Kia Spectra Complaints (2008)

121 consumer complaints on file.

#10514578May 31, 2013
AIR BAGS
THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE DURING A STATE INSPECTION. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAT, WHICH COST ME $2,231.93. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTOSHOP, AND BY 2 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALOT IN KIAS. I THINK THAT KIA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT. I SEE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS. THIS MODEL SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511241May 9, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509315April 23, 2013
AIR BAGS
THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY SENSE THE FRONT PASSENGER, RESULTING IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR BEING IN THE "OFF" MODE EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING THERE. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY A KIA DEALER, WHO SAID THE COMPUTER DID NOT NOTE ANYTHING WRONG. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID "WITH SOME KIA'S, THE SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT UNLESS THEY ARE SITTING DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT." THIS CONCERNS US GREATLY, AS, IF WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE SENSOR DOES NOT REGISTER A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504605March 26, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
I STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY SEAT BELT'S AND I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND AN ISSUE I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM'S TOOK IT BACK SEVERAL TIME'S AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING NOW MY SEAT BELT'S IN THE BACK OF MY CAR DO NOT WORK AT ALL I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEN AFTER THAT I STARTED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND AIR BAG THE LIGHT ON THE DASH NEXT TO THE CLOCK WOULDN'T GO OFF OR IT JUST FLICKERED AND THE AIR BAG ICON WITH THE PERSON ON IT CAME ON AND HASN'T WENT OFF I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND THE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT NOW THAT THE LIGHT NEXT TO THE CLOCK HAS GONE OUT AND THE PERSON ICON WITH THE AIR BAG ON MY DASH JUST STAY'S ON I TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A PASSENGER SEAT FOR $1,900.00 BECAUSE MY WARRANTY FOR THAT PART WAS UP. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD FIX THESE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND I TRANSPORT SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502779March 14, 2013
AIR BAGS
I ACTUALLY OWN 2 KIAS SAME YEAR AND MODEL. AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF WHEN SOMEONE WOULD SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT. THEN IT STARTED STAYING ON ALL THE TIME ON SO IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR. NOW MY HUSBANDS KIA IS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME, SO I HAVE TO RIDE WITH HIM AT MY OWN RISK BECAUSE I HAVE NO AIR BAG PROTECTION ON MY SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487557December 6, 2012
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE HIT FROM REAR AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE TO DRIVERS SIDE AND VEHICLE IN FRONT. FIRE DEPT AT SCENE SAID THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS AND SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF. DRIVER WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. CHILDREN IN BACK SEAT VERY MINOR INJURIES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10487390December 4, 2012
ENGINE
I PAID CASH FOR A KIA 08/09,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN IT WAS DROP OFF BY THE DEALERSHIP.I CALL RIGHT BACK I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN. THIS CONTINUE 3 TIMES AFTER, THE CRANK SHAFT WENT OUT,THE FUEL SENSOR WAS THE 4 TIME WITH ME 1 TIME WITH THE OTHER OWNER. SHE PUT 3500MI. ON THE CAR FACT. MY TITLE SAID, 200 MI. THEN, THE GAS PEDDLE WAS SO HOT I COULD NOT KEEP MY FOOT ON IT. I WAS CALL BY KIA, PARK THE CAR OR IT WILL BLOW UP ON YOU. I WAS ON THE ROAD NEXT TO A CANE FIELD NO HOUSES CLOSE TO ME. I'M 65 YRS. OLD, BEEN GOING FOR OVER 38 MO. BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS LOUISIANA NEW CAR COMMISSIONER(1) HE KEEPING ME AT BAY. THIS CAR WAS ON IT WAY BACK TO KIA MANFACTURE. BUT WAS SOLD TO ME BECAUSE I PAID CASH. THEY THEY TRIED TO BUY BACK THE CAR FROM A LOAN CO. WHERE I TOOK A LOAN ON IT. THEY LAUGH AT ME TELL ME I'M ON MY OWN. I STILL HAVE THE WARRANTY ON IT. COULD YOU HELP ME. THIS WAS A NEW CAR I WAS SOLD EVEN THOUGH SOME ONE ELSE HAD IT BEFORE ME FOR MONTHS 3500MI. YET ON MY TITLE IT SAID 200MI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481543October 23, 2012
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE MASS AIR SENSOR FLOW FILTER AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED SURGING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER THE SURGING, THE RPM'S WOULD RACE TO HIGH NUMBERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473835September 4, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 12/29/08. THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN MY WIFE TRIED TO BACK IT OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE MECHANICS EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT WE MUST HAVE OVERFILLED THE GAS TANK. TODAY -- 9/4/12 -- IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I FORGOT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WE HAD IN 08 AND MISTAKENLY FILLED UP THE GAS TANK. FOR THE LAST 30 MILES I'VE DRIVEN IT, IT HAS STALLED OUT AT LEAST SIX TIMES AND FREQUENTLY SHUDDERED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT WON'T START TOMORROW MORNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452643March 22, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE FRONT DRIVER FRONTAL AND SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES FROM THE IMPACT AND WAS KILLED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 04/23/12 UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ SPOKE WITH CONSUMER, THERE WAS ONE DEATH AND NO INJURIES. UPDATED 05/151/2
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10447682February 12, 2012
AIR BAGS
MY SON HAS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA AND I HAVE A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. BOTH CARS HAVE DIFFICULTY TURNING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN THE CAR IS/HAS BEEN COLD AND MY WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SHE WEIGHS APPROX 105 POUNDS AND WHEN THE CARS HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE COLD, THE SENSORS IN THE SEAT DO NOT REGISTER THAT SHE'S THERE. CONSEQUENTLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE KIA DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAY THAT IF FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. BUT IT DOESN'T. IF THE WEATHER'S WARM, NEITHER CAR SEEMS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AS OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446870February 6, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO FRACTURED COLLAR BONES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,207. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/08/12
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10427576September 27, 2011
SEAT BELTS
THE REAR SEAT BELTS LOCK UP WHEN YOU START TO PULL THEN AROUND YOU AND THEY WILL NOT TURN LOOSE SO YOU CAN GET THEN ON. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424490September 9, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNG FORWARD AND ACCELERATE, ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA EMAIL, BUT THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422873September 1, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND LATER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL OWN HIS OWN FOR TREATMENT. THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,800.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10413456July 18, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2008 KIA SPECTRA, PURCHASED NEW JAN 2008, 20K MILES, PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ONLY GOES OFF (ACTIVE) WHEN A PERSON OF AROUND 200 LBS SITS IN IT. MY GRANDCHILDREN, SOME OF WHICH ARE 120 OR MORE LBS, DO NOT SET IT OFF. I HAVE BEEN MAKING THEM SIT IN THE BACK SEAT, BUT AFTER READING THE CRASH COMPLAINTS, WHERE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AS WELL AS MY OWN. I DO NOT CARE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TO SEE IF THEY WILL WORK! NOT ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL CAR. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410048June 30, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403875May 31, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT UNOCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375380January 10, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN MY SON, WHO IS 12 YEARS OLD SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (WEIGHS 103 POUNDS) THE LIGHT GOES OFF SOMETIMES OR STAYS ON SOMETIMES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, BUT WHEN MY FIANCEE WHO IS IN EXCESS OF 180 POUNDS SITS IN THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, THUS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, NOT CONSTANTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374896January 6, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG ACTIVATION SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE SHE WOULD HAVE NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY FOR ME TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM WHEN SHE IS A PASSENGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Spectra