KIA Spectra suspension problems

SUSPENSION

DIRT CHEAP CARS SOLD ME A CAR THAT WONT PASS INSPECTION

NHTSA complaint #11022793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN UPDATED 9/28/2017

NHTSA complaint #10693582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. AFTER OPENING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS, THEY FAILED TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,896.

NHTSA complaint #10693083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE SPECTRA 2005 4-DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY 'ON' AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN AND IT IS A DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING BELT KEEPS LOOSENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BOUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC TO GET IT TIGHTENED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE TIMING BELT, ONCE FIXED, SHOULD REMAIN IN TACT AT LEAST FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (NOT A MONTH!). THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHATEVER, I HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR. AM DISAPPOINTED. I REALIZE THE COST WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR UPON PURCHASE, BUT MY HYUNDAI AT THE SAME COST BREAK (ACTUALLY LOWER) PROVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER CAR. I GAVE THE HYUNDAI TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND IT IS KEEPS ON TICKING. IT IS STILL IN SERVICE AND RUNS BETTER THAN THE KIA AT OVER TRIPLE THE MILEAGE. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION REPLACED AT 65,000 WHICH IS UNUSUAL AS I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR HARD AND I AVOID BUMPS.

NHTSA complaint #10444981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE FRONT END MADE A POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT STRUTS. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE FRONT STRUT, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,896 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,426.

NHTSA complaint #10402800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

2007 KIA SPECTRA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER 4 MONTHS OF COMPLAINING AND FINALLY CALLING CORPORATE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN SEPTEMBER 2008, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN. THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN DEC 2008, THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG RESURFACED AGAIN. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE FAULTY, THE WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE SPEAKER IN THE FRONT DOOR HAD BLOWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED SPORADICALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10270289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 17000 MILES ON AND THE STRUTS SWAYBAR LINKAGE AND TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 17,500 AND AT 29,000 MILES JUST 12000 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY AND AFTER INVESTIGATION FOUND THE ROTORS AND PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10235209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

I HAVE A 2004.5 KIA SPECTRA EX WHICH AROUND 44,000 MILES STARTED TO HAVE A RATTLING SOUND FROM THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION. INITIALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. 4,000+ MILES LATER, RATTLING WORSE, TOOK BACK TO DEALER, TOLD THAT THE STRUT MOUNT ASSEMBLY WAS BAD AND THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT IT IN SOONER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED SIMPLY. OF COURSE I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD BROUGHT IT IN SOONER. NOW AROUND 49,000 MILES SAME NOISE FROM THE RIGHT REAR, HAVE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES, WAS EVEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT MOUNT / SUSPENSION WAS DOCUMENTED IN THE KIA SORENTO AND THAT HE WOULD REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY. WHATEVER HE DID WORKED FOR APPOX. 1 WEEK AND NOW THE RATTLING IS BACK, AND WORSE THAN BEFORE. OF NOTE, I WAS TOLD BY A PREVIOUS SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE NOISE THAT I WAS HEARING, THAT CAUSED ME TO BRING THE CAR IN 3 SEPARATE TIMES WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TEST DRIVEN SOME OF THEIR LOANER SPECTRAS AND HAD FOUND THAT THE SOUND WAS IN ALL OF THEM. NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS. EITHER WAY, 5YR / 60,000 MILE WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. I AM DOCUMENTING AND GOING TO BRING THIS ISSUE UP TO THE SERVICE MANAGER OR GENERAL MANAGER AGAIN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10224417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE REAR DRIVER TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE WINDOW WAS DOWN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A TAPPING NOISE STARTED TO SOUND, WHEN THE CAR STOPPED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FEELING SHAKY, THE TIRE HAD A RIP IN THE SIDE OF IT, THE WIRES WERE SHOWING, IT LOOKED LIKE A CUT BUT IT HAD JUST HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. THE TIRE HAS ALOT OF TREAD LEFT ON IT AND I THINK THE OTHER MATCHING SET OF TIRES MAY EXPLODE ANY DAY. AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW WITH THE TIRES BEING THIS WAY.

NHTSA complaint #10205291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

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.

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 70 MILES BEFORE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED, 1400 MILES BEFORE I DETERMINED THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR, AND ABOUT 90 DAYS BEFORE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FINDING A SHAKE IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SELLING DEALER 20 TIMES WITH THE AIRBAG PROBLEM AND STEERING SHAKE UN-REPAIRED. SC0055 ON THE AIRBAG ISSUE, REPROGRAMMING THE SENSOR(S) AND REPLACING THE SEAT BOTTOM HAS NOT ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM OR FAILURES. 7 NEW TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND BALANCED, TO INCLUDE ROAD-FORCE BALANCING 3 TIMES WITHOUT CORRECTING THE SHAKE IN THE STEERING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TEST DRIVEN HUNDREDS OF MILES AT THE DEALERS REQUEST.

NHTSA complaint #10173950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE ROCKS BACK AND FOURTH DUE TO THE SUSPENSION. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE CONDITION WORSENS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED HOWEVER THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED WHO WENT BY WHAT THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #10159042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

2005 SPECTRA FRONT END MAKES A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END THAT COULD BE HEARD INSIDE THE HOUSE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. *TS THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RECTIFIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS, INSULATORS, PADS AND FLANGE SELF-LOCKING UNIT. THE LEFT FRONT STRUT NUT WAS CROSSED-THREADED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIND THE RATTLE. UPDATED 09/13/06.

NHTSA complaint #10155175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10095075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

I HAVE OWNED MY 2002 SPECTRA SINCE NOV. 2001. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR UP IN THE MORNINGS THE CAR WILL STALL OUT AND THEN WHEN I GO TO RE-START THE CAR IT WILL FINALLY START THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THEY HAVE STATED TO ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOP OVER 7 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS PROBLEMS; THE STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE RECALL ON THE GAS LINE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN OUT OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #10082658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.