Kia Spectra Complaints (2004)

71 consumer complaints on file.

#10250266December 1, 2008
AIR BAGS
BLACK ICE ON ROADS I ENDED UP TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN A SIX FOOT DITCH. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. UPSET THAT A CRASH LIKE THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250075November 28, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND ACCELERATES. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURES TO STOP. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ON NOVEMBER 9, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 12/17/08.*LJ UPDATED 12/18/08. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246021October 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL ALSO LUNGE WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR, FORWARD AND REVERSE. IT DOES NOT OCCUR EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE STARTS. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE 2ND TIME THEY SAID THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR RPM'S TO GO UP WHEN THE ENGINE IS COOL. WHEN THE CAR LUNGES, THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO STOP THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM THEY HAD WITH THE KIA AMANTI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233693July 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY VEHICLE SPUTTERS WHILE DRIVING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS WHERE MY VEHICLE HAS ALMOST STALLED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN FAST LANE. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIME IN A 2 MONTH WINDOW, AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE, SO THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX MY VEHICLE OR TAKE ALL OF THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT SINCE THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE, THEN THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AND I AM JUST STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, WHICH HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233145July 3, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT END COLLISION, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. 2004 KIA SPECTRA. IT WAS HIT BY A TRUCK AT APPROX. 55 MPH IN THE LEFT FRONT CORNER PUSHING EVERYTHING INTO THE MOTOR AREA AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228863May 25, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
KIA AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT CRASH IMPACT OF ABOUT 40 MPH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10224683April 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 5/30/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM A STOP IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL. UPDATED 05/30/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224417April 14, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
I HAVE A 2004.5 KIA SPECTRA EX WHICH AROUND 44,000 MILES STARTED TO HAVE A RATTLING SOUND FROM THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION. INITIALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. 4,000+ MILES LATER, RATTLING WORSE, TOOK BACK TO DEALER, TOLD THAT THE STRUT MOUNT ASSEMBLY WAS BAD AND THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT IT IN SOONER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED SIMPLY. OF COURSE I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD BROUGHT IT IN SOONER. NOW AROUND 49,000 MILES SAME NOISE FROM THE RIGHT REAR, HAVE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES, WAS EVEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT MOUNT / SUSPENSION WAS DOCUMENTED IN THE KIA SORENTO AND THAT HE WOULD REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY. WHATEVER HE DID WORKED FOR APPOX. 1 WEEK AND NOW THE RATTLING IS BACK, AND WORSE THAN BEFORE. OF NOTE, I WAS TOLD BY A PREVIOUS SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE NOISE THAT I WAS HEARING, THAT CAUSED ME TO BRING THE CAR IN 3 SEPARATE TIMES WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TEST DRIVEN SOME OF THEIR LOANER SPECTRAS AND HAD FOUND THAT THE SOUND WAS IN ALL OF THEM. NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS. EITHER WAY, 5YR / 60,000 MILE WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. I AM DOCUMENTING AND GOING TO BRING THIS ISSUE UP TO THE SERVICE MANAGER OR GENERAL MANAGER AGAIN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221040March 13, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WARNING LIGHT FOR AIRBAG ON THE SPEEDOMETER PANEL STAYS ON. DEALER AND KIA TECH FIRST REPLACED PASSENGER SEAT COVER AND DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BUCKLE BECAUSE THEY WERE SHORTED OUT. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY THEN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE OF SOME FLUID SPILLED ON COMPUTER UNDER CUP HOLDERS IN THE CENTER COUNCIL. (WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT A LIQUID SENSITIVE PRODUCT UNDER A CUP HOLDER?) THEY STATED THAT PIN 3 ON THE COMPUTER CONNECTOR WAS SHORTED OUT. I THEN POINTED OUT THAT PIN 3 WAS A GROUND PIN. KIA HAS HAD MASSIVE FAILURES WITH THEIR EARLY AIRBAG SYSTEMS AND HAVE REFUSED TO FIX AN ITEM THAT WAS THE BASES FOR CHOOSING THEIR PRODUCT. KIA HAS SINCE INTRODUCED A NEW AIRBAG PRODUCT THAT SEEMS TO WORK FLAWLESSLY. THIS NEW PRODUCT SHOULD BE OFFERED AT NO EXPENSE TO THOSE OF US THAT WERE PROVIDED A INFERIOR AND UNSAFE PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220138March 5, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY BEING TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,600. UPDATED 03-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. UPDATED 03/19/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214623January 13, 2008
TIRES
