10 of the
132 complaints about the 2003 KIA Spectra are about the
glass, mirrors and wipers — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
55,250 miles.
C
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Motor
440.0%
Power Window Devices AND Controls
220.0%
Windshield Wiper/Washer
110.0%
Glass, Side/Rear
110.0%
Linkages
110.0%
Visibility
110.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SAN Angelo, TX
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 KIA SPECTRA. NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF THE TRACK, AND THE IN-DOOR ASSEMBLY HAD CRUMBLED WITHIN THE DOOR. TOOK GETTING AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR THE WINDOW. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN. MOTOR STILL WORKS. A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AS IT RUNS, BUT IT IS NOT GRIPPING THE WINDOW TO LOWER IT. (STILL NOT REPAIRED).
NHTSA complaint #10377946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesDeltona, FL
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS CAUSING WINDOW TO SLIDE DOWN TRACK INTO THE DOOR. THE POWER REGULATOR RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW WITH A METAL WIRE RUNNING THROUGH PLASTIC GUIDES ON A METAL TRACK. THE ENDS OF THE WIRE ARE CAPPED INSIDE A PLASTIC BRACKET TO WHICH THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED. THESE PLASTIC PARTS WEAR AND CRACK CAUSING THE WIRE TO COME LOOSE THUS PREVENTING THE WINDOW FROM BEING HELD UP.
NHTSA complaint #10353778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,500 milesAstoria, NY
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT REPORTED WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED TO REMOVE SNOW AND ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. AS THE TEMPERATURE CONTINUED TO DROP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REMAINED MOTIONLESS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ICE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 6,500.*AK UPDATE 4/25/07
NHTSA complaint #10186539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Versailles, PA
VISIBILITY
PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY OF 2003, JUNE 30TH OF 2003 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD TO HAVE THE TPS REPLACED AND 3 MORE TIMES TO PRESENT. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED, HEATING PROBLEM, EXHAUST REPLACED. CAR IS NOW ON 46,000 HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED (THROUGH AN ATT. FROM LEMON LAW) AT 16,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED. AND, NOW TO DATE TIRES WERE REPLACED FOR THE 5TH TIME, BRAKES WERE DONE 4 TIMES, NOW TO FIND OUT THE REASON TIRES AND BRAKES WERE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO MANY TIMES IS BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION IS WAY OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH SEEING I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG I NOW BELIEVE IT WAS A DEFECT ALL ALONG.
NHTSA complaint #10174576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, MI1 injured
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 2 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON IN HIS CAR SEAT IN BACK. HE WAS DRIVING APROX 50 MPH. HE WAS IN A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A WARRANTY UP TO 60000 MILES. WE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED THE CAR OFF. THEY SAID WE DID SOMETHING WRONG IE HIT SOMETHING THREW SOMETHING ECT. THEY CLAIMED THE FOUND A PEBBLE ON THE BACK LID (WE SEARCHED THE CAR) THE PEBBLE HAD THE SAME EPOXY FOUND ON THIER SHOP FLOOR. THEY DID NOT REPLACE NOR TAKE BLAME. WE WERE BLOWN OFF. AND SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PEBBLE TO FLY BACKWARDS INTO A REAR WINDOW AND SHATTER IT. THERE ARE NO OVER PASSES OR ANYTHING IN THAT AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10083062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Effingham, SC
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10024076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoboken, NJ
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10012167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoboken, NJ
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
SNOW ENTERED THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10012169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoboken, NJ
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO HOLD A 135 POUND PASSENGER. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10012170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoboken, NJ
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10012177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.