Kia Spectra Complaints

906 consumer complaints on file.

#10750044August 20, 2015
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
INTERMITTINGLY, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ENGINE BEGINS REVVING. INTERMITTINGLY, WHILE SLOWING & STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ENGINE BEGINS REVVING AND ATTEMPTS TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BREAK VERY HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. FRED ANDERSON KIA, RALEIGH, NC INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM ON 7/10/15 BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY RE-CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED ON AND OFF SINCE THEN. ON 8/20/15, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT & THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING DRAMATICALLY & THE CAR JERKED NOTICEABLY AS IT WENT INTO GEAR. I BACKED INTO THE SPOT & PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AGAIN JERKING. I LET THE CAR IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES & MOVED IT IN & OUT OF GEAR. THE REVVING WORSENED, THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO LURCH FORWARD EVEN WITH BOTH THE BREAK & EMERGENCY BREAK & CONTINUED JERKING WITH EVERY GEAR CHANGE. I HAVE AN APPT. ON 8/21/15 WITH FRED ANDERSON KIA TO INVESTIGATE. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AS I HAVE SEEN AN INDICATION OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER KIA VEHICLES ON THIS SITE & OTHER SITES. IT SEEMS AS IF KIA IS NOT RESOLVING THE ISSUE AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749893August 19, 2015
AIR BAGS
MY CAR IS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA EX. IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 FROM ENTERPRISE CAR SALES. THE MILEAGE AT PURCHASE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46K. IN MAY OF 2015, AROUND 74K MILEAGE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF AND ON SPORADICALLY. ONE DAY THE AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER TURNED OFF. AT THIS POINT, I DECIDED TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED MY A CERTIFIED KIA DEALER. THE AIR BAG CODE RECEIVED FROM INSPECTION WAS B1378 WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE 'SIDE AIR BAG - RESISTANCE TOO HIGH'. THE INSPECTOR THAN HOOKED UP THE AIR BAG TO SIDE AIR BAG CONNECTOR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OUT INDICATING THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT TO FIX THE ISSUE I WOULD NEED TO OBTAIN AN ENTIRE DRIVER'S SEAT FROM A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE TO REPLACE THE CURRENT DRIVER'S SEAT (COST PART & LABOR: $ 694.00, BUT NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD BE EFFECTIVE) OR PURCHASE A BRAND NEW AIR BAG DIRECTLY FROM KIA FACTORY (COST OF PARTS & LABOR: $1341.73) I HAVE SEEN THAT OTHER'S ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES IN OTHER FORUMS. THIS ISSUE WITH DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR KIA IN THE PAST WITH CARS OF SAME YEAR BUT DIFFERENT MODEL. I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP IF I WAS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT THIS AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749226August 17, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,500. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER FROM THE CONSUMER'S LAWYER, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ARISING UNDER THE DASHBOARD, APPARENTLY FROM THE BLOWER/VENTILATION SYSTEM. UPDATED 09/14/15. *JB MA 10/5 STATUS UPDATED 11/19/15.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY LIABILITY. THEY BLAMED THE FIRE ON A PAST INCIDENT, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH TOO MUCH OIL. UPDATED 04/25/16.*JB *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748226August 12, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE PASSANGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND NEVER WENT OFF. I AM WORRIED THAT IF MY CAR GETS HIT THE PASSENGER WILL GET HURT POSSIBILITY DIE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746839August 6, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746133August 4, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEATS
AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I DID TAKE MY CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT, IN ORDER TO FIX THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME ABOUT $2,000 BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IN FEBRUARY OF 2014, WAS WHEN THE INCIDENT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN AND IS WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY AIR BAG SYSTEM MESSED UP. I DID LOOK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE BUT I DID NOT FIND ANY AT THAT TIME. I DID MAKE A COMPLAINT ON SOME OTHER SITE BUT I JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS SITE WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND JUST NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEMS....UPDATED 10-26-15 *BF *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745773August 3, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEATS
MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN FLASHING OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND I HAD THOUGHT THAT IT WAS WHEN THERE WAS NO WEIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO ACTIVATE IT. AT SOME POINT AFTER THAT, IT STOPPED FLASHING AND WAS ON CONSTANTLY. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR ITS YEARLY INSPECTION AND IT WAS NOT PASSED DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY AIR BAG SYSTEM HAD BEEN DISABLED. THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WILL COST ME OVER $2000 TO FIX AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY DAY TO DAY DRIVING. I WAS INFORMED THAT IF I WERE TO GET INTO A COLLISION THAT MY AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THE KIA COMPANY ITSELF AND WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS IN FULL MYSELF. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY WILL NOT RECALL THIS PART AND PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND AND SAFETY TO ITS CUSTOMERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745528August 1, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF" LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON DURING A 1 HOUR TRIP AS WE WERE MOVING TO OUR NEW APARTMENT. LUCKILY WE DID NOT HAVE VERY FAR TO MOVE WHEN THIS SUDDEN SAFETY HAZARD AROSE AS WE COULD NOT MOVE A PASSENGER TO THE BACK SEAT. THE SENSOR DID NOT RECOGNIZE MY WIFE AT A LITTLE OVER 110 LBS. NOR MYSELF AT OVER 175 LBS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE OCS MAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF AROUND $1100 FOR PARTS AND $230 FOR THE LABOR. IT TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10733967July 14, 2015
