The contact owns a 2008 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that all three brake lights failed to illuminate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the brake light switch assembly multi-connector wiring harness needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The contact found information on other Kia recalls for other years, makes, and models that described the same parts failure. The contact found information on SC077 (Brake Switch), SC298 (Light Assembly), and SC299 (Light Assembly). The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 209,000.
NHTSA complaint #11758253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR RANDOMLY STARTS. WHEN THE CAR IS FINALLY STARTED SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT, THE WINDOWS RANDOMLY ROLL DOWN, THE LOCKS RANDOMLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANIC SHOPS INCLUDING ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST AND THE DEALERSHIP. NONE OF THEM ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
NHTSA complaint #11080151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RIGHT-SIDE PASSENGER BRAKES LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. ALL BULBS ARE GOOD. MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. AS I'M UNABLE TO VIEW MY BRAKE LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING, I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT THESE TWO PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME. I BELIEVE IT IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH. I TESTED THE CRUISE CONTROL BY TRYING TO ENGAGE IT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. IT DID NOT ENGAGE. WHEN CHECKING THE BRAKES WITH THE CAR PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY - THEY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ALL WIRES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND FREE FROM CORROSION. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR AND REPORTED THIS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. AT THE TIME I REPORTED IT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FOR THE SPECTRA, SPECIFICALLY, TO RECEIVE ANY HELP. THE PROBLEM DID EXIST IN HIGH NUMBERS IN OTHER KIA MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR -2008. RECENTLY, I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR DEFECT HAS NOW BEEN RECOGNIZED AND I CAN HAVE THIS REPAIR MADE AT THE DEALERSHIP AT KIA'S EXPENSE. I THINK IT IS PRUDENT TO REPORT THIS APPARENT BRAKE SWITCH DEFECT AS I NOTICE RECALLS ON OTHER KIA MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR AS MINE - 2008 FOR BRAKE SWITCH DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10891646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURES RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TEMPORARILY REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 05/24/16
NHTSA complaint #10853353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND NOTHING I TRIED--SCANNER, CALLING THE DEALER, AND INSPECTING IT MYSELF--SEEMS TO BE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. I SEE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING SIMPLER SYMPTOMS. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AS USUAL UPON IGNITION AND SHUTS OFF AS NORMAL. IT THEN COMES BACK ON AROUND 10 TO 20 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR STARTS, AND IT DOES NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL I TURN OFF THE CAR. THE IT SOUNDS LIKE A WARRANTY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10787951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR WAS PARKED, IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND HAD RAN FINE THE DAY BEFORE. I WENT OUT AND STARTED THE CAR BUT COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN ROLL THE CAR A LITTLE BY PUSHING IT, WHICH INDICATES THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK WITH FORCE. I HAD MY NEIGHBOR COME OVER AND HE MANAGED TO, WITH A TON OF PRESSURE, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. SEEMS TO NOT BE AS HARD ON A FLAT SURFACE BUT MY DRIVEWAY HAS A SLANT TO IT. PUT CAR BACK IN DRIVEWAY AND TRIED TO LEAVE A COUPLE HOURS LATER AND SAME ISSUE. I HAD TO PURCHASE AAA AND HAVE SOMEBODY COME OUT TO PULL OUT OF PARK. LOOKED ON LINE AND THERE'S A TON OF RECALLS BIG MINE THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHICH IS THE ONLY YEAR NOT BEING RECALLED. I WAS TOLD, BY KIA DEALERSHIP IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT PET MY RESEARCH, NO IT'S NOT. THEY WANT TO CHANGE FOR REPAIR YET EVERY OTHER KIA MAKE IS RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10592215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A KIA SPECTRA 2006 WHICH I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. THIS ISSUE BEGAN ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD OVER 100,000 MILES IN MY VEHICLE. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BURN SO OFTEN.
