT OFF. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348663August 11, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
INTENTIONALLY T-BONED AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345241July 26, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
KIA VEHICLES,FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE, MFG BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR THIS, IT IS DUE TO TANK OVER FILL, WHEN FUEL IS UP INTO FILL NECK IT PUTS TO MUCH FUEL IN TANK AND INTURN FLOODING SOME FUEL CANISTER OF THE SYSTEM AND THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DIE, A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW, I HAVE HAD THREE STALL OUTS, THE THIRD ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT I WAS PULLING INTO HEAVY FLOW OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR UP AND DIED, MFG SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT FROM A MECHANICAL STAND POINT CAUSE IT MEETS GOV-SPECS, CUSTOMER MUST NOT ALLOW THE TANK TO BE OVER FILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336796June 17, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ENGAGING THE INTERIOR HEAT, THE DEFROSTER WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE COMPRESSOR HAD FAILED AN ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328293April 30, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1. THE CHECK LIGHT ON KIA SPECTRA 2008 REMAINED ON STARTUP. 2. TOOK THE CAR TO DON BEYER KIA IN FALLS CHURCH, VA. THEY ORDERED A PART 31435-1EA00 SENSOR - FUEL AND INSTALLED IT. 3. NOW CANNOT PUT FUEL IN GAS TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319893March 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. A LOUD CLICKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER EXAMINING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND FINDING NO SIGNS OF A FIRE OR SMOKE THE CONTACT RE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317801March 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER OFFERED THE CONTACT A NEW VEHICLE INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THE ONE HE OWNS; HOWEVER, THE NEWER MODELS EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,126.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311593February 17, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT RELEASE WITHOUT THE KEY (FROM THE INTERIOR BUTTON OR THE REMOTE). EVERY TIME THE WEATHER GETS BELOW FREEZING THE TRUNK RELEASE BRAKES AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305803February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE WHEN THERE ARE THREE ADULTS IN VEHICLE. EITHER WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR DRY, WARM OR COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299731January 14, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON JANUARY 4TH 2010 AT 4:30AM ANOTHER DRIVER PUSHED ME OFF THE ROAD. AND MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA FLEW UP A HILL HIT TWO TREES AT FULL SPEED THEN WITH FULL FORCE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. WHEN MY CAR HIT THE LITTLE HILL ONLY MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED HOW EVER I WAS STILL GOING ABOUT 49 MPH. DURING THIS TIME OF HITTING TREES SOME HOW MY SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. AFTER MY STAY IN THE HOSPITAL I WENT TO SEE THE CAR AND NONE AND I MEAN NONE OF MY SIDE AIR BAG HAD GONE OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE BACK OF MY CAR WENT AROUND A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE REAR AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE AIR BAGS IN MY SEAT DID NOT GO OFF I HAVE PERMANENT SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS. ALL AND ALL THESE KIA SPECTRA''S AND ALL KIA'S SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD IN 2008 I WAS IN A CAR WRECK AT MY FAULT AT 40 MPH AND MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10286223October 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH CAR OR BATTERY NOTICED WHATSOEVER UPON ENTERING AND STARTING THE VEHICLE.. THE COMPLAINT INCIDENCE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING APPROX 2 BLOCKS AND PARKING AND TURNING OFF CAR AND UPON GETTING OUT OF CAR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE CORNER OF HOOD. SINCE THERE WAS A BABY IN THE CAR FIRST ACTION WAS TO REMOVE CHILD TO SAFE AREA AND CALLED 911. WITHIN APPROX 5 MINUTES MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE POURING FROM HOOD CRACKS. BYSTANDERS ATTEMPTED TO OPEN HOOD AND SPRAY WITH BORROWED FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT COULD NOT OPEN HOOD. WHEN FIRETRUCK ARRIVED THEY COULD NOT GET HOOD OPEN EITHER AND HAD TO PRY IT OPEN AT WHICH POINT FLAMES ERUPTED BUT WERE THEN QUICKLY PUT OUT BY FIRE DEPARTMENT (GOLDSBORO NC CAR FIRE AT TJ MAXX STORE ON SEPT 28, 2009) FIRE DETERMINED TO HAVE STARTED IN BATTERY/FUSE BOX AREA - FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL BUT CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO EXTREME AMOUNT OF DAMAGE RESULTING FROM FIRE IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING OR SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS INCIDENCE. NOTHING WAS POSSIBLE TO BE DONE TO "CORRECT" THE PROBLEM EXCEPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS CHARRED AND THE CAR TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRANGED TO HAVE CAR TOWED FROM PARKING LOT WHERE FIRE OCCURRED TO LOT WHERE FINAL INSPECTION MADE. LUCKILY, CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOWED FOR ALMOST IMMEDIATE AWARENESS OF FIRE OCCURRING AND THAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE IN A SAFE PLACE WITH COMMUNICATION AVAILABLE. IF CIRCUMSTANCES HAD BEEN DIFFERENT, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285466September 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT NO LONGER HAD POWER AND THAT NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED, TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278268July 25, 2009
AIR BAGS
'08 KIA SPECTRA HIT ACROSS RIGHT FRONT & SLAMMED IN RIGHT QUARTER PANEL. VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 6 AIR BAGS...NON OF WHICH DEPLOYED. WIFE SUFFERED FRACTURES TO ALL HER RIBS & STERNUM AND A BROKEN LEFT ARM. NINE DAYS IN SHOCK TRAUMA IN BALTIMORE, TWO WEEKS IN REHAB HOSPITAL AND NOW GETTING REHAB HELP AT HOME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277305July 18, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON OUR 2008 KIA SPECTRA THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MEANS THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277306July 18, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN THE AUTO SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS IS ON SOMETIMES THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS REMOVED. WE OFTEN HAVE TO GET BACK IN THE CAR, INSERT/REMOVE THE KEY, THEN OPEN/CLOSE THE DOOR TO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. ONCE, DURING THE DAY WE FAILED TO NOTICE THE LIGHT ON AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264069April 3, 2009
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHEN AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER TESTED THE AIR BAG SENSOR BY PLACING A 200 LBS. MECHANIC IN THE SEAT. THE INDICATOR DIMMED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS FINE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. KIA REPLACED THE AIR BAG COMPUTER, SENSOR, AND SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE LABELED AS DEFECTIVE AND AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INAPPROPRIATELY. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DEER AND ANOTHER CRASH OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AND IS CURRENTLY AT AN AUTO BODY SHOP WAITING TO BE APPRAISED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 10,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10260020February 26, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
2008 KIA SPECTRA, THE PARKING LIGHTS COME ON BY THEIR SELF WHEN ITS AROUND 20* OUTSIDE AND WHEN ITS AROUND 80* OUTSIDE THE ALARM WANT SET THE LIGHTS JUST BLANK ON AND OFF. ALSO I HAVE A REALLY BAD RATTLE COMES FROM THE AIR BAGS SO IT SOUND IN THE DASH AND DRIVERS SIDE POST AIR BAG. HAVE TOOK THE CAR IN 3 TIMES AND A WEEK PER TIME, AND SO FAR NOTHING AS BEEN FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258778February 16, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PARKING LIGHTS SOMETIMES TURN ON SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER REMOVING KEYS AND EXITING CAR, THIS CAR HAS AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, THE SWITCH CAN BE TURNED OFF IF DESIRED, UNLIKE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE 2 IDENTICAL CARS AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. DEALER CHECKED CAR OUT AND TOLD US THERE ARE NO OTHER REPORTS AND THAT WE ARE OPENING THE CAR DOOR BEFORE TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH I WAS SURE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, WE TOOK THE ADVICE AND DID AS WE WERE INSTRUCTED. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM RETURNED,THIS TIME NOT CAUGHT FOR 15 HOURS, RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION AND TOLD US THAT MOST PEOPLE TURN THE SWITCH OFF ANYWAY, BUT THIS DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITH EACH CAR BEFORE WE LEFT THE SWITCH OFF, NEITHER OF US USE THE LIGHTS DURING THE DAY ANY LONGER BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249105November 18, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DOES NOT DIM WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE SENDING A RE-CALIPER SWITCH TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR. TWO WEEKS LATER, NO ONE HAS CALLED THE CONTACT REGARDING THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 12/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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