STEERING, AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION
A FRONT TIE ROD BROKE, SOMETHING IN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE, AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIT UP BUT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE NOT POINTING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ISSUE LIKELY CAUSED A DISCONNECT IN A CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN PREVENT ALL AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731495July 1, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER PARKING CAR, THE KEY WILL NOT TURN ON IGNITION. LOCKS UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731510July 1, 2015
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF UPDATED 11/03/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731347June 30, 2015
AIR BAGS
MY AIR BAG IS OFF, I WENT TO KIA AND HAD IT REPLACE THEY SAID THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE MY CAR SEAT. MY CAR SEAT IS OKAY, WHAT I WAS COMPLAINING WHY MY AIR BAG IS OFF?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725310June 15, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
EACH TIME AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY DIE. AFTER A COMPLETE FILL UP, IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FOR THE PROBLEM TO ABATE. THROUGH SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, I FIND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT'S A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR CAN DIE AT ANY SPEED, ANY TIME AND ANY DRIVING CONDITION. THIS CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME. I KNOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD IT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I WANT TO KNOW IF IT CAN BE FIXED. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MY CAR DIE WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724303June 9, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO PULL TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724376June 9, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP FLASHED SPORADICALLY, WHICH INDICATED A MALFUNCTION. AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FLASHED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE, BUT RATHER THE WEIGHT CAPACITY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/01/15*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10723379June 4, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON BOTH ARMS AND RIGHT HAND FROM CHEMICALS USED IN THE AIR BAGS. THE FRONT PASSENGER ALSO SUFFERED AN INJURED RIGHT HAND AND SHOULDER FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10723276June 3, 2015
AIR BAGS
I WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN A PASSENGER TRUCK TURNED ILLEGALLY IN FRONT OF ME FROM THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS WOULD THINK IT SHOULD AT THAT SPEED. FORTUNATELY, MY SEAT BELT PREVENTED ME FROM GETTING A MORE SERIOUS INJURY. I DID RECEIVE A SEVERE BRUISE THAT TOOK MONTHS TO DISAPPEAR AND AGGRAVATED AN EXISTING BACK CONDITION. PERHAPS IT IS JUST AS WELL OR BETTER THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE AIRBAG MAY HAVE GIVEN ME A MORE SERIOUS INJURY. FORTUNATELY, I HAD NO PASSENGER AND THE OTHER PERSON IN THE TRUCK DID NOT GET HURT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I AM THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I AM ALIVE TODAY....UPDATED 12/10/15 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10722372May 29, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM FILING THIS FOR MY MOM. SHE REAR ENDED A CAR WHO HAD STOPPED THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT A GREEN LIGHT TO LET A VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING LOT. MY MOTHERS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHE RECEIVED A DOUBLE OPEN FRACTURE TO HER RIGHT ANKLE AND A FRACTURED STERNUM AND INTENSE CHEST TRAURA. SHE WAS LIFE FLIGHTED TO A HOSPITAL IN WV RUBY MEMORIAL SHE UNDERWENT SURGERY AND THEY SAVED HER RIGHT FOOT THEY WHER UNSURE IF THEY COULD SAVE AND TALKED BEFORE SURGERY OF POSSIBLE AMPUTATION
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10721336May 25, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY KIA SPECTRA STAYS ON AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $1600 FOR THE B1448 CODE WHICH IS PASSENGER SEAT MAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND MY CAR IS UNDER 80000 MILES. I THINK THAT AMOUNT IS REALLY HIGH FOR A SENOR TO FIX AND KIA SHOULD FIX AND RECALL THE AIRBAG ISSUE SINCE IT IS A HIGH RISK FOR THE SAFETIES OF AMERICAN LIVES. NHTSA SHOULD MAKE KIA RECALL THE AIRBAG ISSUE. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721068May 22, 2015
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
I NO LONGER HAVE THE CAR, SO I CANNOT PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER AT THIS TIME. (I CAN GET IT, WITH SOME WORK INVOLVED). I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE CRASH. I LIVE IN RURAL IOWA. DEER START THEIR RUT IN OCTOBER. I SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, ON A TWO LANE ROAD. WENT DOWN A 40 FOOT DITCH, NOSE FIRST. BECAUSE THE BOTTOM OF THE DITCH WAS A GULLY, THE FRONT OF THE ROOF, THE HOOD, THE FRONT LIGHTS, ETC. WERE ALL DESTROYED. NOT ONE OF THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEY ARE NOT A PART OF THE NEWS ROUND OF AIRBAGS, BUT I WANT THIS ON RECORD. AGAIN, I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES, AND IT WILL BE OBVIOUS THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE 8 AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE, LOOK INTO THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA'S AIR BAGS. LOOK TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR MONEY, I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER (WHEN SHE WAS SIX, WITH THE TEN YEAR WARRANTY, I INTENDED TO PASS IT ON TO HER, WHEN SHE GOT HER LICENSE..... BOY AM I GLAD I WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH, AND NOT HER, SEEING IS HOW THAT IS THE EXACT REASON WHY I DECIDED TO BUY THE KIA.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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