Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10063642March 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
SILENCER PIPE SPLIT WHICH IS NO CAUSE OR DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER, THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, MY CAR HAS MADE AN EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH AT FIRST WAS DIAGNOSISED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LATER TO DISCOVER FROM AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THE SILENCER PIPE HAD SPLIT DUE TO POOR PRODUCTION. THIS I BELIEVE IN TURN ALSO HAS AFFECTED MY PERFORMANCE OF MY CAR AND CAUSED THE PURGE VALVE THAT I MUST ALSO REPLACE TO HAVE FAILED LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WHEN REGISTERATION COMES DUE MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG. I HAVE HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. EVERYONE CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THEIR OUTRAGEOUS CHARGES BUT I HAD TO BREAKDOWN AND GO TO PAY 82.00 FOR A DIAGNOSIS FOR AT LEAST 420.00 WORTH OF SERVICE THAT I MUST PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED 315.00 TO REPLACE SILENCER PIPE THAT WAS ALREADY DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER AND 90.00 FOR THE PURGE VALVE THESE CHARGES ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP INCLUDE LABOR. ALREADY LOSING THE 82.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. MY CAR HAS ONLY 57493 MILES WITHIN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE HAD IT. I HAVE HAD TO ALSO HAD THE AIR BAG MODULE CONTROL REPLACED THAT HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER ON 6/21/01 AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THUS I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE ISSUE FROM KIA, WHICH WAS OF NO CHARGE THE FIRST TIME BUT USED MY WARRANTY?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058451February 19, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON A FRONT SLIGHTLY LEFT INPACT TO MY VEHICLE, MY AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT.I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A RATHER LARGE BUMP AND BRUISE. I HAVE PAIN TURNING MY NECK AND IN MY SHOULDERS AND WILL SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THIS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10058467February 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONITUNES TO POP ON. AS OF 2/19/04, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS LIT UP 3 TIMES. ONCE IT WENT OUT ON ITS OWN, I LET IT GO. THE PAST TWO TIMES IT HAS BEEN RELATED TO THE P0442 EVAP LEAK (FUEL CAP). FUNNY THING IS, MY 2003 SPECTRA HAD A RECALL NOTICE COME IN TO HAVE THE FULE CAP REPLACED DUE TO A KNOWN 'LEAK'. I NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH THIS PRIOR TO THE RECALL FIX. I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 1 YEAR NOW AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE. SCHEDULED APPT FOR 02/23/04 AND DEALER ADVISED THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AND RE-REPLACE FUEL CAP IF NEEDED. IT IS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT AN ANNOYANCE. IT WILL MAKE ONE GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY MIGHT IGNORE THE ENGINE LIGHT DO TO IT CONTINUOUSLY COMING ON FOR NO SERIOUS REASON!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058494February 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WARPED ROTORS AND CHEAP BRAKE PADS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058219February 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
2 PROBLEMS. 1ST THE STEERING WHEEL DOESNT LOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS SHUT OF, YOU CAN TURN THE WHEEL FREELY AND THE TIRES MOVE. ALSO SOMETIMES NOT ALL ACCESORIES WORK WHEN CAR IS RUNNING, HAVE TO MOVE THE KEY AROUND. ACCESORIES AFFECTED ARE THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, STEREO AND CLOCK FLITTERS. THE SECOND IS THE RUBBER WINDOW STRIPPING KEEPS FALLING OFF, CAUSES DOOR TO NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND IS VERY ANNOYING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057129February 13, 2004
STRUCTURE, STEERING:COLUMN, STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR--2002 KIA SPECTRA, THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION IN THE FRONT. IT BASICALLY SITS ON THE GROUND, THE STEERING "SLIPS" FROM TIME TO TIME WITHOUT WARNING AND IT JUST DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THIS IS THE WAY THE STEERING IS SET UP, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND THE DEALER WILL NOT CHANGE IT UNTIL IT IS RECALLED BY THE GOVERNMENT. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE? THANKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059129February 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHEARED OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULLED OVER. DRIVER NOTIFIED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058058February 12, 2004
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK SEAT BELT OVER THE LEFT SHOULDER RELEASED AND FAILED TO HOLD UP AS WELL. CONSUMER SUFFERED LARGE LACERATION ACROSS LEFT EYE. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10058063February 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055988January 28, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH IN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071094January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE OIL PAN PLUG FELL OFF OF THE OIL PAN AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT UNTIL I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 20 MILES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TO THE KIA DEALER, EVENTHOUGH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.(5 YRS OR 50,000 MILES) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT STILL LEAKING OIL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DID BUY THE VEHICLE USED THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069743January 15, 2004
