Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10317801March 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER OFFERED THE CONTACT A NEW VEHICLE INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THE ONE HE OWNS; HOWEVER, THE NEWER MODELS EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,126.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315696March 2, 2010
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL*THE DRIVER OWNED A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HIT A GUARD RAIL, ROLLED OVER INTO DRAINAGE DITCH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND EXPIRED IN THE HOSPITAL TWO DAYS LATER FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACTS LAWYER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A FORENSIC ENGINEER WHO LATER DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. BOTH THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/22/10 *BF RECEIVED PICTURES. UPDATED 09/13/10
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10314817February 27, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH OUR KIA SPECTRA 2003, I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM SEVERAL OTHERS AND A CAR REPAIR STORE TO REPORT THE SAME THING. WHEN WE PUMP GAS INTO THE KIA. IT WILL NOT START UP YOU HAVE TO TRY AND START IT A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT WILL. THAT SEEMS MORE THEN DANGEROUS TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313669February 24, 2010
AIR BAGS
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WE TALKED WITH THE SALESMAN [XXX] AT MARTIN SWANTY KIA ON 07/24/2009 ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY , HE SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT! SO WE BOUGHT IT. WE WENT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 08/12/2009 AND TALKED WITH SERVICE PERSONNEL AND WE WERE TOLD TO RETURN WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WAS OFF SO THEY COULD VERIFY IT! WE WENT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 09/10/09 WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SHOWED THEM THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.THEY RETURNED THE CAR THAT AFTERNOON WITHOUT REPAIRING IT AND HANDED US AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAID THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WOULD NOT FUNCTION UNLESS A PERSON OF APPROPRIATE SIZE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I ARGUED WITH THE SERVICE PERSON SINCE I AM 5' 8" AND WEIGH 210 POUNDS, BUT HE STILL REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE KIA SPECTRA HAD A LONG HISTORY SEVERAL YEARS OF RECALLS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CALLED KIA AT 1 800 333-4542 ON 09/10/09 AND TALKED WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. SHE OPENED A CASE NUMBER [XXX]AND TOLD US TO CALL HER NEXT TIME WE HAD A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED. SHE SAID SHE WOULD CALL THE DEALER AND WE COULD GO THERE AND HAVE IT REPAIRED! I CALLED THE NUMBER ON 12/22/2010 AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE PERSON AND TOLD HER MY WIFE WAS ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER WITH OUR 24 YEAR DAUGHTER [XXX] IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WAS OFF. THE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED THE DEALER! THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT AND SAID THAT IT REQUIRED A LARGER PERSON IN THE FRONT SEAT AND MY WIFE SHOULD RETURN WHEN SHE HAD A LARGER PERSON IN THE FRONT SEAT. MY DAUGHTER [XXX] IS 24 YEARS OLD; SHE IS 5, 9 AND WEIGHS 125 POUNDS! MY WIFE WENT AGAIN TO THE DEALER ON 01/05 /2010 WITH OUR DAUGHTER [XXX] IN THE FRONT SEAT, SHE IS 5'8" 22 YEARS OLD AND SHE WEIGHS 140 POUNDS AND THE AIR BAG WAS OFF! THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311593February 17, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT RELEASE WITHOUT THE KEY (FROM THE INTERIOR BUTTON OR THE REMOTE). EVERY TIME THE WEATHER GETS BELOW FREEZING THE TRUNK RELEASE BRAKES AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308877February 12, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PATCH OF ICE ON THE ROAD CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HEAD WHEN SHE HIT IT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10305803February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE WHEN THERE ARE THREE ADULTS IN VEHICLE. EITHER WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR DRY, WARM OR COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303031January 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
