KIA Spectra transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

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.

POWER TRAIN

While driving at freeway speeds vehicle suddenly slams down a gear or two causing moderate whiplash,and scaring the living crap out of myself and any passengers, upon having vehicle inspected by an ase certified repair technician he confirmed my complaint and stated that car seemed to be going into either second or third gear causing the vehicle to jerk and slow rapidly accompanied by loud bang or clunk noise and making me loose control of vehicle problem only occurs once vehicle is warmed up and at operating temperature, had transmission and electrical components inspected by professional transmission repair (atra) certified repair facility the owner of this shop told me specifically that he has seen this same problem with numerous kia spectra models ranging from about 2003 through 2009 yr models , kia denies that the vehicle has a problem that is manufacturer error related and stated and I quote that the vehicle possibly has a transmission control module failing however the kia technician who drove the vehicle refused to be identified by name for fear of repercussions at his place of employment from his supervisors, please note this is not an isolated incident as it occurs almost every time the car is driven .

NHTSA complaint #11477060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHEN GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, IT FEELS LIKE I HIT SOMETHING (I DID NOT). MY SPEED DECREASE SO MUCH THAT IT TURNED OFF MY CRUISE CONTROL. GLAD NO-ONE WAS BEHIND ME. IT STARTED FEELING VERY SLUGISH WITH HIGH RPMS. I STOPPED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. RESTARTED MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR. I STOPPED AGAIN THIS TIME FOR OVER AN HOUR. STARTED MY CAR AND DROVE ANOTHER 15 MILES. IT SHIFT FINE. CHWCK EMFINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. NEXT, MORNING STARTED MY CAR AND DROVE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS. 4 DAYS LATE, DRIVING MY CAR 38 MILES AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME WITH THE SAME ISSUE, TAKE OFF IS VERY VERY SLOW. THIS IS NOT A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL START.

NHTSA complaint #11111881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

PROBLEM IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF AND ON AGAIN. FAULT CODES WERE P0700 AND P0748 AS DONE AT AUTOZONE. SOME TYPE OF FAULT WITH THE TRANSAXLE (P0700) OR FAILED TRANSAXLE CONTROL MODULE/FAILED LINEAR SOLENOID VALVE/OPEN OR SHORT CICUIT CONDITION IN THE LINEAR SOLENOID CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SHUTTERS HARD CAR SHIFTS FINE WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP (AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES) WHILE CRUISING IN 4TH GEAR, A LURCH IS FELT FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN AND THE TRANS DOWN SHIFTS TO 3RD GEAR. SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE DOESN'T HELP. THE TRANS STAYS IN 3RD GEAR. SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND LET IT COOL DOWN AND IT IS BACK TO WORKING NORMAL AGAIN. THINKING ABOUT REPLACING THE SHIFT CONTROL MODULE. FIX LINK.... HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=URUT3T8UUCW HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/CERATO-2003-2008-SPECTRA5-2004/72381-2006-SPECTRA-P0750-P0765-P0755-P0760-2.HTML THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ON ALL KIA SPECTRAS PLEASE ADVISE

NHTSA complaint #11080071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT DROVE FINE. AFTER I SIGNED PAPERS TO BUY THE VEHICLE, I DROVE IT HOME. ON THE WAY HOME I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH IS 65MPH BUT I ALWAYS STAY A LITTLE UNDER THAT SPEED LIMIT. I GOT TO ABOUT 65 AND BOOM IT WAS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION HAD COME THROUGH THE FLOOR AND IT FELT AS IF I WAS GOING TO BE EJECTED FROM THE CAR! THAT SCARED ME TO DEATH!!! AFTER THAT IT STARTED DRAGGING SO I HAD TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVE THE CITY STREETS WITH MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON BECAUSE I COULD DO NO MORE THAN 35-40 MPH. I GOT THE CAR NOV 2016 AND THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. ITS DOING THE SAME THING JUST SITTING IN A DRIVE THROUGH. IT KICKS BACK SO HARD IT HURTS MY NECK. IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HITS ME FROM THE BACK EVERYTIME. I WOULD REALLY Y LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I CAN HAVE THIS REPAIR TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ A LOT OF REVIEWS ONLINE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S BEEN DOING IT SINCE DAY ONE AND I NEED IT FIXED BECAUSE IT HURTS REALLY BAD. I DIDN'T DO THIS TO THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU'RE DOING AND THEN ACTS LIKE IT'S STUCK IN HIGH GEAR AND TAKES OFF SLOWLY AFTER IT JERKS.