SEAT BELTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE RUBBER WEATHER STRIP CAME OFF AND CONTINUES TO COME OFF AFTER A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I NEEDED TO PUT OIL IN THE CAR 2 MONTHS AFTER I GO IT, IT WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. I WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGED A FEW MONTHS LATER AT KIA OF COLUMBUS GA, AND ASKED WOULD THEY TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS AND THEY REPLIED YES. LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER I HAD TO GET MY OIL CHANGED AGAIN AND I NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAVE HAD A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES SQUEAKING SINCE ABOUT AFTER THE FIRST WEEK. THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME AT KIA OF COLUMBUS GA THAT MY BRAKES WERE FINE. MY BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. THE LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN, COMES ON BY ITSELF WHEN ALL THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE LIGHT ON THE CEILING OF THE CAR HAS TO STAY IN A PERMANENT OFF POSITION, OR THE LIGHT WILL COME ON BY ITSELF. MY CAR HAS BEEN KICKING BACK WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE WHILE MAKING THIS GROANING NOISE WHEN IN REVERSE. MY SEAT BELT ALSO SEEMS TO PULL IN A LOCKED POSITION SOMETIMES WHEN I AM AT A RED LIGHT, I AM SITTING STILL, NOT MAKING ANY SHARP TURNS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS KIA SINCE I BOUGHT IT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070297January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. KIA RETURNED THE CAR AFTER 2 WEEKS. IT WORKED FOR 1 HOUR. RETURNED IT TO KIA-KIA RETURNED AFTER 5 WEEKS. AIR WORKED FOR 3 WEEKS. RETURNED TO KIA-SAID IT WAS THE FREON. WORKED FOR 30 MINS AND QUIT. I CANNOT TAKE IT BACK TO HAVE IT WORKED ON BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME A CAR TO DRIVE. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING IN THE HEAT WITH NO AIR BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO ACCOMODATE ME. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR 3.5 MONTHS BECAUSE OF REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069028January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I GOT IN A ACCIDENT WHEN MY BRAKES WENT OUT THAT NIGHT AND I COULDN'T STOP. WHEN MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THEY TOLD MY THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND I NEED THE HAVE THE BRAKE LINE CHECKED OUT. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE KIND OF BRAKES THEY ARE THE WOULD SQUEAK. THEY NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT THE BRAKES BECAUSE THAT SAME DAY I HAD MY BRAKES REPLACED. I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS AND A LOT MORE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048314January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES,AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10038339December 2, 2003
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR. THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047645November 26, 2003
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW LOCKED UP WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. USED ON THE WAY TO WORK, 4 HOURS LATER WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. NO NOISE, OR SOUNDS JUST QUIT WORKING. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046393November 5, 2003
TIRES
REAR RIGHT TIRE DEVELOPED BUBBLES AND MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. NAME OF TIRE: KUMHO, ECSTA-HP4, TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 DOT: NUMBER UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044125October 16, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES BROKE WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THEY WERE LATER RELEASED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10041615October 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I BOUGHT A KIA SPECTRA 2003 ON 9/27/03 WITH MANUFACTURER'S DATE OF 11/4/02. IT WAS A USED CAR WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT. ON 10/09/03, THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING AN EMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND REPLACED THE GAS CAP THAT THEY DISCOVERED WAS LEAKING. HOWEVER, ON 10/10/03, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE CHECK LIGHT BLINKED ON MOMENTARILY WHILE THE CAR LOST SPEED, AND WHEN THE LIGHT BLINKED OFF IT RESUMED ITS SPEED. IN REVIEWING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, IT APPEARS THAT KIA SPECTRAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 5/4/01 AND 7/12/02 WERE TO BE HAVE THE ORVR VALVE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CAR MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECT BUT IS NOT COVERED BY THE TSB. I WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION FOR MY CAR IN CASE THE TSB IS EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF MY CAR. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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