STOPPING TO AVOID CARS CUTTING ME OFF OR BRAKING FOR ANY REASON. OCCURS OFTEN. BRAKE & GAS PEDALS TOO CLOSE. THOUGHT IT WAS A SURGE FOR ALONG TIME, BUT REALIZED BOTH PEDALS WERE BEING PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN MORE SO FOR PEOPLE WITH A WIDER FOOT THAN MINE. NOTED BY MY MECHANIC AND DAUGHTER ALSO. SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. MECHANIC HAD NO REMEDY FOR PROBLEM. IT'S A KIA SPECTRA, LS, 2002 PROBLEM. *CW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302882January 27, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIS SPEEDOMETER, REPEATED FAILURES. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY 2005 SPEEDOMETER HAS GIVEN FALSE READINGS OFF BY AS MUCH AS AN ESTIMATED 25 MPH. A REVIEW OF THE INTERNET AND KIA-FORUMS.COM, THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM IN MODELS WELL PAST EH 1999 KIA SPEEDOMETER RECALL. KIA HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING SINCE THEY "CAN'T REPEAT THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM." I DO NOT KNOW HOW OFTEN THE SPEEDOMETER IS INCORRECT OUTSIDE THE IDENTIFIED EVENTS. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302132January 25, 2010
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA (NA). THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 COSCO CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER 222-33PET. THE CHILD WAS PROPERLY SECURED FACING FORWARD IN THE " CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT WHICH UNEXPECTEDLY TILTED IN A FORWARD POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT WAS IN USE WHICH WAS INSTALLED USING THE LATCH SYSTEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS. THERE WERE CONCERNS OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300382January 20, 2010
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE LAST, MY DAUGHTER (17 YRS OLD AND A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL) WAS RIDING WITH HER FRIEND AND WAS HIT BY A CAR IN THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER AREA. THE CAR MY DAUGHTER WAS RIDING IN, A 2009 KIA SPECTRA, WAS TOTALED. YET, DESPITE THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT LOCK. HENCE, MY DAUGHTER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES, HER NOSE WAS BROKE, SHE RECEIVED BLOOD IN THE VENTRICLES OF THE BRAIN AND SHE IS EXTREMELY SORE, TO SAY THE LEAST. FUNNY THING IS THAT THE DRIVER'S DAD TOOK THE BRAND NEW CAR (5,000 MILES AND 3 MONTHS OLD) TO THE DEALER OVER THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. HE WAS TOLD THAT A PASSENGER HAD TO BE 100 LBS AND BE SEATED JUST RIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IN ORDER FOR THE AIRBAGS TO ENGAGE. THE EMT/FIREMEN WHO RESCUED BY DAUGHTER CAN ALL VOUCH FOR THIS. HOW IS IT THAT KIA CAN ADVERTISE 'AIRBAGS' AS A SAFETY FEATURE WHEN THEY ONLY DEPLOY RANDOMLY? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10300046January 17, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK TO THE FULL LINE. THE CAR OCCASIONALLY SPUTTERS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, AND WILL CUT OFF IF IDLING FOR THAN ONE MINUTE. THE PROBLEM STOP HAPPENING AFTER THE FUEL LEVEL HAS GONE BELOW THE FULL LINE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERS SAY THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299731January 14, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON JANUARY 4TH 2010 AT 4:30AM ANOTHER DRIVER PUSHED ME OFF THE ROAD. AND MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA FLEW UP A HILL HIT TWO TREES AT FULL SPEED THEN WITH FULL FORCE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. WHEN MY CAR HIT THE LITTLE HILL ONLY MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED HOW EVER I WAS STILL GOING ABOUT 49 MPH. DURING THIS TIME OF HITTING TREES SOME HOW MY SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. AFTER MY STAY IN THE HOSPITAL I WENT TO SEE THE CAR AND NONE AND I MEAN NONE OF MY SIDE AIR BAG HAD GONE OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE BACK OF MY CAR WENT AROUND A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE REAR AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE AIR BAGS IN MY SEAT DID NOT GO OFF I HAVE PERMANENT SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS. ALL AND ALL THESE KIA SPECTRA''S AND ALL KIA'S SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD IN 2008 I WAS IN A CAR WRECK AT MY FAULT AT 40 MPH AND MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10299085January 12, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER REMAINED AT 0 NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW SHE DROVE. SHE HAS SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR 01/14/2010. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,480.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293320November 23, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS LINE/TANK/CANISTER ISSUES. MY SPECTRA HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 11 TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE GAS CANISTER REPLACED 4 TIMES AND ON MY LAST VISIT THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TANK. THE CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. WHEN IT STALLS YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE, BECAUSE THEY LOSE POWER. I HAVE STALLED MID-INTERSECTION, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AT STOP SIGNS/STOP LIGHTS, NO REASON WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT JUST STARTS SHAKING,SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY AND THEN STALLS. KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS WE ARE OVERFILLING AND THAT THEY RECOMMEND NOT USING CITGO GAS. WE DO NEITHER. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THE CANISTER VALVE DOES NOT STOP OVERFILLING, WHICH ALLOWS THAT GAS TO CONTAMINATE OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSES THE STALL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA HEADQUARTERS AND SPOKE WITH TOM MORALLES, THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS MGR. I ASKED HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE CAR NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THEY DEEM IT UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO BE FIXED. HE SAYS THEY NEVER DO, THEY WILL KEEP REPAIRING AND THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO TELL ME THAT THEY CAN FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. HE TOLD ME THAT IF I AM NOT HAPPY I SHOULD CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I DRIVE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND WHEN THE CAR STALLS AND I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES ABOUT TO SMASH INTO US, IT SCARES THEM AND IT SCARES ME. WHAT IS TO SAY WITH THIS GAS LEAK/CONTAMINATION THAT A COMMON FENDER BENDER AT ONE OF THESE STALL OUT TIMES WOULD NOT RESULT IN MY CAR EXPLODING SHOULD A SPARK IGNITE MY GAS LEAK? KIA KNOWS THAT THIS HAPPENING AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP IN ANY OTHER WAY IS UNACCEPTABLE. THESE CARS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO MY FAMILY, BUT OTHER FAMILIES THAT I COULD CRASH INTO WHEN I LOSE POWER AND CANNOT BRAKE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE TO DIE FOR ANYONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS. I FOUND MANY CASES THE SAME AS MINE JUST BY SEARCHING THE WEB. WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH ? NOW. BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290930November 4, 2009
SEAT BELTS
FRONT SEATBELTS ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA UNLATCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290721November 2, 2009
SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT
EVENFLO TRIUMPH ADVANCE' LX CONVERTIBLE FAILS TO PERFORM BASIC CARSEAT FUNCTIONS. ACTUAL CARSEAT DAMAGES ITSELF VIA RAZOR SHARP PLASTIC OPENINGS WHERE THE LATCH SYSTEM STRAP OR VEHICLE RESTRAINT STRAP GOES THROUGH THE SEAT. WE HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY CUT ON THIS PLASTIC ALONG WITH THE LATCH STRAP BEING FRAYED AND CUT BEYOND SAFE USE. WE HAVE DISCONTINUED USING THE LATCH SYSTEM BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY RESTRAINT STRAP WILL ALSO BE FRAYED AND BECOME UNSAFE ALONG WITH PERMANENT DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE. THIS PLASTIC ISSUES HAS RESULTED IN GROSS SAFETY ISSUES ON A CONSTANT BASIS. CHILD CAN EASILY GET OUT OF THE CARSEAT REGARDLESS OF STRAP TENSION EVERY SINGLE USE. THE CHEST CLIP SLIPS UP AND DOWN TOO EASILY AND CHILD CAN SIMPLY, WITH 1 FINGER, SLIDE THE CHEST CLIP THE TO 5 POINT HARNESS, WIGGLE ARMS AND LEGS OUT AND GET INTO A STANDING POSITION WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290344October 30, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH SHE REACHED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO GRAB A BABY CUP, WHICH CAUSED HER TO ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE INFANT. SUBSEQUENTLY SHE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,059.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10289003October 19, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2007 KIA SPECTRA 5 BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TODAY (10/19/2009). SWITCH IS THE EXACT SAME ONE THAT WAS RECALLED ON SIMILAR HYUNDAI ELANTRA CARS. SINCE THAT RECALL DOES NOT COVER KIA'S, I WAS CHARGED $139 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287401October 14, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK AND PURGE CANISTER SYSTEM. THE NORMAL OPERATION OF FUELING THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE PURGE SYSTEM TO BECOME FILLED WITH FUEL. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES ON THE ROAD; STOP LIGHTS, SLOWER MOVING IN TRAFFIC, IT HAS ALSO SEMI STALLED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY OR ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWO TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME IT WAS IN AND OUT FOR ABOUT A MONTH, IT WOULD STALL DRIVING IT OUT OF THE DEALER!! IT IS NOW IN FOR THE SECOND TIME, WITH NO END IN SIGHT. THE PURGE VALVE AND CANISTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THESE ACTIONS HOWEVER WILL NOT CORRECT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM , WHICH IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL EVAPORATION RECOVERY SYSTEM. I FULLY EXPECT THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE OR SECURE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT TRUST IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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