NHTSA complaint #11022403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

MY CAR HAS APPROX 145000 MILES. DRIVES GREAT EXCEPT FOR IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR YOU CAN BE DRIVING 5 MPH OR 60 MPH THE CAR WILL JERK HARD...FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC'S SAY THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THEY HAVE FIXED NUMEROUS ITEMS ON 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH THE TRANSMISSION; FLUSHED, WELDED, ETC . MECHANIC SAID THAT AFTER GOOGLING PROBLEM THAT MAY BE A COMPUTER DOWNLOAD THAT IS NEEDED. AS STATED ABOVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2007 THRU 2011 KIA

NHTSA complaint #11002080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SUDDENLY SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND THE SPEED REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA complaint #10874318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 50K MILES AND STARTED HAVING ISSUES. SEAL FOR WINDSHIELD POPPING OUT,AIRBAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE STAYS ON CONSTANTLY TRANSMISSION JERKING,AND DOORS AUTO LOCKING IN PARK POSITION. BALL JOINTS NO GOOD AND HAD TO PAY PUT OF POCKET. REFUSED TO COVER WARRANTY BECAUSE I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR NEW. HAVE TO CALL LOCKSMITH TO GET KEYS OUT,CAUSE I REFUSE TO BRAKE WINDOWS,THAT ALSO ARE MISALIGNED ON DRIVERS SD CAUSING IT TO NOT CLOSE FULLY. SHAME THEY CAN'T WARRANTY THEIR CAR YET ONLY CONVENIENT COVER ONLY BUYER...SMH REFUSED

NHTSA complaint #10873036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

UPON ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO LAG. I COULD NOT GO OVER 50 MPH. AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC INCLUDING AN 18 WHEELER SEEMED TO ALMOST STOP OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THIS PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST YEAR WHERE THE CAR GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND ACCELERATION IS POOR OR THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. IF IT SITS FOR A WHILE IT HAS AN ENGINE LIGHT ON AND STILL ACTS UP FOR A WHILE THEN FINALLY GOES BACK TO WORKING CORRECTLY. THE PROBLEM TODAY WAS THE FIRST LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT AND THEREFORE I BELIEVE IT IS A RECALL! THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR 5 MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, MORE! THIS IS LIFE THREATENING AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS IT HAS BEEN FOUND AS A SOFTWARE UPDATE BUT OTHERS ON LINE SAY THERE IS A SOLDERING PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE SPENDING MONEY ON WHEN IT IS A FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURE OR A SOFTWARE GLITCH OR BOTH!

NHTSA complaint #10822101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

FROM THE 2ND DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE 6/27/2015 WHEN I TURNED ON A/C THE CAR HAS BEEN HESITATING AND STALLING. EVERY TIME I STARTED AND STOPPED AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. AND EVEN IN TRAFFIC . MAKING THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE UNSAFE.AND SO IVE BEEN COMPLAINING EVER SINCE. THEY SAID IF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN I WONT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE. HOWEVER THE CHECK ENG. NEVER CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #10790347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ABOUT 65 MPH. ALL OF SUDDEN, THE CAR LOST ALL FORWARD MOTION POWER. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS, THE RPMS INCREASED, BUT THE CAR DID NOT GET ANY POWER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN WITHOUT PROBLEM. AFTER STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER STARTING AGAIN, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE FORWARD POWER WAS WORKING AGAIN AND THE CAR SHIFTED FINE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 110,000 MILES. SUSPECTING TRANSMISSION, I TOOK TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. I WAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: ERROR CODE P0750 SHIFT SOLENOID; ERROR CODE P0755 SHIFT SOLENOID B; ERROR CODE P0760 SHIFT SOLENOID C; ERROR CODE P0765 SHIFT SOLENOID D. WAS GIVEN PRICE QUOTE TO FIX, BUT ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT KIA DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM AS THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE ON OTHER SIMILAR KIA SPECTRAS. CALLED DEALERSHIP TO INFORM THEM OF PROBLEM. LEFT MESSAGE, BUT NEVER GOT A RETURN CALL; AND THE ONE TIME I GOT A PERSON, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM SERVICE CALL ME BACK. NEVER HEARD FROM ANYONE. ON MAY 16, 2015, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ONLY THIS TIME TURNING THE CAR OFF DID NOT WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT, THEN THE CAR SHIFTED AGAIN. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE A RECALL? BEFORE I SPEND $2000, I WANT TO KNOW IF KIA IS AVOIDING MY CALLS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS PROBLEM? DID INTERNET SEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA complaint #10716941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2006 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION, STEERING AND VEHICLE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SHIFTING PANEL NEEDED TO REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10713798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPEED UP AND THE CAR STARTED TO PULL FORWARD EVEN WITH ME STEPPING HARDER ON THE BRAKE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE REVVING SLOWED DOWN. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES, INCLUDING WHILE TRYING TO PARK AT A MALL. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL EVERY TIME THE CAR SURGED. THIS IS A RENTAL CAR, NOT MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10670778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 1/1/2008, DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT FROM HIGH GEAR TO LOW GEAR AND IT STAYED ON LOW GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIX. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOME TYPE OF RELAY THAT NEEDED TO BE RESET. THEY RESET THE RELAY THAT DAY. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES AT HIGHER SPEED, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME. SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED. NOW, FOR A FOURTH TIME, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 11/01/2014.

