2007 KIA Spectra fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I purchased my 2007 Spectra5 used with 155,000 miles on it. The engine had no codes or any stored codes. It ran fine until I filled it up with gas. I DO NOT overfill the tank because I understand EVAP issues. After filling up the vehicle would stall at idle and occasionally lose power (momentarily) at highway speeds (55 mph and up). Obviously this is an extremely dangerous situation! Once the gas level got below 1/2 tank the issues went away…but now I ONLY fill the tank to halfway and the problems arise again every so often. Since there are no codes present I cannot replicate the issue without possibly damaging components further and I already replaced the battery, plugs, IAC valve, MAF sensor, and oil to try to remedy this problem. From reading other’s comments about this same problem I do not want to keep pouring money into a problem that KIA itself seems unable, and unwilling, to fix. This is extremely frustrating and dangerous as occasionally the vehicle loses all power on the highway at speeds exceeding 55mph and I feel an accident is inevitable. I’m not financially well off enough to just eat the cost of this vehicle and get a new (used) vehicle though so KIA has really put me (AND OTHER DRIVERS) in a difficult and dangerous position. As others have stated from mechanics who have tried to diagnose this issue, there may be a serious issue with the EVAP system including, but not limited to, the charcoal canister and purge valve. I will try replacing the fuel filter in the gas tank but I do not have high hopes that this will fix this problem. Once again, there are no codes present before or after these stalling/power loss problems and live data from and OBD2 scanner is within parameters for this vehicle and it’s age. I need to report this now so everyone, ESPECIALLY KIA, is aware of this issue and information.

NHTSA complaint #11521552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE 💡 CAME ON IMIDIATELY AFTER PULLING OUT OF DEALERSHIP. SO I CA"ED THEM AND THEY STATED IT WASNT ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WERE CALLING IN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. THEY SAID IT WAS JUST THE CHANGE IN WEATHER AND THE GAS CAP. THEY RESET ENGINE 💡 SEVERAL TIMES. NO SOONER THAN I WOULD PULL OFF THE LOT, IT WOULD COME BACK ON. THEN I ASK THEM FOR AN AUTO CHECK HISTORY REPORT SHOWING ODOMETER DESCIIPANCIES. ROLL BACK CALCULATIONS. THE RADIATOR IS CRACKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESN'T WORK, AND THE BRAKES AND STUFF ARE BAD.

NHTSA complaint #11040492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE WILL STALL AFTER GAS TANK IS FILLED. GAS FUMES CAN BE SMELLED. CAR CAN STALL WHILE IDLING OR AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WHEN IT STALLS POWER STEERING IS LOST, POSING A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. THE KIA DEALERSHIP TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS MY FAULT - THAT I OVER FILLED THE GAS TANK. FROM 30 OTHER REPORTS I FOUND ON LINE, THE TANK ORVR IS NOT SEALING COMPLETELY AND IT ALLOWS FUEL TO SEEP INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND VACUUMED ALL THE WYA TO THE INTAKE VIA THE PURGE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE. DEALERSHIP'S THIRD ATTEMPT AT A REPAIR INCLUDES: REPLACING FUEL TANK, EVAP CANISTER, VENT SOLENOID, PURGE FLOW SOLENOID, AND CANISTER FILTER, WITH PARTS AND LABOR TOTALING OVER $1000. I HAVE EMAILED AND CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS BUT THEY WILL DO NOTHING. HOW CAN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM - A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - AND KIA JUST IGNORES IT. SAYS ALOT ABOUT A COMPANY.

NHTSA complaint #10950009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS DRAGGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10905998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE KIA SPECTRA 2007 ENGINE STALLS AFTER REFILLING. I DID NOT 'TOP IT OFF' AT THE GAS STATION, IT WAS SIMPLY FILLED UP BY THE CLICKING OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE CAR STALLED THREE TIMES (ALL ENGINE LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS SUDDENLY TURNED ON), WHEEL HAD WEAK CONTROL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, DRIVING HOME (ROUGHLY 3 MILE RANGE). FORTUNATELY, I WAS AT THE LIGHT EVERY TIME (WITH PEOPLE BEHIND ME). IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING 60 MILES PER HOUR, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE DIED, UNAWARE OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE WARNING LIGHT IMMEDIATELY, AND THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND ME. I JUST TOOK SOME TIME TO RESEARCH THIS, AND APPARENTLY IT'S HAPPENING TO A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. HERE'S A YOUTUBE VIDEO DOCUMENTING WHAT HAPPENS, YOU BASICALLY LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=KDMJJ_KQGDU HERE'S A LIST OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/KIA/SPECTRA/FUEL+SYSTEM THE CAR IS NOW A DEATH TRAP FOR ME, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START SINCE DRIVING ANYWHERE COULD POTENTIALLY GET ME KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10760176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10725310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,600.