ON 10/27/06 (@ 30,048 MILES) I PURCHASED 4 TIRES (SUMITOMO HTR H4; P195-60-R15; 87H M+S). ROTATION OF THESE FOUR TIRES OCCURRED @ 34,917 MILES. ON 7/27/07 A DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT AND WAS REPLACED WHERE I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THEM. DRIVING OFF THE FREEWAY DAMAGED THE TIRE INTO TWO PIECES (SIDEWALL STILL ATTACHED TO RIM), SO DETERMINING WHAT CAUSED THE FLAT WAS FRUITLESS. NEXT SERVICE OCCURRED @ 41,640 MILES AND INCLUDED ROTATION AND ALIGNMENT. THEN ON 12/29/07, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WENT FLAT, ALTHOUGH THE TREAD LOOKED FINE WITH NO VISIBLE PUNCTURES. APPX THREE HOURS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WENT FLAT AND THIS TIME DAMAGE WAS VISIBLY SEEN ON OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF TIRE. AGAIN, NO VISIBLE PUNCTURE ON TREAD. I STILL HAVE THIS TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206494October 22, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE CUP HOLDERS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LIQUID LEAKS OUT OF THE CUPS AND ONTO THE COMPUTER, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHORT. CONDENSATION ALSO CAUSES THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO SHORT. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AT THE COST OF $800 AND NOW IT MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO WATER ENTERING INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199312August 11, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOUSING ON MY 2004.5 KIA SPECTRA EX CRACKED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT NOT TO LATCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182070February 9, 2007
AIR BAGS
2004 AND A HALF KIA SPECTRA HAD THE RECALL OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT DONE, #05V431000. THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY STILL. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE AIRBAG WILL STILL WORK IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. HAPPENS TOO MUCH. IS IT REALLY SAFE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170880October 15, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL FAILS TO TURN ON OCCASIONALY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159042June 5, 2006
SUSPENSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE ROCKS BACK AND FOURTH DUE TO THE SUSPENSION. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE CONDITION WORSENS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED HOWEVER THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED WHO WENT BY WHAT THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154527April 4, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE COMPUTER IS NOT SENDING THE PROPER SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNAWARE OF HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 5/3/2006 - *NM *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154363April 2, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2004 KIA SPECTRA ON 3/20/06 WAS IMPACTED ON PASSENGER SIDE WITHIN THE AREA OF FRONT AND REAR DOORS. THE IMPACT FORCED THE REAR OF MY CAR TO SLID AWAY FROM IMPACT AND COME IN CONTACT WITH A PICKUP TRUCK DAMAGING MY DRIVERS SIDE REAR QUARTER AND NOT ONE AIR BAG IN MY CAR DEPLOYED AND THERE ARE 8 AIR BAGS IN THIS MODEL CAR. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10150202February 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROBLEMS BEGAN OCTOBER 15, 2005 DETAILS OF PROBLEMS: 03/25/05 - A/C VENTS BROKEN - DEALER REPLACED "NOZZLE ASSY - CTR AI" 10/15/05 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES 'HEATER CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION' REPLACED "02 SENSOR ASSY" AND RESET CODES 10/28/05 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND BATTERY WENT DEAD (I HAD IT JUMPED BY AAA)- DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM 10/28/05 - EMBLEM CRACKED ON STEERING WHEEL - DEALER STATES 'FLAW IN MATERIAL' REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SRS BAG 11/29/05 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES P0442 GAS CAP NOT SEALING & P0455 CANISTER NOT SEALING - DEALER REPLACES GAS CAP AND CANISTER, ALSO ORDERS NEW ECM 11/29/05 - DEALER RECALLED: SC053 REPROGRAM OCS SEAT CONTROL AND SC055 SPECTRA AIR BAG -DEALER REPLACES ITEMS FOR RECALL 01/03/06 - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES 'LOGIC ERROR IN ECM - DEALER REPLACED ECM 01/11/06 -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES 'POOR GROUND AT ECM' WAS INSTRUCTED BY TECH LINE TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS; DEALER REPAIRED GROUND AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS 01/23/06 - ENGINE LIGHT IS ON - DEALER STATES PROBLEM AT ECM - KEPT CAR FOR REPAIRS 02/13/06 - DEALER STATES THAT SPECTRA CANNOT BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THEY ALSO STATE THAT ANOTHER CAR WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN SENT BACK TO KOREA SO THAT THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. DEALER'S ESTIMATED TIME TO REPAIR MY CAR 2 MONTHS FROM NOW (HAS BEEN AT DEALER SINCE 01/23/06 - 20 DAYS) AS STATED BY KEITH EMMERMAN, KIA PALMDALE SERVICE MANAGER. MR. EMMERMAN ALSO STATED THAT I AM REQUIRED, AS THE SPECTRA OWNER, TO COME PICK UP MY CAR UN-REPAIRED AND DRIVE IT ANYWAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN PALMDALE, THAT THE PROBLEM THE KIA IS HAVING IS IN THE COMPUTER. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT AND WANT ME TO DRIVE IT ANY WAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND NOW 3 TIMES FOR THE ECM. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PICK UP THE CAR AND DRIVE IT EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150117February 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING, IT IDLES LOW AND THEN REVS UP ON IT'S OWN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MAIN SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM RETURNED, AND THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. ALSO, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR AND THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT OPERATE, UP OR DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CABLE WAS UNHOOKED AND REPAIRED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Spectra