Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10206534October 22, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE RAPIDLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. SHE HAD TO CONTINUALLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY STOP. OCCASIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, IT WOULD DRIFT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ECU. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205291October 9, 2007
TIRES, SUSPENSION
THE REAR DRIVER TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE WINDOW WAS DOWN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A TAPPING NOISE STARTED TO SOUND, WHEN THE CAR STOPPED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FEELING SHAKY, THE TIRE HAD A RIP IN THE SIDE OF IT, THE WIRES WERE SHOWING, IT LOOKED LIKE A CUT BUT IT HAD JUST HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. THE TIRE HAS ALOT OF TREAD LEFT ON IT AND I THINK THE OTHER MATCHING SET OF TIRES MAY EXPLODE ANY DAY. AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW WITH THE TIRES BEING THIS WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204435September 29, 2007
AIR BAGS
I HAD A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING TO WASHINGTON TO HELP HER HUSBAND FIX UP AN APARTMENT FOR THEM TO MOVE IN. I SUGGESTED TO MY DAUGHTER THAT SHE COULD TAKE MY CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW AND MORE RELIABLE. I RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT 12:30 AM. SHE TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF HER AND SHE VEERED TO KEEP FROM HITTING HER. SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE DID SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE CAR AND SHE LOST CONTROL. SHE ENDED GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SANDWICHING THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE. I MIGHT WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HUMAN ERROR ON HER PART. BUT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY. THIS TELLS ME THAT SOMETHING WAS HORRIBLY WRONG WITH MY CAR AND MY DAUGHTER WAS BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING SALVAGEABLE FROM THIS CAR. I TOLD HIM THAT I FELT THAT IT WAS STRANGE THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CAR WAS CRUSHED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS TELLS ME SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG. CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10202180September 7, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE CURB WAS HIGHER THAN THE FRONT BUMPER, THE FRONT BUMPER COULD POSSIBLY FALL OFF IF IT HIT THE CURB. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201552August 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2006 KIA SPECTRA WITH STALLING PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CAR STALLING**CC THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 7, 2007 THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MAINTENANCE. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE MAINTENANCE THE CONSUMER STATED A VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LANE CHANGE THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEEL FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH THE FREEWAY DIVIDER AND SUFFERED INJURIES AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WOULD LIKE THIS EVENT INVESTIGATED. THE CONSUMER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, THERE WERE SEVERAL LIGHTS THAT APPEARED ON THE DASH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10200566August 23, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT HER VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE OWNER'S MANUAL MENTIONED THAT HER VEHICLE HAS CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,692.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199784August 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 KIA SPECTRA, APPROX. 2 YEARS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WHILE I CAME TO A STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KIA AND THEY DID A TUNE UP AND REPLACED A PART THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE PROBLEM FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF OR TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT TAKES ALL YOU CAN DO TO KEEP THE CAR FROM LUNGING FORWARD. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER ON IT CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR COULD RUN GREAT FOR DAYS, BUT THEN IT STARTS TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. I HAVE BEEN IN SOME SCARY SITUATIONS ON VERY BUSY HIGHWAYS, WHERE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING , FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO STS 3 TIMES TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND ON THOSE OCCASIONS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SIMULATE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS APPROX 8 TIMES. I'VE HAD BOTH LOW BEAMS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. *JB
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
#10197338July 24, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE DRIVER SUFFERED HEARING LOSS IN THE LEFT EAR, WHIPLASH IN THE NECK, AND A CUT ON THE ARM. THE REAR PASSENGER WAS A NINE YEAR OLD CHILD WHO SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 29,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10196265July 13, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE RAINY AND MUDDY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES ALONG WITH CUTS AND SCRATCHES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED IN THE FRONT BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10194138June 25, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. ONE YEAR AGO, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER REPLACING THE BUCKLE, IT HAS DETACHED AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 20,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,424.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194183June 25, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING ABOUT 65 MPH BOTH TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE, AND WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHOWED UP IT TOOK HIM A GOOD 15 MINUTES TO GET THE BRAKES UNSTUCK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190652May 14, 2007
STEERING, SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND WAS DESTROYED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 600. UPDATED 06/22/07 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10190326May 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE 2003 KIA SPECTRA CAUGHT ON FIRE. THEREWAS NOTHING LEFT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRIAL FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190020May 7, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL WIRES WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE NEEDS A WIRE HARNESS AND A CONTROL HEAD PART. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,206.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189763May 4, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JAN. 25, 2007 AND MY FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I NOW HAVE A SLIPPED DISK IN MY NECK DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. KIA REFUSED TO TELL ME WHY IT DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10188442April 20, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
ON MARCH 2, 2007, WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA-5 AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD MOLDING BLEW OUT OF THE TRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT SCARED ME BEYOND WORDS. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ORDERED AND REPLACED THE MOLDING WITH NEW PARTS. THE DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST CAR THEY HAD REPLACED THIS MOLDING ON. LAST WEEK, APRIL 8, 2007 THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING POPPED OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE MOLDING IS STILL IN PLACE ALONG THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED A NEW PART. I EXPECT TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED AGAIN NEXT WEEK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187232April 6, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM DEALER IN 2/06, BROUGHT REGULARLY TO DEALER FOR ANY AND ALL WARRANTY/MAINTENANCE WORK. THIS YEAR VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER BECAUSE AT TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND SOUNDED AS IF THE GAS WAS BEING APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER ASSURED THIS WAS THE ABS KICKING IN , AND ALL WAS WELL. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF OURS WAS HIT, AND ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PAINT WAS COMING OFF THE CAR BELOW BOTH REAR DOORS ON BOTH SIDES, WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO SALT AND SAND. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE EFFECTED, AND WE SAW THAT ON THE 2007 SPECTRA THERE HAS BEEN A GUARD ADDED TO ENSURE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE 2007 SPECTRA. HOWEVER WE WERE TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY BECAUSE WE LIVED IN A SALT AND SAND STATE. THEREFORE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS WASHED WEEKLY, IN LESS THAN A YEAR ,IT WILL SIMPLY CONTINUE TO RUST AND WE HAVE NO RECOURSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186539March 30, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT REPORTED WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED TO REMOVE SNOW AND ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. AS THE TEMPERATURE CONTINUED TO DROP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REMAINED MOTIONLESS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ICE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 6,500.*AK UPDATE 4/25/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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