NHTSA complaint #10702825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA OUT OF NOWHERE ALL MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY CAR LOCKED UP AND TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT TURN IT TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. I THEN HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK TURN THE IGNITION OFF THEN RESTART IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. ALSO AS I AM DRIVING, MY CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN LIKE IT STARVES FOR GAS AND I HAVE TO STEP ON THE GAS AND PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN ALL THE WAY BEFORE IT WILL EVENTUALLY PICK UP AND GO.

NHTSA complaint #10692572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS MY KIA HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES UPON REFUELING. I HAVE STOPPED TOPPING OFF WHILE REFUELING. THE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING OR WHILING IDLING. IT GIVES OFF AN AWFUL GAS SMELL. IT HAS SHUT OFF ON HIGHWAYS AND IN CITY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FIND MANY KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM CONSTANTLY GIVEN DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTICS FROM KIA AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS. REPLACEMENTS FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM ASSEMBLE HAVE TOTALED IN THE THOUSANDS.

NHTSA complaint #10650061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I REPORTED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON FUEL TANK OVER FILLING, TANK WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. LOST OF POWER WHEN DRIVING AND EXHILARATION WHEN TRYING TO STOP. ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE,ENGINE WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #10648265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, MY KIA HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES UPON REFUELING. I NEVER TOPPED OFF WHILE FUELING AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. THE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. IT ALSO GIVES OFF AN AWFUL GAS SMELL. I AM TERRIFIED OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAYS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS AT LEAST 50MPH. I AM CONCERNED AS I HAVE VERY SMALL CHILDREN THAT COULD BE HARMED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY & FIND MANY KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM CONSTANTLY GIVEN DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTICS FROM SERVICE CENTERS.

NHTSA complaint #10628292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS CAR ACTS LIKE ITS RUNNING OUT OF GAS ABOUT EVERY 4 MONTHS SINCE I'VE OWNED IT, ITS USUALLY AFTER I FILL IT UP, IT STALLS AT LIGHTS AND SPUTTERS GOING DOWN THE ROAD, HAVE ACTUALLY HAD IT DIE GOING AROUND CORNERS. MENTION IT EVERY TIME I GO TO DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND OF COURSE THERE IS NO CODE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER COMES ON WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR AND IF I COULD BUY SOMETHING ELSE I WOULD. WILL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN!

NHTSA complaint #10626908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL CANISTER AND FUEL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10597960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

REPORTING 3 ISSUES: ***FUEL SYSTEM: IN JULY 2009, ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED MY USED 2007 KIA SPECTRA (46K MILES), THE VEHICLE STALLED AT IDLE/LOW RPM WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. ONCE RESTARTED, IT CONTINUED TO STALL AT EVERY IDLE UNTIL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS CONSUMED. ALMOST 5 YEARS LATER, THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING. STALLING OCCURS IF THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED (TO THE POINT OF AUTOMATIC PUMP SHUT-OFF). THE TANK HAS NEVER BEEN "TOPPED OFF". IN AUGUST 2011, THE STALLING WAS SO FREQUENT AND HAZARDOUS DUE TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL DOWN WHILE BRAKING IN ORDER TO RAISE RPM AND REDUCE STALLING. THE OWNER HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN AVOIDING THE ISSUE BY FUELING TO NO MORE THAN 80% OF TANK CAPACITY. THE REPEATED INTERMITTENT STALLING POSES AN ENORMOUS SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY ON CONGESTED ROADWAYS. ***AIR BAGS: ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED (INDICATING THE AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF) WHILE AN ADULT WAS SEATED. ***GEAR SHIFT AND IGNITION KEY: BEGINNING IN MAY 2012, AND IN NUMEROUS INSTANCES FOLLOWING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. MECHANIC DISCOVERED A BROKEN SAFETY LOCK IN THE SHIFTING MECHANISM. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED, BUT OVERRIDDEN BY ACCESSING THE PLASTIC LEVER UNDERNEATH THE CONSOLE AND PULLING WITH THE LEFT HAND WHILE SHIFTING. THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK FREQUENTLY (4 OUT 5 USES) EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.

