Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10360347October 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE LEAKING ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE BACKING UP AND RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. HOW LONG UNTIL SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360148October 12, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER IT WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK CANNISTER FLOODED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357729September 26, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA STALLS OUT EVERY TIME I FILL THE TANK. IT STALLS DURING HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND DURING NORMAL LOW SPEED DRIVING. MY KIA IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON OTHER SITES IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACED THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH UNDER THE DASH. THE RECALL WAS WITH 5 KIA MODELS BUT NOT THE SPECTRA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356125September 17, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONTEND COLLISION! MY WIFE'S HEAD WAS SLAMMED AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW. HOSPITAL TO BE VISITED SOON. (THIS WAS ABOUT AN HOUR AGO) *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10356192September 17, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I DRIVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX, WITH 37,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE IT SUFFERS FROM A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE FUEL & EXHAUST SYSTEM MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. EVERY TIME I FILL THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY, THE CAR STALLS. THIS STALL USUALLY OCCURS WHILE IDLING AND WITHIN 10 MILES FROM MY FUELING. IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6 LANE 50MPH COMMUTER ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS A RESULT. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN REAR ENDED AND RUN OVER WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, 2 OF THE TIMES THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND 1 TIME THEY CHANGED A PURGE VALVE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355282September 13, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2006 KIA SPECTRA WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE GAS TANK STRAPS BROKE OFF AND LET THE GAS TANK FALL ON THE ROAD. THE STRAPS RUSTED OFF. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD.THE TANK HIT ON THE ROAD AND BROKE OPEN SPILLING GAS ON ROAD. CONTACTED KIA DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353776September 3, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE OVERFLOW TANK. WHEN I TAKE MY CAR TO THE GAS STATION I TURN MY CAR AND PUMP THE GAS. IF I FILL THE TANK UP (THE PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTTING OFF) MY CAR WILL DIE WHILE I AM DRIVING, PARKED, OR IDLING. WHEN I 'M DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY DIE AND LOSE POWER STEERING AND THEN START AGAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT MY CAR HAS DIED WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER AND IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE SHOP APPROXIMATELY TWO TIMES TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP WHEN IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE SERVICE WORKER SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECT WITH THE CHARCOAL TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353778September 3, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE
DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS CAUSING WINDOW TO SLIDE DOWN TRACK INTO THE DOOR. THE POWER REGULATOR RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW WITH A METAL WIRE RUNNING THROUGH PLASTIC GUIDES ON A METAL TRACK. THE ENDS OF THE WIRE ARE CAPPED INSIDE A PLASTIC BRACKET TO WHICH THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED. THESE PLASTIC PARTS WEAR AND CRACK CAUSING THE WIRE TO COME LOOSE THUS PREVENTING THE WINDOW FROM BEING HELD UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352572August 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 KIA SPECTRA THAT HAS AN ISSUE STICKING IN THIRD GEAR. IT STARTED A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. I NOTICED IT WHEN I FIRST PULLED OUT OF A SIDE STREET ON TO A MAIN ROAD AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING. THANK GOD NO ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING, CAUSE YES I WOULD OF CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO KIA THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. THEN A MONTH OR SO LATER I WAS ACCELERATING OFF AN EXIT RAMP AND THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN THIRD GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IT RESET AND I WAS OFF AGAIN. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY KEPT IT ALL DAY, BUT STILL SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPEN 6 MORE TIMES, BUT KIA SAYS THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY ISSUES ON THEIR COMPUTER. NOW THE CAR HAS NO WARRANTY SO I JUST LIVE WITH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351741August 25, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES, ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE SHOES WERE BADLY WORN AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE SCORCHED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE EXHIBITED BUBBLES. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE ROTOR WAS SEVERELY WARPED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR REPAIRS TO THE BRAKE HOSE BUT WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH ANY FURTHER REPAIRS, STATING THE FAILURES WERE WEAR AND TEAR RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350527August 19, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY. *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