NHTSA complaint #10563941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL FOUR BULBS HAD BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 11/12/13
NHTSA complaint #10543110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10511241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO POWER OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10511243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE IT'S PURCHASE IN 2006 BUT RECENTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND I REPLACED THE BULB AND A WEEK OR SO LATER MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT SO WHEN I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE BULB LIKE I DID WITH THE OTHER, I COULDN'T GET IT TO COME OUT, IT APPEARED TO BE FUSED TO THE PLASTIC CASING...WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT OUT AND REPLACED THE BULB I WENT TO TURN THE CAR ON TO CHECK THAT IT LIT UP I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT AND THE PASSENGERSIDE PARKING LIGHT...I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE BULBS AND ALL THE APPROPRIATE FUSES. I CAN NOT IMAGINE I AM THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10457377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND A WOMAN PULLED IN TO TELL ME I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD JUST GONE ON A TRIP WITH MY PARENTS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME SO IT HAD TO HAVE JUST GONE OUT. THE NEXT DAY MY HUSBAND CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THE SPECTRA WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. IT SEEMS THAT SINCE THE DEFECT IS OCCURRING EXACTLY LIKE OTHER MODELS. THERE ARE ALSO INSTANCES I HAVE FOUND ONLINE OF OTHER SPECTRAS DOING THE SAME THING.
NHTSA complaint #10344654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED OFF THEY CAUSED THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #10344264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN THE AUTO SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS IS ON SOMETIMES THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS REMOVED. WE OFTEN HAVE TO GET BACK IN THE CAR, INSERT/REMOVE THE KEY, THEN OPEN/CLOSE THE DOOR TO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. ONCE, DURING THE DAY WE FAILED TO NOTICE THE LIGHT ON AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10277306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING LIGHTS SOMETIMES TURN ON SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER REMOVING KEYS AND EXITING CAR, THIS CAR HAS AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, THE SWITCH CAN BE TURNED OFF IF DESIRED, UNLIKE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE 2 IDENTICAL CARS AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. DEALER CHECKED CAR OUT AND TOLD US THERE ARE NO OTHER REPORTS AND THAT WE ARE OPENING THE CAR DOOR BEFORE TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH I WAS SURE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, WE TOOK THE ADVICE AND DID AS WE WERE INSTRUCTED. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM RETURNED,THIS TIME NOT CAUGHT FOR 15 HOURS, RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION AND TOLD US THAT MOST PEOPLE TURN THE SWITCH OFF ANYWAY, BUT THIS DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITH EACH CAR BEFORE WE LEFT THE SWITCH OFF, NEITHER OF US USE THE LIGHTS DURING THE DAY ANY LONGER BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10258778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2008 AT 4:45PM, I WAS DRIVING ON STATE HIGHWAY 58 BY JENKINS AND ROSEDALE HIGHWAY IN BAKERSFIELD, CA. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES DUE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY BRAKING AUTOMATICALLY, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I WAS IN A FRONT END CRASH. NOT ONLY DID MY BRAKES LOCK UP, BUT MY DUEL SIDED AIR BAGS IN MY 2002 KIA SPECTRA WHICH I HAVE ONLY OWNED FOR FOUR MONTHS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BADLY INJURED BUT DUE TO THIS INCIDENT MY MUSCLES ARE BADLY SORE AND BRUISED. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE IS DESTROYED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MY HEADLIGHTS WHICH ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE, ARE SHATTERED.
NHTSA complaint #10250107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 KIA SPECTRA, APPROX. 2 YEARS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WHILE I CAME TO A STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KIA AND THEY DID A TUNE UP AND REPLACED A PART THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE PROBLEM FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF OR TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT TAKES ALL YOU CAN DO TO KEEP THE CAR FROM LUNGING FORWARD. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER ON IT CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR COULD RUN GREAT FOR DAYS, BUT THEN IT STARTS TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. I HAVE BEEN IN SOME SCARY SITUATIONS ON VERY BUSY HIGHWAYS, WHERE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING , FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO STS 3 TIMES TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND ON THOSE OCCASIONS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SIMULATE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS APPROX 8 TIMES. I'VE HAD BOTH LOW BEAMS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10199784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE'S KIA AND MANY OF THE OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE PLASTIC BECOMES MILKY AND THE LIGHT EMITTED IS NOT ENOUGH TO SEE. I THINK THE MANUFACTURES SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS FOR SAFETY REASONS. IF THEY WOULD HAVE MADE THEM OUT OF GLASS LIKE THE ONES ON MY JEEP THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10179312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.