Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10475604September 17, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER VERY COLD WEATHER IN JANUARY 2011. WHEN WEATHER WARMED UP IN THE SPRING, THE LIGHT WENT OUT. JANUARY 2012 WHEN IT BECAME COLD AGAIN, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON 99% OF THE TIME. IT RARELY EVER GOES OUT. ... THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT IS COVERED BY THE KIA OPTIMA 2006-2008 RECALL 12V014000. *TR ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475227September 12, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) HOWEVER, THE RECALL ONLY PERTAINED TO THE RIO MODEL AND NOT THE SPECTRA MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474247September 7, 2012
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, SEAT BELTS
I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 40 E APPROACHING EXIT 153 IN HEAVY RAINFALL. APPROXIMATELY 0.25 MILES FROM THE EXIT THE TRUCK ALREADY ON THE EXIT AHEAD OF ME BEGAN APPLYING ITS BRAKES. PRE-BRAKING MEASURES WERE TAKEN. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND FLEW FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN BRAKING THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT MY SEAT-BELT DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED BRUISING, SEVERE HEADACHES, AND MINOR CUTS AS A RESULT. INSURANCE DECLARED CAR AS TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10473835September 4, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 12/29/08. THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN MY WIFE TRIED TO BACK IT OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE MECHANICS EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT WE MUST HAVE OVERFILLED THE GAS TANK. TODAY -- 9/4/12 -- IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I FORGOT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WE HAD IN 08 AND MISTAKENLY FILLED UP THE GAS TANK. FOR THE LAST 30 MILES I'VE DRIVEN IT, IT HAS STALLED OUT AT LEAST SIX TIMES AND FREQUENTLY SHUDDERED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT WON'T START TOMORROW MORNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473838September 4, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
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
#10469564August 7, 2012
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
CAR TOOK ME OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRAIGHT INTO A TREE DEAD CENTER ROUGHLY GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!!!! HIT MY HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. AND NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT WAS THE DEALERSHIP SELLING DEFECTIVE CARS OR IF ITS KIA DEFECT. NOT UNDERSTANDING THIS WHOLE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY THING BECAUSE THE SAFETY GRAPH EXPLAINS 0-8 MPH AIRBAGS WILL NEVER GO OFF 8-14 MPH AIRBAGS ARE POSSIBLE BUT NOT LIKELY 14-ABOVE AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY ALWAYS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469130August 3, 2012
AIR BAGS
RIGHT FRONT SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR, DEALER STATES NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY IN A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THIS SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468049July 27, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. SUDDENLY WENT TO ZERO. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. UNABLE TO DETERMINE SPEED OF VEHICLE AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466757July 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I WENT INTO KROGER'S AND PICKED UP A FEW ITEMS. WHEN I WAS DONE, I LEFT THE STORE AND GOT BACK INTO MY CAR TO FINISH RUNNING SOME ERRANDS. I STARTED MY KIA- SPECTRA AND SHE PURRED LIKE A KITTEN- AS USUAL. I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE BUT MY KIA WOULD MOVE. I WAS PRESSING THE PEDDLE AND MY CAR DID NOT MOVE. I COULD HEAR THE CAR REVVING UP BUT I WASN'T MOVING. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT- I HAD MY KIA TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $2200-3600. I WAS DEVASTATED AND SHOCKED. MY KIA WAS WORKING JUST FINE. I NEVER HAD ANY INDICATORS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. NONE OF MY DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASH OR LIGHT UP. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO COVER THE REPAIRS. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 4 YEARS AGO AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR ALL THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TO MAINTAIN A WELL-FUNCTIONING VEHICLE. I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB OVER 5 YEARS AGO. I PAID $8,700 FOR MY KIA USING MONIES FROM MY PROPHET SHARING TO CUT DOWN ON LIVING EXPENSES SO THAT I COULD STAY ON TOP OF THINGS BETWEEN JOBS. I WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALER THAT MY VEHICLE WAS CERTIFIED AND WOULD REMAIN IN GREAT CONDITION IF I KEPT UP WITH THE NECESSARY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. I DID EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSE TO AND MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO FOR SERVICE, ADVISED ME TO CONTACT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND REPORT MY ISSUES CONCERNING MY VEHICLE. MY CAR SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS PRONE TO DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND I NEED MY CAR REPAIR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN GET MY CAR REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464473July 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMELL SIMILAR TO BURNING RUBBER. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND ASSISTED IN MOVING THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED OR INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464488July 6, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEATS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS BELOW, BELIEVE THAT SENSORS ARE IDENTICAL PARTS, REQUEST ASSISTANCE TO INCLUDE ALL KIA MODELS PRODUCED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM VERIFIED BY COLONIAL KIA, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA AS SEAT SENSOR ON 6 JUL 12. NHTSA HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY RECALL: MAKE: KIA MODEL: RIO MODEL YEAR: 2007 MANUFACTURER: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION MFR'S REPORT DATE: MAY 29, 2012 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V244000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462186June 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS A FIELD EFFECTS TRANSISTOR, THE TRANSISTOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND GOT SO HOT IT HAS MELTED THE PLUG AND WIRING TO IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO KIA AND THEY INSIST THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. *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
#10460752June 6, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460775June 6, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPDATED 07/10/12*LJ WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO SIT MORE CENTERED IN THE SEAT. UPDATED 07/11/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459735May 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED 2002 KIA SPECTRA IN 11/ 2004 WITH 14,000 MILES ON IT. ( I HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE WORK DOCUMENTED) . IN 2006 I NOTICED MY CAR WOULD GET SLUGGISH AND HESITATE WHENEVER I WOULD ACCELERATE. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. BUT I DID TAKE IT IN FOR A TUNE-UP AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FILL. THIS WAS IN 10/2006 AND I ONLY HAD 26,000 MILES ON IT .BUT THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED AND IT WORSENED TO A POINT THAT IT TOOK A WHILE BEFORE IT WOULD SHIFT GEARS. I WOULD HAVE TO HOLD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND PUMP IT A FEW TIMES. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN JANUARY 2008 AND EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND IT WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SO I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION COST WAS $1,800.00 THEY ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THIS CAR ONCE BEFORE. NOW THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 31,442 MILES ON IT. SO MY CAR WAS NOW RUNNING OK AT FIRST BUT IT STILL PAUSES AND JERKS WHEN IM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL NO MATTER WHAT SPEED IM DRIVING AT. IT ALSO WONT GO IN REVERSE WHEN I SHIFT TO THE REVERSE GEAR. THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN IN JANUARY 2012 AND WITH ONLY 50159 MILES ON IT. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS INTERNAL FAILURES, THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IS $1520.00 INSTALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459626May 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON ( THOUGHT IT WAS PARKING BRAKE STUCK OR BRAKE MAINTENANCE TIME ) , AFTER SPENDING OVER $400 TO GET EVERYTHING REPLACED .... IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY PROPORTIONING VALVE WENT BAD ! LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ( HAD TO REPLACE EVERY OTHER DAY ) . WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ? *TR
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

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