Kia Spectra Complaints (2009)

114 consumer complaints on file.

#10712140April 22, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712046April 21, 2015
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SENSOR MAKES A WORKING LIGHT STAY ON. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY KIA DEALERSHIP IT SAID MANUFACTURER FAILURE. THEY SAID THINGS HAPPEN AND IT'S AFTER 5 YEARS SO IT'S MY JOB TO FIX THIS $2000 PROBLEM. ...UPDATED 07-08-15 *BF UPDATE (JULY 9, 2015): PER THE COMPLAINANT, THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS CAUSING A MECHANICAL FAILURE WARNING. PER A KIA PARTS ADVISOR: "THERE IS A PASSENGER WEIGHT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR THAT IS PART OF THE PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM THAT IS PART OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS FAILED IN THE PAST ON THESE CARS AND WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT. ASSUMING THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR, THE PRICES FOR THIS PART RANGE FROM $1000.00 TO $1500.00 DEPENDING ON THE TRIM LEVEL AND OPTIONS FOR YOUR CAR." *SC THE CONSUMER STATED IN MAY, AFTER A YEAR OF FIGHTING WITH KIA AND THE VEHICLE FAILING INSPECTION, KIA GAVE HER FREE PASSENGER SEAT TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR CALLING IT AN ACT OF GOOD WILL. THEY CHARGED HER $230 FOR LABOR WHEN SHE WAS FIST QUOTED $130. THE SEAT COST $2,000. THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD A DEFECT ERROR AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, WHICH WAS THE REASON THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 07/16/15*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10701841March 26, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670532January 6, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ENGINE KEPT DYING ON ME AFTER I FILLED UP THE TANK. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE OR 3 YEARS NOW AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I DON'T TOP OFF THE TANK SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I FIND IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS STALLING OUT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING NOT EVEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH 3 KIDS IN THE CAR AND GAS COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR ONTO THE GROUND. I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD I OVERFILLED THE TANK AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER DAMAGE OF CHARCOAL FILTER AND ALL AIR AND CABIN FILTERS FILLING UP WITH GAS SO NOW I AM STUCK PAYING $400 THAT I DON'T HAVE. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO KIA BUT THEY WILL NOT SET AS RECALL OR HELP ACCOMMODATE US WITH DAMAGES AND I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 3 KID AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG TO CAUSE THIS AND YET WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661780December 2, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 07/13/15*BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659310November 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE LOCKS ON ITS OWN. THE CAR LOCKS HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN AND I FEEL IT CAN POTENTIALLY BE A SAFETY DANGER. FOR INSTANCE, ONE TIME THE LOCKS UNLOCKED ON THERE OWN WHILE MY TODDLER NEPHEW WAS IN THE CAR. ANOTHER TIME, MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR MULTIPLE TIMES AS SHE WAS PARKED AND A STRANGER SEEMED TO BE AFTER HER. SHE TRIED MANY TIMES TO UNLOCK THE CAR DOOR, BUT THE DOORS WOULD LOCK ON THEIR OWN. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632519September 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,424. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 45 MINUTES UNTIL HER HUSBAND ARRIVED TO LET HER OUT. SEATBELT WOULD UNLOCK. UPDATED 04/20/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627073August 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGIN INCREASING IN SPEED. BRAKES WERE TAPPED, NO DECREASE IN SPEED, BRAKES WERE APPLIED, NO DECREASE IN SPEED, PUSHED TO DE-ACTIVATE CRUISE, NO RESULT; I HAD TO PUSH THE GEAR SHIFT IN NEUTRAL, MOTOR WAS RACING, TURN OFF KEY, TURN BACK ON MOMENTARILY ALL WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE CRUISE THEN QUIT WORKING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, BEGAN WORKING AGAIN; TRAVELING 60 MPH AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN BECAUSE CRUISE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. VERY DANGEROUS!!! AT THIS POINT I DO NOT USE THE CRUISE NOR WILL USE IT UNTIL I CAN HAVE IT SEEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627289August 21, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WAS GOING OFF AND ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH. NOW THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND NEED TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED BUT IT WILL NOT PASS DUE TO THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BEING ON. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT SHOULD BE ON; THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY TYPE OF WRECK OR DAMAGE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP REQUIRES ME TO HAVE THE SEAT REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR.THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY SENSOR. I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT FOR KIA TO NOT BE RESPONSIBLE THE FAULTY SENSOR THAT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT TO BE REPLACED THAT WILL COST ALMOST $1800.00 DOLLARS TO FIX JUST SO I CAN GET THE CAR INSPECTED SO IT CAN BE DRIVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621507August 11, 2014
AIR BAGS