#10346401July 30, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON THREE OCCASIONS MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA'S ENGINE HAS RACED MADLY WHEN I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING WITH THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED. THE MOST RECENT DATE THAT IT HAPPENED WAS 7/27/2010. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE ENGINE WAS OK. AROUND XMAS 2009, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I TRIED MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK AND TURNING IT OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I FINALLY PUT IT IN DRIVE AND LET IT INCH FORWARD AND SUDDENLY THE RACING STOPPED. AT THAT TIME I REMOVED THE CAR MAT AND HAVE NOT USED THE MAT SINCE THEN. TODAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY CHECKED THE ERROR CODES IN MEMORY AND GAVE ME A LISTING OF THE CODES. THEY TELL ME NONE OF THE CODES RELATE TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED. THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR NOT LATCHING. I WOULD SLAM THE DOOR AND IT WOULD POP BACK OPEN AGAIN. I DEPRESSED THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTONS ON THE REMOTE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOOR WOULD LATCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345523July 28, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2007 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER AND PAD. THE CONSUMER THEN ASKED IF THE LEFT FRONT PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY STATED IT DID NOT. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE NEXT 1,000 MILES THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY; THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT AND SEVERAL TIMES THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO A NOSE DIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT THAT BOTH PADS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
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
#10345295July 26, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED WHEN SHE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO THE VEHICLE AND THEY WERE GOING TO SEND HER A DIAGRAM INSTRUCTING HER HOW TO PROPERLY SIT IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INSTRUCTED TO GAIN WEIGHT IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 08/05/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344836July 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2003 KIA SPECTRA THAT HAS BEEN RUNNING OUT OF BRAKE FLUID ON A WEEKLY BASIS. HAD TO BUY NEW PROPORTIONING VALVE FROM THE DEALER. I'VE READ SEVERAL STORIES ABOUT THESE VALVES LEAKING. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344654July 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND A WOMAN PULLED IN TO TELL ME I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD JUST GONE ON A TRIP WITH MY PARENTS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME SO IT HAD TO HAVE JUST GONE OUT. THE NEXT DAY MY HUSBAND CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THE SPECTRA WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. IT SEEMS THAT SINCE THE DEFECT IS OCCURRING EXACTLY LIKE OTHER MODELS. THERE ARE ALSO INSTANCES I HAVE FOUND ONLINE OF OTHER SPECTRAS DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344264July 20, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED OFF THEY CAUSED THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343070July 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 KIA SPECTRA HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SEVERAL KIA MECHANICS AT VARIOUS KIA DEALERSHIPS (BANNER, PAT PECK, AND KIA OF SLIDELL) SAY PERFORMANCE IS NORMAL, BUT IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY, ALMOST PUTTING OUR FAMILY IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, BECAUSE IT SCARES US SO MUCH. OUR FAMILY LOVES THE SPECTRA, AND TAKES VERY GOOD CARE OF IT, BUT THIS UNSAFE CONDITION HAS MADE ANYONE WE KNOW FEARFUL TO RIDE IN IT, WHEN THEY FEEL IT BUCKING IN AND OUT OF GEAR, ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE CONVINCE KIA TO STAND BEHIND THIS CAR, AND REPAIR IT TO THE CONDITION WE WERE PROMISED - THANK YOU. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS, FROM WHAT WE REMEMBER, AND VARIOUS TIMES KIA SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS JUST THE WAY THE SPECTRA IS - THE LAST VISIT, THEY CONVINCED US TO FLUSH ALL OF THE FLUIDS, TO TAKE CARE OF ANY ISSUES, ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND NOW IT IS WORSE THAN EVER. WE ARE COMPLAINING TO YOU NOW BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME ALMOST UNUSABLE FOR OTHER THAN GOING AROUND THE SUBDIVISION. SOME CHAT BOARDS SAY THE 2005 HAS A FAULTY TCM (CONTROL MODULE), BUT KIA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT TO US, AND SAID THE REPROGRAMMING TOOK CARE OF IT (THIS DID NOT). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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