Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10573619March 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROLLED FORWARD SEVERAL YARDS IN PARKING LOT ON VERY SLIGHT GRADE THOUGH TRANSMISSION WAS IN "PARK," ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, IGNITION WAS TURNED TO "OFF," IGNITION KEY REMOVED, AND ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO PARKING SPACE AND WAS LAST IN "DRIVE" BEFORE BEING SHUT OFF. VISUAL INSPECTION OF SHIFTER CABLE INDICATED CORRECT INSTALLATION AND NO APPARENT DEFECT. PAWL APPEARED TO BE ENGAGING NORMALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10569071March 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
ON JANUARY 31, 2014, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS AT FAULT. THE AIR BAGS IN MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA DID NOT DEPLOY! THE POLICE OFFICER ALSO DOCUMENTED THIS IN THE POLICE REPORT. I CONTACTED KIA ON FEBRUARY 1, 2014 WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE POLICE REPORT. IT IS NOW MARCH 13, 2014 AND THEY HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE OTHER KIA SPECTRA OWNERS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL ABOUT THE AIR BAGS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10568122March 10, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP THAT CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A TREE. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568029March 9, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH CLUSTER AND THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WILL SOME TIMES COME ON AND AT OTHER TIMES WILL NOT, WITH A 200 POUND ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $100 TO CHECK THE CODE. THE CODE INDICATES B1448 OCS FAILURE - MAT SENSOR. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS ONLY A FIVE YEAR 60,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS. PROBLEM IS YOU CAN NOT REPLACE JUST THE PART, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE COMPLETE SEAT BOTTOM AT A COST OF $800 - $2,000 DEPENDING ON THE DEALERSHIP THAT YOU SPEAK WITH. THIS IS A LARGE COST TO REPLACE EVERY 3 - 6 YEARS (DEPENDING ON AGE AND MILEAGE). KIA AND HYUNDAI HAVE HAD RECALLS BEFORE FOR THE SAME AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN OTHER VEHICLES BUT REFUSE TO RECALL THE PART IN THE SPECTRA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566514February 28, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH REQUIRED THE BATTERY TO BE RECHARGED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565861February 25, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,921.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564781February 18, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS A STAYING ON. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD HAVE THEM DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IF THERE IN A ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ MANY POST ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH KIA'S AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON SUCH SAFETY COMPONENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564527February 15, 2014
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK, I NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CAR, THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED AND THEN REAPPEARED. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED IT TO BE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANT MAT FAILURE. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT AT A COST OF $1,900 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I'M SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON BEHALF OF KIA MOTOR CORPORATION. THIS LEAVES MANY PEOPLE WITH A DECISION TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT AT AN EXORBITANT PRICE OR TO DO NOTHING AND DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR. THE PRICE OF ONE CAR SEAT IS NEARLY HALF THE VALUE OF THE ENTIRE RESALE VALUE OF THE CAR. KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IF THEY WANT REPEAT CUSTOMERS IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564535February 15, 2014
STRUCTURE
WHILE PULLING MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I DROVE FORWARD AT A LOW SPEED AND HEARD A SWOOSHING SOUND OF WATER FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE GLOVE BOX AREA. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE SOUND BECAME WORSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED IT TO BE A CLOGGED DRAIN HOSE FOR THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND REPAIR/REPLACE DRAIN HOSE AT A COST OF $900 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I'M SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON BEHALF OF KIA MOTOR CORPORATION. KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IF THEY WANT REPEAT CUSTOMERS IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563941February 12, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A KIA SPECTRA 2006 WHICH I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. THIS ISSUE BEGAN ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD OVER 100,000 MILES IN MY VEHICLE. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BURN SO OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562531February 1, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS
MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA A FRIEND GETTING IN THE REAR SEAT TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE-OFF. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER THE FRONT INSIDE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR HANDLE STOP WORKING. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER ON JAN-31-2014 THE FRONT OUT-SIDE DRIVERS-SIDE HANDLE BROKE-OFF. NOW NO WAY TO WITH NO WAY TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WITH THREE HANDLES BROKEN THERE MUST BE A RECALL ON THESE HANDLE. IF THERE IS NOT A RECALL, THERE SHOULD BE ONE. OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS, CAM-SHAFT SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE AIR-BAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS CAR IS JUNK, KIA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF BUILDING IT AND SELLING IT FOR $16,000 TO $17,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562085January 29, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. BOTH THE MANUFACTURE AND THE DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 MILES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561866January 28, 2014
AIR BAGS
2008 KIA SPECTRA EX W/ 38,125 MILES ON IT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND AFTER READING ALL THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY COMPLAINTS, 1. I WILL SUE THE CRAP OUT OF YOU RIP OFFS IF MY BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY 2. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AS LONG AS I LIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561224January 23, 2014
AIR BAGS
RECENTLY, IN OCTOBER 2013 AT 75,217 MILES, I HAD IT SERVICED DUE TO AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE. THE LIGHT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANT MAT CUSHION. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR INVOLVING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT ITSELF. THE COST OF WHICH WAS $1,717.11 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. BOTH MY MECHANIC AND I WERE SHOCKED THAT THE SEAT ITSELF COST $1,330.80 AND WAS ONLY MANUFACTURED BY KIA, THUS ELIMINATING THE OPTION TO SHOP AROUND TO SEEK THE BEST PRICE. MY SPECTRA WAS OUTSIDE WARRANTY DUE TO ITS MILEAGE SO THE EXPENSE WOULD FALL TO ME. I'VE BEEN SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED NOTING THIS EXACT SAME SAFETY PROBLEM, YET NO RECALL WAS ISSUED LEAVING MANY SPECTRA OWNERS WITH THE CHOICE I HAD TO MAKE: DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE OR PAY A VERY LARGE REPAIR BILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559013January 8, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DOORS LOCK AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME. THE LOCKS ALSO LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558034December 31, 2013
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE HEAT BLOWER WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE HEAT BLOWER WAS INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAT BLOWER WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557669December 30, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STRAPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 231,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556219December 16, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE TURNED ON? IT GOES ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY, DEALERSHIP WANTS UNREASONABLE REPAIR COST FOR SUCH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN ELECTRICAL WARNING SYSTEM. A RECALL TO REPAIR SHOULD BE ISSUED. KIA CUSTOMERS ARE RAISING THIS ISSUE AND WE ARE NOT BEING HEARD? DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR A TRAGIC INCIDENT TO HAVE YOUR ORGANIZATION DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555553December 11, 2013
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE HEATER TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554807December 4, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT ABOUT 40MPH. I BRAKED WHILE PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF. RPMS INCREASED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS TRYING TO GET BACK UP TO SPEED. I COULDN'T TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY EITHER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL FINALLY SHUT ITSELF OFF. NOW CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I THINK THE FUSE BURNED OUT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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