Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10118969May 13, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION GEAR WILL NOT CHANGE. VEHICLE LOCKED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO LOCK UP AND PRODUCED A BURNING SMELL. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117613April 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES HESITATION, LOST OF POWER, AND STALLING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON TEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PART, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116289April 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
THE GEAR SHIFT SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT STRIKING A PARKED CAR. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS, NO INJURIES HOWEVER. IN OCTOBER OF 2004 THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE AS A TRUCK WAS APPROACHING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CAR DID MOVE BY PUTTING GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRA AS THE DRIVER TRIED ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF THE WAYL. THIS CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD TRANSMISSION, WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115669March 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, STRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE FRONT PANEL IN THE CONSUMER'S 2003 KIA SPECTRA MADE NOISE. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN, DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE, FAULTY SPEAKER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THERE WOULD BE A CLICKING SOUND IF IT WAS FORCED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH FOR 10 MINUTES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114128March 15, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
MY COMPLAINT IS NOT A TRADITIONAL "FAILURE" AS YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING ON YOUR WEBSITE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT KIA HAS REDESIGNED THE AIRBAG MODULE IN THEIR NEWLY DESIGNED SPECTRA MODEL, AND DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY PLANS FOR RETRO-FITTING THE NEW DESIGN TO SAME MODEL SPECTRAS MANUFACTURED BEFORE JAN 2005. THE NEW DESIGN WAS AN IMPROVEMENT TO ALLOW THE SPECTRA TO RAISE ITS "POOR" OFFSET IIHS FRONTAL CRASH RATING TO SOMETHING BETTER. THE NEW TESTS OF THE REDESIGNED MODULE UPGRADED OFFSET FRONTAL CRASH RESULTS TO "ACCEPTABLE". SMALLER VENTING HOLES IN THE AIRBAG ARE DESCRIBED AS THE PRIMARY CHANGE. IT IS STATED THAT THE TEST CAR WAS INDEED A 2004.5 MODEL RETROFITTED WITH THE NEW AIRBAG MODULE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF KIA COULD RETROFIT AN 2004.5 MODEL AT TO OBTAIN A NEW TEST FROM IIHS, THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER THAT MODULE UPGRADE FREE-OF-CHARGE TO PURCHASERS OF THE 2004.5 AND 2005 MODELS BUILT BEFORE JAN 2005. SEE THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE OF THE SPECIFIC IIHS DETAILS. === IIHS TEST WITH OLD AIRBAG DESIGN RESULTING IN A "POOR" RATING HTTP://WWW.HWYSAFETY.ORG/VEHICLE%5FRATINGS/CE/HTML/0417.HTM === IIHS TEST WITH NEW AIRBAG DESIGN RESULTING IN A "ACCEPTABLE" RATING: HTTP://WWW.HWYSAFETY.ORG/VEHICLE%5FRATINGS/CE/HTML/0502.HTM . *AK ===
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112781March 9, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
FRONT BUMPER COVER COMING LOOSE ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA WITH 38,050 MILES. DUE TO THE COVER COMING LOOSE, THE INSIDE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL ALSO CAME LOOSE AND RUBBED AGAINST FRONT TIRE DAMAGING BOTH THE TIRE AND THE THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE PER KIA DEALER AND OUTSIDE MECHANIC. KIA REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING THAT THE FRONT BUMPER COVER COMING LOOSE AND CAUSING THIS PROBLEM IS AN "ADJUSTMENT ISSUE". THE OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A NOT AN ADJUSTMENT ISSUE, RATHER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND A LIKELY SAFETY ISSUE. SHOULD THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL HAVE CAME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FRICTION CREATED FROM IT RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE COULD HAVE INCREASED THE TIRE TEMPERATURE IN SUCH A WAY THAT COULD HAVE LED TO CATASTROPHIC FRONT TIRE FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER CORRECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS PART OF THEIR (IRONICALLY) BUMPER TO BUMBER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113741March 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
