Kia Spectra Complaints (2005)

103 consumer complaints on file.

#10659763November 20, 2014
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE STOPPED ON A SMALL HILL IN TRAFFIC, I WAS REARENDED BY A FORD TRUCK WHO WAS GOING ABOUT 35MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES TO MY KNEES AND MY NECK. I SEE THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. THERE DEFINITELY IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH. ALSO MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING MY SPEEDOMETER WILL GO TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING OR JUMP TO 100+, IN ADDITION THE RPM GAUGE WILL DO THE SAME. THIS TOO IS ALSO MENTIONED MANY TIMES CLEARLY THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10630859September 4, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR TOTAL RING HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,702.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586688May 5, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY TO CENTER LANE AND THEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. RPMS WOULD FLARE, BUT CAR HAD NO POWER AS IF ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING FUEL. THIS WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED GAS HAD GOTTEN INTO AN EMISSIONS PART IN THE FUEL TAKE, STATING IT WAS CAUSED FROM OVER FILLING THE TANK. VEHICLE OWNER TOLD DEALER THAT THE TANK HAD NEVER BEEN OVER FILLED OR CAPPED OFF WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, SO THE PART MUST BE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE OWNER STILL HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE. DEALER CLAIMED THAT RPM FLARE UP AND LOSS OF POWER WAS CAUSED FROM THE CLUTCH SLIPPING, ALTHOUGH RPM FLARE UP NEVER OCCURRED WHILE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE. AT 100,000 ESTIMATED MILES, THE SAME FUEL VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, AND TO DATE, THE FUEL TANK HAS NEVER BEEN OVER FILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586695May 5, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
ONE BLINKER LIGHT WOULD FLASH FASTER THEN THE OTHER. THE RADIO WOULD RANDOMLY SCAN STATIONS CONTINUOUSLY. BATTERY WOULD DIE. 9/28/2013 WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN FLASHING/BLINKING AND THE CAR MADE A BUZZING SOUND. WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED THE FLASHING AND BUZZING CONTINUED FOR A MINUTE LONGER. AFTER A JUMP START THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE BLINKER LEVER WOULD NO LONGER GO DOWN TO TURN ON LEFT BLINKER. LATER THAT DAY AAA TESTED THE BATTERY WHICH WAS NO LONGER HOLDING A CHARGE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP: FRONT SPOILER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND REPLACED BY PURCHASING DEALER AT NO CHARGE. ELECTRICAL ON WINDOWS WAS INTERMITTENT, KIA DEALER IN ONTARIO (THAT IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE) REFUSED TO DO REPAIRS, WHICH WERE UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THEY COULD ONLY DO OIL CHANGES ON THE WEEKENDS AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE REPAIR TO BE DONE DURING THE WEEK. 5/5/2014: REQUESTED A WARRANTY REPORT FOR VEHICLE FROM KIA CORPORATE AND THEY STATED THEY DO NO HAVE RECORD OF THAT INFORMATION. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS USED BY KIA FOR TESTING PURPOSES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586690May 5, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WINDOW CONTROLS WOULD NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A KIA DEALER WHO REFUSED TO DO REPAIRS, STATING THEY ONLY DO OIL CHANGES ON WEEKENDS. DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE RENTAL CAR FOR REPAIRS TO BE MADE DURING THE WEEK. AT THIS TIME, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS WERE NEVER MADE. AS OF 5/5/2014 WINDOWS WILL ONLY OPEN OCCASIONALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578082April 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSED, WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR AND SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V431000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ONE MONTH AFTER THE AFFECTED VIN RANGE OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 96,921.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
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
#10515719June 7, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND EXHIBITED A KNOCKING SOUND PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR THAT CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO RUN DRY AND NOT SEND COOLANT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512707May 19, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITANTLY ON AND OFF, I HAVE CHANGED THE SPEED SENSOR AND DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, I WENT TO KIA BLOGS AND FOUND OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH KIA CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497775February 11, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR AUTOMATIC LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE INTERMITTENTLY BECAME LOCKED IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000. UPDATED 3/11/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOORS LOCK/UNLOCK BY THMSELVES. THEY WON'T ACTIVATE ON COMMAND. DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE HANDLE WILL NOT ACTIVATE RELEASE. UPDATED 06/17/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486551November 30, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE DOOR PANEL OFF AND NOTICED THAT THE LINKAGE AND THE LATCH WERE BOTH FRACTURED. THE CONTACT COULD ONLY OPEN THE WINDOW AND THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE LATCH AND LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE PART AND MADE THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472609August 27, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE CHROME LAYER ON THE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS DELAMINATING FROM THE UNDERLYING PLASTIC HANDLES. THE SHARP EDGES POSE A LACERATION HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANT WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461962June 16, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TURNED THE CAR ON, GOT ON THE HWY LOOKED AT THE SPEED AND IT WAS AT 0 MPH. DROVE FOR A WHILE IT PICKED UP TO 20 MPH. NOT SURE IF ITS WORKING RIGHT. I'VE GOTTEN A TICKET FOR SPEEDING HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SPEED I'M GOING IF ITS NOT WORKING. I ALSO HAVE A NEW BORN. I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461967June 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
AFTER PRESSING THE CLUTCH MORE THAN TEN TIME IT STARTS GETTING HARDER. AFTER THAT IT WILL GET STUCK AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE OVER 90 DEGREES. IT WILL RELEASE AFTER IT COOLS DOWN. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. MY VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 100 THOUSAND MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459513May 24, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND WOULD READ THAT SHE WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458015May 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WERE PROVIDING INACCURATE LEVEL READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454864April 11, 2012
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT CLICK AND LATCH INTO THEIR BUCKLES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR SEAT BELT WERE NEVER PREVIOUSLY OPERATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 05/14/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446553February 3, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR WITHIN THE SEAT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,593.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427192September 26, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE BRAKES WOULD BE DEPRESSED STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. IN ORDER FOR HER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE O2 SENSOR AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421868August 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN
2005 KIA SPECTRA PASSED INSPECTION AS WELL AS ALL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER OWNING IT AT APPROXIMATELY 85,722 MILES, WITHOUT WARNING, TRAVELING THROUGH LOCAL STREETS SLOWLY (AT LESS THAN 5 MPH) THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ACTUALLY EXPLODED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT A 12 HOLE IN THE TOP PORTION OF THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING. TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE STREET AND PIECES OF THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. LEAVING US STRANDED FIVE HOURS FROM HOME. TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP, AND FOUND OUT LATER VIA PICTURES, E-MAIL, PHONE CALLS AND OPINIONS FROM MECHANICS THAT THERE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS DEFECT IS UNDETECTABLE WITH THE NAKED EYE (BECAUSE IT WAS INTERNAL), THIS WOULD NOT SHOW UP IN DIAGNOSTICS NOR TRIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THIS IS HAPPENING UNLESS YOU CAN SEE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION BY THAT TIME IT IS TOO LATE. LOOKING AT THE PICTURES YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THROUGH THE 12 HOLE AND INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEE THE INTERNAL WORKINGS. THERE YOU WILL SEE WHAT IS AN APPROXIMATE 3 GROOVE IN WHICH A BENT PIN (FROM MANUFACTURING) WORE AWAY AT THE METAL TILL THERE WAS NO MORE METAL FOR IT TO HIT. AT WHICH POINT IT EXPLODED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT RIPPED A 12 HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE METAL HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION (WITH 4 OF US IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME). WE CONTACTED KIA AND ADVISED THEM OF SITUATION AS WELL AS THE EXPENSES TO REPAIR AND ALL THEY GAVE US WAS THE RUN AROUND! WHEN ASKED THEY WOULD NOT DISCLOSE WHERE THEY SENT THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND KIA SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE! TRANSMISSIONS DO NOT EXPLODE! THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND A SAFETY CONCERN! HAD THIS HAPPEN AT 70 MPH THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE INJURIES! WE HAVE CLEAR DETAILED PICTURES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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