50 of the 1,211 complaints filed about the KIA Spectra are about the body and structure — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.
50
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER, BOTH (LEFT AND RIGHT) REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE UPON ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR USING NORMAL FORCE. THE DOOR HANDLES CAME OFF THE CAR AND THE REAR DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE
NHTSA complaint #11190932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MAJOR IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE KIA HIT ANOTHER CAR AND HAD MAJOR DAMAGES.
NHTSA complaint #11162490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TAKATA RECALL WAS RUNNING THE PAPER ROUTE FOR THE TELEGRAPH AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE INSURANCE SAID LOSS CAUSE BUT AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF AND SOME HOW ENDED UP IN SALVAGE...
NHTSA complaint #11023779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
DIRT CHEAP CARS SOLD ME A CAR THAT WONT PASS INSPECTION
NHTSA complaint #11022793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD NO FRAME DAMAGE BUT I TOOK IT TO TWO GARAGES AND BOTH GARAGES INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS FRAME DAMAGE FRONT AND BACK AND THE ONE GARAGE I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FRAME DAMAGE
NHTSA complaint #11022089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY SON WAS IN A COLLISION, HE REAR ENDED SOMEONE, THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE IN TOTALLY CAVED IN AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10917679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DOOR HANDLES WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10855307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
METAL AROUND WHEEL WELLS ROTTING OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10822975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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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
NHTSA complaint #10722372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10721068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
AFTER PARKING MY CAR I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE (LEFT FRONT) DOOR. THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER OPENS THE DOOR. I NOW HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN AN EMERGENCY I COULD BECOME TRAPPED INSIDE. THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS WON'T WORK UNLESS THE CAR IS RUNNING OR THE KEY IS IN THE "ON" POSITION. ALSO IT HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH A STICK SHIFT SO TRYING TO EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE REALLY IS NOT AN OPTION.
NHTSA complaint #10667005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE PAINT JUST FADED AWAY. ALOT ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR. LOOKS BAD WITH PART OF THE PAINT FADING AWAY. WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THE FACTORY PAINT JOB ON THE CAR/
NHTSA complaint #10658989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVER PASSED OUT MAKING LEFT TURN GOING 5 MPH AND HIT THE CONCRETE POLE FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON THE EAST SIDE OF U.S. 19.
NHTSA complaint #10648686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10632482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,424. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 45 MINUTES UNTIL HER HUSBAND ARRIVED TO LET HER OUT. SEATBELT WOULD UNLOCK. UPDATED 04/20/2015
NHTSA complaint #10632519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE DASH, WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD, HAS CURLED UP AND DETACHED FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE PLASTIC DEFROSTER VENT IS ALSO CRUMBLING FROM BEING EXPOSED TO THE SUN. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW CHEAP OF MATERIALS WAS USED FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10598800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
HEAT HAS WARPED DASHBOARD SO VENTS NO LONGER STAY SEATED.
NHTSA complaint #10598543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
ONE BLINKER LIGHT WOULD FLASH FASTER THEN THE OTHER. THE RADIO WOULD RANDOMLY SCAN STATIONS CONTINUOUSLY. BATTERY WOULD DIE. 9/28/2013 WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN FLASHING/BLINKING AND THE CAR MADE A BUZZING SOUND. WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED THE FLASHING AND BUZZING CONTINUED FOR A MINUTE LONGER. AFTER A JUMP START THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE BLINKER LEVER WOULD NO LONGER GO DOWN TO TURN ON LEFT BLINKER. LATER THAT DAY AAA TESTED THE BATTERY WHICH WAS NO LONGER HOLDING A CHARGE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP: FRONT SPOILER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND REPLACED BY PURCHASING DEALER AT NO CHARGE. ELECTRICAL ON WINDOWS WAS INTERMITTENT, KIA DEALER IN ONTARIO (THAT IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE) REFUSED TO DO REPAIRS, WHICH WERE UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THEY COULD ONLY DO OIL CHANGES ON THE WEEKENDS AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE REPAIR TO BE DONE DURING THE WEEK. 5/5/2014: REQUESTED A WARRANTY REPORT FOR VEHICLE FROM KIA CORPORATE AND THEY STATED THEY DO NO HAVE RECORD OF THAT INFORMATION. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS USED BY KIA FOR TESTING PURPOSES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10586695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
WHILE PULLING MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I DROVE FORWARD AT A LOW SPEED AND HEARD A SWOOSHING SOUND OF WATER FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE GLOVE BOX AREA. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THE SOUND BECAME WORSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED IT TO BE A CLOGGED DRAIN HOSE FOR THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND REPAIR/REPLACE DRAIN HOSE AT A COST OF $900 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I'M SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON BEHALF OF KIA MOTOR CORPORATION. KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IF THEY WANT REPEAT CUSTOMERS IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10564535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA A FRIEND GETTING IN THE REAR SEAT TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE-OFF. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER THE FRONT INSIDE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR HANDLE STOP WORKING. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER ON JAN-31-2014 THE FRONT OUT-SIDE DRIVERS-SIDE HANDLE BROKE-OFF. NOW NO WAY TO WITH NO WAY TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WITH THREE HANDLES BROKEN THERE MUST BE A RECALL ON THESE HANDLE. IF THERE IS NOT A RECALL, THERE SHOULD BE ONE. OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS, CAM-SHAFT SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE AIR-BAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS CAR IS JUNK, KIA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF BUILDING IT AND SELLING IT FOR $16,000 TO $17,000.
NHTSA complaint #10562531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.