NHTSA complaint #10653501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA complaint #10637618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER IN THE GAS PEDAL,( YOU CAN FLOOR THE PEDDLE AND IT DON'T GO OVER 2000 RPM ) ALMOST RESULTING IN A COLLISION. IT ONLY COMES ON WHEN IT WANT TO, I HAD THE CODES CHECKED AT AUTO ZONE AND THEY SAID ITS SAYING ALL THE SOLENOIDS ARE BAD. I LOOKED UP THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND THERE ARE ALOT OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME YEAR, +1 AND-1, AND WITH THE SAME APPROXIMATE MILEAGE, IT SAYS THAT KIA HAS COME OUT WITH AN UPDATE TO THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, THE KIA DEALER WANTS AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER, WHEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH KIA CORPORATE THEY SAID WELL IF A RECALL IS ISSUED THEN WE CAN GET REFUND, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE CASH TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, AN UPDATE SHOULD BE FREE, THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECT, THERE FOR BECAUSE OF THE DANGER IT CAN CAUSE A RECALL IS IN ORDER...

NHTSA complaint #10593224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROLLED FORWARD SEVERAL YARDS IN PARKING LOT ON VERY SLIGHT GRADE THOUGH TRANSMISSION WAS IN "PARK," ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, IGNITION WAS TURNED TO "OFF," IGNITION KEY REMOVED, AND ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO PARKING SPACE AND WAS LAST IN "DRIVE" BEFORE BEING SHUT OFF. VISUAL INSPECTION OF SHIFTER CABLE INDICATED CORRECT INSTALLATION AND NO APPARENT DEFECT. PAWL APPEARED TO BE ENGAGING NORMALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10573619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TRANS ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SLIPPING WITH NO PRIOR ISSUES. WAS READING A TCM CODE THEN CODES FOR EACH GEAR REPLACED TRANS NEW TRANS DROVE 30 MILES AND IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING HAVE TO DRIVE LIKE A STICK 1ST 2ND AND THEN CAN PUT IN DRIVE AROUND 35MPH. ALSO BREAKS COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE.

NHTSA complaint #10534675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55 - 70) THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT VIOLENTLY WITH A SUDDEN JERK, IT WILL REMAIN IN THAT GEAR UNTIL YOU PULLOVER, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESUME NORMAL DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10532582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WENT INTO KROGER'S AND PICKED UP A FEW ITEMS. WHEN I WAS DONE, I LEFT THE STORE AND GOT BACK INTO MY CAR TO FINISH RUNNING SOME ERRANDS. I STARTED MY KIA- SPECTRA AND SHE PURRED LIKE A KITTEN- AS USUAL. I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE BUT MY KIA WOULD MOVE. I WAS PRESSING THE PEDDLE AND MY CAR DID NOT MOVE. I COULD HEAR THE CAR REVVING UP BUT I WASN'T MOVING. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT- I HAD MY KIA TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $2200-3600. I WAS DEVASTATED AND SHOCKED. MY KIA WAS WORKING JUST FINE. I NEVER HAD ANY INDICATORS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. NONE OF MY DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASH OR LIGHT UP. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO COVER THE REPAIRS. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 4 YEARS AGO AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR ALL THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TO MAINTAIN A WELL-FUNCTIONING VEHICLE. I WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB OVER 5 YEARS AGO. I PAID $8,700 FOR MY KIA USING MONIES FROM MY PROPHET SHARING TO CUT DOWN ON LIVING EXPENSES SO THAT I COULD STAY ON TOP OF THINGS BETWEEN JOBS. I WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALER THAT MY VEHICLE WAS CERTIFIED AND WOULD REMAIN IN GREAT CONDITION IF I KEPT UP WITH THE NECESSARY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. I DID EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSE TO AND MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO FOR SERVICE, ADVISED ME TO CONTACT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND REPORT MY ISSUES CONCERNING MY VEHICLE. MY CAR SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS PRONE TO DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND I NEED MY CAR REPAIR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN GET MY CAR REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10466757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.