NHTSA complaint #10592082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN I FILL MY TANK WITH GAS IT SPILLS OUT IN THE OVERFLOW. IT STALLS EVERY STOPLIGHT AND IN TRAFFIC!

NHTSA complaint #10511230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK MY CAR STALLED A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD AT A STOP LIGHT. A FEW LIGHTS LATER IT STALLED AGAIN AND A FEW MORE LIGHTS IT STALLED ONCE MORE. I HEARD FROM OTHER KIA SPECTRA OWNERS THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM ISN'T UNCOMMON WITH THAT MODEL. AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK TO A NORMAL LEVEL THE CAR STALLS. I DIDN'T TOP OFF THE CAR AND IT WASN'T THE QUALITY OF THE GAS. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO KIA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T A DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM IS A DEFECT, EXPERIENCED BY MANY PEOPLE. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THEY MUST FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION AND HEAVY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10502191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK I WENT A FEW MILES AND STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. I DROVE A FEW BLOCKS AND STALLED AGAIN WHILE STOPPED. AFTER ANOTHER FEW BLOCKS I STALLED ONCE MORE.

NHTSA complaint #10502137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK ON MY AUNT'S 2007 KIA SPECTRA. AFTER FILLING THE TANK WITH FUEL, THE CAR STALLS AND CUTS OFF. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO KIA AND PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. HOWEVER, IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE. SHE WAS TOLD TO BE SURE NOT TO TOP OFF THE FUEL. SHE HAS NEVER TOPPED OFF OR OVER FILLED. YET IT STILL HAPPENS. SHE HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO THIS POINT BECAUSE IT HASN'T STALLED WHEN SHE'S BEEN ON A FREEWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10493696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

AFTER I FILLUP GAS TANK CAR SHAKE AND DIE ON THE HIGHWAY ORLANDO FL KIA DEALER CHANGE THE CANSTAR IN THE TANK STEEL DOING THE SAME THING. IT IS VERY DANGERES NEEDS TO BE CK BY THE GOV.

NHTSA complaint #10449047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAD THIS CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALER ON TUESDAY AND IT DROVE FINE, I FILLED THE FUEL TANK AT THE SAME STATION I HAVE BEEN USING FOR OVER A YEAR. AND DROVE HOME(1-1/2MI) THE NEXT DAY AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES THE CAR BEGAN TO MISS AND THE ENGINE DIED I RESTARTED IT AND DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND IT DIED AGAIN I DROVE TO THE DEALER AND LEFT THE CAR TO BE CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN OVER FILLED AND THAT THE SAME THREE SYSTEM COMPONENTS (LESS THAN A YEAR AGO I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM) REQUIRED CHANGE AT OVER $700. I DO NOT TOP OFF THE TANK, AND HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY WATCHFUL THAT IT IS NOT TOPPED OFF SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD HAD I BEEN IN THE LEFT LANE. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE FAIL WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING . I THINK A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED BEFORE A DEATH. I SEE MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SPECTRA. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE DRIVER OR NOT ( I DID NOT AND DO NOT TOP OF THE FUEL TANK). BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A FLAW IN THE FUEL VAPOR SYSTEM ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10421831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION, FIRST HAPPENED IN DECEMBER AND NOT AGAIN UNTIL APRIL OF THE NEXT YEAR. SINCE APRIL IT HAS BEGUN TO STALL MORE OFTEN WHEN STOPPED. VEHICLE ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IN JUNE; THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SAME DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IN AUGUST, AFTER STALLING AND HESITATION DRAMATICALLY INCREASED. I PROVIDED THE SERVICE CENTER WITH THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM AND SOLUTION THAT I FOUND THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING CONFIRMED THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL TANK. REPLACED FUEL TANK, EVAP CANISTER, VENT SOLENOID, PURGE FLOW SOLENOID, AND CANISTER FILTER, WITH PARTS AND LABOR TOTALLING $1100. SERVICE CENTER REFUSED TO ANSWER WHETHER THE PARTS ARE THE SAME DESIGN AS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, OR IF THEY HAVE BEEN FIXED/UPDATED.