KIA SPECTRA 2004, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112469March 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THIS CAR CAME WITH A 100K MILE WARRANTY. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2003 IT HAD ONLY 79 MILES ON IT. IN DECEMBER OF 2004 WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT, IT GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW IN THE ROAD BLOCKING TRAFFIC. WE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET. AFTER PUSHING FOR A SHORT TIME TRANSMISSION BURNED UP AND IS NOW DESTROYED. I LIVE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY SO I GET SNOW OCCASIONALLY. DOES THIS MEAN THAT ANYONE LIVING WHERE IT SNOWS SHOULD NOT BY A KIA? I AM AWARE OF THE STIPULATION IN THE WARRANTY THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER DAMAGE DONE BY SNOW, ICE, ROAD DEBRIS ETC. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS, A SATURN FOR INSTANCE WITH CLOSE TO 100K MILES ON IT. IT HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN THE SNOW SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I LIVED IN OHIO. I HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF A SNOW DRIFT, SPUN THE TIRES. NEVER DID I HAVE A TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NEVER WOULD I THINK THAT A NEW CAR WOULD BE DESTROYED THAT EASILY, NOR DO I THINK THAT IT IS RIGHT FOR THE DEALER TO SAY IT IS ALL MY FAULT. ARE KIA OWNERS NOT SUPPOSED TO TRY TO GET TO WORK IF IT SNOWS. THIS IS KENTUCKY, NOT MICHIGAN. I THINK PURCHASERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CAR. FOR INSTANCE, A COOLER PART THAT ?MAY? HAVE METAL PARTICLES IN IT, HAS TO BE REPLACED AND WAS PRICED AT $400. WHEN I CONTACTED KIA'S CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS DIRECTLY I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE DISTRICT MANAGER HAD INSPECTED THE CAR AND MADE THE FINAL DECISION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111902February 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS MOVING MY CAR FROM THE SIDE DOOR OF MY HOUSE TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE DOOR WHEN I COULD NOT STOP. I WAS DOING APROXX. 3 MPH AND SLID IN THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS ABOUT A HALF FOOT FROPM HITTING MY SONS TRUCK WHICH IRONICALLY HE JUST HAD DONE A BRAKE JOB ON THE DAY BEFORE (WORKING GREAT). THE CAR WAS MADE ON 6/20/2001 SO IF ANYONE AS A PROBLEM IT NEED TO BE REPORTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111139February 8, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106990February 7, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR AT 65 MPH, CAUSING IT TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS BROKE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10109570January 14, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DURING AN ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER'S SEAT BELT RELEASED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM KIA SENT THE CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THAT ITS ENGINEERS DESIGNED AIRBAGS TO ONLY DEPLOY IN SEVERE ACCIDENTS WHERE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ON WHETHER OR NOT ANY LAWYER IS PURSUING ANY CASES AGAINST KIA. *TC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10106871January 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105761January 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A LIGHT AND UPON THE LIGHT TURNING GREEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR AND MY TACHOMETER NEEDLE WENT UP TO 4 AND HIGHER UNTIL I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. UPON PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN IT DID THE SAME THING (IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC) AND I HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND BACK INTO DRIVE. MY KIA STILL DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT SO I PUT IT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN AND PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO REV THE RPMS AND THEN PUT BACK INTO DRIVE AND IT DROVE OK. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR AND THE KIA DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN UNPREDICTABLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105603January 2, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE CRASH (FRONT END) AT !@55 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10104434December 23, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I BOUGHT A CAR 8 MONTHS AGO, A KIA SPECTRA, RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT THE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL DOWN WITH A PIECE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WENT TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. THEY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. BUT LAST WEEK EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN THEY RESCHEDULED MY APPOINTMENT 3 TIMES, AND FINALLY TODAY AFTER 7 HOURS OF WAITING I GOT MY CAR BACK. BUT THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T REPLACE IT, THEY ONLY GLUED IT, WHICH BY THE WAY I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO WORK. BUT THEY SAID THAT KIA DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A KIA WINDSHIELD ANYMORE. BUT WHEN THEY REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME THEY DECIDED TO USED A NON-KIA PART, NOT ME PROBABLY BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE PRICE IS OVER $200. ANYWAY, I'M REALLY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS. I GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SHOW ME HOW GOOD KIA IS. YOU CAN ORDER A KIA WINDSHIELD FOR $350 OR YOU CAN REPLACE IT WITH A LOCAL COMPANY FOR ABOUT $100. SO YOU DO THE MATH, AND TELL ME IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101465November 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101516November 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION AT 15 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10097508November 17, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099734November 10, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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