Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10386259March 2, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN A FRONT PASSENGER IS SEATING IT IS STILL INDICATE " AIRBAG OFF" WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG IS ON OR NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381317February 9, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED, CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,637.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380657February 3, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2007 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER THE TANK IS FULL *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY TOPPING UP, WHICH THE CONSUMER CLAIMED NEVER HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378772January 26, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER BLACKED OUT, CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND MULTIPLE BRUISES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BRUISES TO THE BODY AND A TOOTH WAS KNOCKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. A POICE REPORT WAS FILED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10377946January 19, 2011
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 KIA SPECTRA. NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF THE TRACK, AND THE IN-DOOR ASSEMBLY HAD CRUMBLED WITHIN THE DOOR. TOOK GETTING AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR THE WINDOW. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN. MOTOR STILL WORKS. A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AS IT RUNS, BUT IT IS NOT GRIPPING THE WINDOW TO LOWER IT. (STILL NOT REPAIRED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376805January 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE HAD A CASTING DEFECT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT I'M HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE SENSORS O2 AND THE SENSORS IN THE SHIFTER THE CAR IS BREAKING DOWN EVERY MONTH SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375380January 10, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN MY SON, WHO IS 12 YEARS OLD SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (WEIGHS 103 POUNDS) THE LIGHT GOES OFF SOMETIMES OR STAYS ON SOMETIMES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, BUT WHEN MY FIANCEE WHO IS IN EXCESS OF 180 POUNDS SITS IN THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, THUS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, NOT CONSTANTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374896January 6, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG ACTIVATION SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE SHE WOULD HAVE NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY FOR ME TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM WHEN SHE IS A PASSENGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375016January 6, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2005 KIA SPECTRA I WAS BRAKING AND THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375022January 6, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS MAKING A THREE POINT TURN. I MOVED TO THE WALL BRAKING TO STOP TO BACK UP, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR WENT FORWARD SPEEDING UP AND INTO THE BLOCK WALL. STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES I TURNED THE CAR OFF. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374030January 3, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEATS
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT ALWAYS SENSE THERE IS A PASSENGER SETTING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER SEAT ONCE AND IT DID WORK OK FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS THEY NOW REFUSE TO WORK ON IT TILL THEY SEE PROOF OF IT NOT WORKING. THEY CLAIM COMPANY POLICY WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO WORK ON IT. I FEEL THEY ARE PUTTING MY PASSENGERS IN THE WAY OF HARM AND COULD BE LIABLE FOR INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10371249December 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LOW ? ADDED FLUID. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. MECHANIC STATED BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE WAS LEAKING ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA; POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368207November 29, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2009 KIA SPECTRA PURCHASE NEW FROM HALLEEN KIA NORTH OLMSTED, OH. TIRES ARE COMPLETELY BALD AT 16,403 MILES. CAR IS 16 MONTHS OLD, DRIVEN LOCALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366409November 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
IN MID-SEPT10 I EXPERIENCED 2 BRAKE FAILURES ON MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX. EACH TIME AFTER DRIVING APPROX 800 MILES TO & FROM NORTHERN CA. BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN EXITING OFF OF CA99 TO CA4 (ANGELS CAMP). WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR TO FAR RIGHT SHOULDER WHERE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS DEPLOYED. THEREBY NOT HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER 5 MINUTES WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE REMAINDER OF TRIP (40MILES). NEXT MORNING TOOK CAR TO LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY KEPT THE CAR 2DAYS/INSISTED THAT I CALL A REPORT INTO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS; WHICH DID. ACCORDING TO THEM CAR WAS "OPERATING ACCORDING TO SPECS"..IN OTHERWORDS, WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY...UPON RETURNING BACK HOME TO AZ. THE SAME THING HAPPENED, EXCEPT THIS TIME MY GARAGE DOOR WAS WHAT STOPPED MY CAR. BOTH TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED....AGAIN I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE...BUT I DAMAGED MY GD/MY BROTHERS NEW CAR THAT WAS PARKED ION THE OTHER SIDE AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR...THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA WERE IT WAS KEPT FOR 2WKS, WHILE CORPORATE DECIDED HOW TO PROCEED....AFTER THAT TIME MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME..AGAIN WITH (THIS TIME VERBALLY ONLY) THE EXPRESSION OF "WORKING ACCORDING TO SPECS" USED...I DEALT WITH KIA CA..I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION....OVERALL I WAS TREATED LIKE A I HAD DONE IT DELIBERATELY..I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 32YRS AND NEVER HAVE HAD AS MUCH AS A TICKET, MUCH LESS AN ACCIDENT....WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR A "WRITTEN" STATEMENT ABOUT THE DRIVEABLITY OF MY CAR, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COME FROM THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION.......AFTER 2 ADDITIONAL CALLS TO THEM I GAVE UP.T...I SUBSEQUENTLY WROTE TO OUR STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE/THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER/AARP/JD POWERS & ASSOC.(THEY GIVE KIA SAFETY AWARDS). IN RESEARCHING I FOUND OVER 1200 COMPLAINTS ON KIA BRAKE PROBLEMS ALONE. & NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE NOONE I KNOW EVER BUYS A KIA! !THE SM AT KIA HAD THE GALL TO SAY- DRIVE CAREFUL WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR!! *TR