A FEW MONTHS AGO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON MY 2009 SPECTRA. IT WENT FROM FLASHING ON AND OFF TO ALTERNATING FLASHING WITH THE AIRBAG SYMBOL ON THE DASHBOARD. FINALLY, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF COMPLETELY AND THE AIRBAG WARNING SYMBOL STAYED ON. DUE TO SEVERAL FAMILY TRAGEDIES I JUST NOW HAD THE TIME TO TAKE IT TO MY KIA DEALER. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WHICH IS BUILT INTO THE SEAT ITSELF AND THE WHOLE SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1765.00. I HAVE ONLY 18,450 MILES ON THE CAR BUT BECAUSE I HAD IT LONGER THAN 5 YEARS, I WILL HAVE TO PAY IT MYSELF. THE DEALER SAID THE CAR HAS A BUILT IN SAFETY FEATURE WHICH WILL DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS ANYWAY BUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE IT FIXED. I CAN'T AFFORD THIS BUT AM AFRAID MY LIFE INSURANCE WOULD NOT PAY IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND HAD NOT HAD THE AIRBAG ISSUE CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620812August 8, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618381August 2, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING THE CAR TO START SPEEDING , I APPLIED THE PEDAL BRAKES THE ENGINE CONTINUED RACING, THE CAR CONTINUED ROLLING IT WOUND NOT STOP. I MANAGED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHICH THEN STOPPED THE CAR.I RESTARTED THE CAR, STARTED DRIVING AGAIN THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING, I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE PEDAL BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME FINALLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614704July 19, 2014
AIR BAGS
WE BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2009 KIA SPECTRA (USED) FOR HER 16TH BIRTHDAY IN 2012. THE MILEAGE WAS AT ABOUT 50,000. IN JUST TWO YEARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SO MANY THINGS ON THIS CAR IT IS UNBELIEVABLE, THIS CAR WAS JUNK WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT. THIS MORNING SHE TOLD ME THAT HER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND DIDN'T KNOW WHY. SHE HAD A PASSENGER AND STILL THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT. ALSO THE TPS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR EVEN WITH REPLACING THE TIRES AND RIMS IT STAYED ON. KIA SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A RECALL ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY A LEMON AND IF KIA CARES ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE ARE NOW LOOKING TO REPLACE THIS KIA BECAUSE WE DON'T FEEL OUR DAUGHTER IS SAFE AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS IN THIS FORUM. THANKS KIA, WE WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING YOU MAKE EVER AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609000July 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
WHEN TURNING ON VEHICLE IN THE MORNING THE AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WHENEVER A PASSENGER SITS IN PASSENGER SEAT THE LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG IS WORKING. UPON HAVING IT CHECKED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A FAULTY AIR-BAG SENSOR FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THIS WOULD MEAN NO PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG WOULD DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE AIR-BAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. REPAIRS WOULD EXCEED $1,600.00 AND NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OR RECALL. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607838July 2, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR TO MORRIE'S MINNETONKA KIA DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THE OCR SEAT MAT FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. QUOTED $1,941.02 FOR REPAIR NEEDING A REPLACEMENT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY PAR KI88202-2F703390. THE SEAT OCR FAILURE SHOULD NOT DISABLE THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND WITH THE VERY EXPENSIVE FIX I BELIEVE MOST ARE JUST DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT REPAIR. I THINK KIA SHOULD RECALL OR PROVIDE A PART TO DISABLE THE SWITCH MAKING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERABLE. THIS WOULD BE MUCH SAFER THAN DISABLING THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. NOT UNDER 100,000 MILE 10 YEAR WARRANTY. THIS SEAT WAS RARELY USED AND IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. LESS THAN 10% OF MILES HAD ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606252June 26, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER, FOLSOM KIA IN FOLSOM CA. WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PART # 88202-2F7031931. COST WITH DISCOUNT APPROXIMATELY 1750.00. INFORMED THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. UPON DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. THOSE ARE FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT COMPLAINT FORUMS. I SUSPECT A FLAW IN THE SYSTEM. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY SITUATION, THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584809April 25, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST OVER A GRAND TO REPAIR IT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IF I DON'T REPAIR IT THE AIR BAGS COULD DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING OR THEY MAY NOT EVEN DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN ERROR ON THE MANUFACTURES PART. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM! IF THIS DOES NOT GET FIXED I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA. WHY WOULD I BUY A VEHICLE IF I WON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573619March 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROLLED FORWARD SEVERAL YARDS IN PARKING LOT ON VERY SLIGHT GRADE THOUGH TRANSMISSION WAS IN "PARK," ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, IGNITION WAS TURNED TO "OFF," IGNITION KEY REMOVED, AND ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO PARKING SPACE AND WAS LAST IN "DRIVE" BEFORE BEING SHUT OFF. VISUAL INSPECTION OF SHIFTER CABLE INDICATED CORRECT INSTALLATION AND NO APPARENT DEFECT. PAWL APPEARED TO BE ENGAGING NORMALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566514February 28, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP STARTED IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH REQUIRED THE BATTERY TO BE RECHARGED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564781February 18, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS A STAYING ON. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD HAVE THEM DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IF THERE IN A ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ MANY POST ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH KIA'S AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON SUCH SAFETY COMPONENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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