NHTSA complaint #10420508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING RANDOMLY AFTER THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED. AFTER IT STALLS THE ENGINE WILL NOT START RIGHT WAY AND IT CAN STALL AGAIN UNTIL FUEL LEVEL DROPS . WHEN FILLING AT GAS STATION THE TANK ONLY GETS FILLED UNTIL GAS NOZZLE SELF STOPS IT DOES NOT CONTINUE TO GET FILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10417783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2007 KIA SPECTRA'S ENGINE DIES AFTER I FILL IT UP WITH GAS, BUT WILL BE FINE AFTER I'VE USED SOME GAS. I DON'T TOP OFF MY GAS SO THAT CANNOT BE THE PROBLEM. I FIND IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WHEN IT DIES DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AFTER THEY RAN TESTS ON IT. MY SPECTRA WASN'T GIVING THE KIA DEALERSHIP MECHANIC ANY PROBLEMS SO AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR ALMOST 1 WEEK THEY GAVE IT BACK TO ME AND TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR BACK IN TO THEM IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SO I PLAN ON TAKING IT BACK IN TOMORROW MORNING ASAP!

NHTSA complaint #10403736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2007 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER THE TANK IS FULL *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY TOPPING UP, WHICH THE CONSUMER CLAIMED NEVER HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10380657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER IT WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK CANNISTER FLOODED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

NHTSA complaint #10360148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA STALLS OUT EVERY TIME I FILL THE TANK. IT STALLS DURING HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND DURING NORMAL LOW SPEED DRIVING. MY KIA IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON OTHER SITES IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACED THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH UNDER THE DASH. THE RECALL WAS WITH 5 KIA MODELS BUT NOT THE SPECTRA.

NHTSA complaint #10357729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I DRIVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX, WITH 37,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE IT SUFFERS FROM A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE FUEL & EXHAUST SYSTEM MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. EVERY TIME I FILL THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY, THE CAR STALLS. THIS STALL USUALLY OCCURS WHILE IDLING AND WITHIN 10 MILES FROM MY FUELING. IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6 LANE 50MPH COMMUTER ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS A RESULT. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN REAR ENDED AND RUN OVER WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, 2 OF THE TIMES THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND 1 TIME THEY CHANGED A PURGE VALVE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10356192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE OVERFLOW TANK. WHEN I TAKE MY CAR TO THE GAS STATION I TURN MY CAR AND PUMP THE GAS. IF I FILL THE TANK UP (THE PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTTING OFF) MY CAR WILL DIE WHILE I AM DRIVING, PARKED, OR IDLING. WHEN I 'M DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY DIE AND LOSE POWER STEERING AND THEN START AGAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT MY CAR HAS DIED WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER AND IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE SHOP APPROXIMATELY TWO TIMES TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP WHEN IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE SERVICE WORKER SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECT WITH THE CHARCOAL TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10353776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS LINE/TANK/CANISTER ISSUES. MY SPECTRA HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 11 TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE GAS CANISTER REPLACED 4 TIMES AND ON MY LAST VISIT THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TANK. THE CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. WHEN IT STALLS YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE, BECAUSE THEY LOSE POWER. I HAVE STALLED MID-INTERSECTION, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AT STOP SIGNS/STOP LIGHTS, NO REASON WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT JUST STARTS SHAKING,SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY AND THEN STALLS. KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS WE ARE OVERFILLING AND THAT THEY RECOMMEND NOT USING CITGO GAS. WE DO NEITHER. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THE CANISTER VALVE DOES NOT STOP OVERFILLING, WHICH ALLOWS THAT GAS TO CONTAMINATE OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSES THE STALL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA HEADQUARTERS AND SPOKE WITH TOM MORALLES, THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS MGR. I ASKED HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE CAR NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THEY DEEM IT UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO BE FIXED. HE SAYS THEY NEVER DO, THEY WILL KEEP REPAIRING AND THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO TELL ME THAT THEY CAN FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. HE TOLD ME THAT IF I AM NOT HAPPY I SHOULD CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I DRIVE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND WHEN THE CAR STALLS AND I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES ABOUT TO SMASH INTO US, IT SCARES THEM AND IT SCARES ME. WHAT IS TO SAY WITH THIS GAS LEAK/CONTAMINATION THAT A COMMON FENDER BENDER AT ONE OF THESE STALL OUT TIMES WOULD NOT RESULT IN MY CAR EXPLODING SHOULD A SPARK IGNITE MY GAS LEAK? KIA KNOWS THAT THIS HAPPENING AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP IN ANY OTHER WAY IS UNACCEPTABLE. THESE CARS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO MY FAMILY, BUT OTHER FAMILIES THAT I COULD CRASH INTO WHEN I LOSE POWER AND CANNOT BRAKE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE TO DIE FOR ANYONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS. I FOUND MANY CASES THE SAME AS MINE JUST BY SEARCHING THE WEB. WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH ? NOW. BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10293320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.