Crash:
Yes
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
#10362997October 30, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA AND THE KEYLESS DOOR OPENER AND LOCK SYSTEM HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE LOCKS DON'T OPEN WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO AND LOCK WHEN THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO. I BROUGHT TO KIA DEALER BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE MY PROBLEM AND HINTED THAT I WAS NOT USING THE BUTTONS CORRECTLY. WELL AT AROUND 60,450 MILES I STARTED MY CAR TO GET THE HEAT ON, I TOOK OFF THE KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE AND CLOSED THE DOOR TO LET MY CAR WARM UP. I DID NOT LOCK THE DOOR USING THE BUTTON ON THE KEYLESS DEVICE, BUT THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY WITH MY CAR ON. NO WAY WOULD THAT KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE ALLOW ME TO GET BACK IN THE CAR. IT WAS 11:00 PM, COLD, LUCKILY SOME FRIENDS REMAINED WITH ME AND TRIED TO GET IN THE CAR WITH COAT HANGARS AND OTHER DEVICES TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH, TO GET IN WHICH COST $50, HOWEVER ALL THE TRYING TO GET IN DAMAGED BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR MECHANISMS SO NOW I HAVE THE EXPENSE OF GETTING THIS FIXED, WHICH KIA SHOULD HAVE FIXED BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. I TRIED FOR AN HOUR PRESSING THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYLESS ENTRY, THE DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN, THE TRUNK WOULDN'T OPEN, THE BATTERY WAS FINE IN THE KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE, THE LIGHT WORKED LIKE IT NORMALLY WORKS BUT IT WOULDN'T OPEN THE CAR! WHAT IF GOD FORBID I HAD JUST BUCKLED A CHILD IN THE BACKSEAT AND CLOSED THE BACK DOOR AND THEN TRIED TO OPEN MY DOOR TO GET IN AND THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF. OR IF THERE WERE SOME OTHER EMERGENCY AND I COULDN'T GET IN. IN ADDITION TO THIS BEING A CONVENIENCE ISSUE I DEFINITELY THINK IT COULD ALSO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING MY DAMAGED DOOR MECHANISMS, IN ADDITION TO REIMBURSING ME FOR THE LOCKSMITH. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO BRING TO THIS MATTER. I ALSO FEEL THAT THE DEALER DIDN'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED REALLY CHECKING OUT THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS GOING TO BE UP AT 60,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362688October 27, 2010
SEATS
I PURCHASED A NEW KIA SPECTRA (2009) NOVEMBER, 2008 AND WITHIN FEW MONTHS I STARTED EXPERIENCING LOW BACK PAIN. I TRIED TO SELL THE CAR WITHOUT LUCK. I TRIED TO TRADE IT IN BUT DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF THE LOW PRICE THAT WAS OFFERED TO ME BY DEALERS. THE PAIN STARTED TO GET WORSE EVEN IF I DRIVE IT FOR SHORT DISTANCES. I HAVE BEEN TAKING PAIN PILLS OTC OR BY PRESCRIPTION WITHOUT MUCH HELP. RECENTLY I SOUGHT THE SERVICES OF A CHIROPRACTOR HOPING FOR BETTER PAIN MANAGEMENT. HE TOOK TWO X-RAYS, DID A SPINE ADJUSTMENT, SPINE TRACTION TREATMENTS AND TENS. MY X-RAYS SHOW THAT I HAVE MISALIGNMENT OF THE SPINE BETWEEN L4-L5 WHICH COULD BE AS A RESULT OF THE POOR LUMBAR SUPPORT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY CAR. I HAVE NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF BACK PAIN OR ANY TRAUMA TO MY BACK. JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP [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
#10362208October 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD BEGIN TO STALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361914October 23, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN 2008 I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5 SX , IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN MY AUTOS ENGINE STARTED TO REVVING AND MOVING FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD WITH MY FOOT , BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD, THE TIRES WERE SPINNING, I THEN PUT MY OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THAT STOPPED MOVING FORWARD, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED REVVING, I THEN WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. I LET THE CAR REMAIN OFF FOR ABOUT L5 SECONDS AND TURNED THE IGNITION ON AGAIN THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV AGAIN, I HAD TO TURN ENGINE OFF AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS I TURNED THE ENGINE ON AND IT WAS NORMAL SO I WENT HOME AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY SERVICE PROVIDER TO HAVE THE AUTO CHECKED OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND SPOKE TO CASE MANAGER (ALBERT) WHO SUGGESTED I GO TO ANOTHER KIA DEALER. I WENT TO KIA OF BAYSIDE IN GREAT NECK, N.Y. (THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS NOW). THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE BE DISCONNECTED, WHICH HE DID , AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND COME BACK TO THE SHOP. I RETURNED TO THE SHOP ON 1/20/09 ( I ORIGINALLY TOOK CAR TO BAYSIDE KIA ON 12/22/08) I TOLD THE TECH THAT NOTHING HAPPENED DURING THE 2 WEEK PERIOD. HE THEN CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS AND REQUESTED THAT A NEW CRUISE CONTROL MODULE BE INSTALLED. THE TECH ORDERED THE NEW MODULE FOR THE CAR AND RECONNECTED THE OLD MODULE. ON 01/20/09, I HAD ANOTHER EPISODE WITH THE CAR REVVING AND MOVING FORWARD AND IT ALSO DID THE SAME THING IN REVERSE, THIS WAS IN PELHAM MANOR, N.Y. JUST ACROSS THE BRIDGE FROM WHERE I LIVE, 2 HOURS LATER I WAS AT THE BARTOW MALL , IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IT DONE THIS 4 MORE TIMES KIA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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