NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Kia LD Spectra Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Kia LD Spectra has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 5 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Kia LD Spectra. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Kia LD Spectra owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Kia LD Spectra, describing incidents dated October 21, 2004 to June 4, 2013.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10559532 · Filed January 12, 2014
I NOTICED THAT AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE ENGINE WOULD "REV" BUT NO MOVEMENT UNTIL 3-5 SECONDS LATER THEN THE CAR WOULD "LUNGE" INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE. I WOULD NOTICE THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING IN 2ND-3RD GEAR AND THERE WOULD BE NO ACCELERATION JUST "REVS" FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT…
ODI #10164141 · Filed August 1, 2006
IN THE PAST 16 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEAD LIGHTS AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS A TOTAL OF 22 TIMES - I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE THIS YEAR AND BOTH TIMES HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM - THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH ONLY MY BRIGHT…
ODI #10158101 · Filed May 23, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASH BOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TURNED OFF. WHEN RESTARTED BOTH EXTERIOR AND DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER…

Read all 5 complaints

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

NHTSA #05V431000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported September 21, 2005 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 73,641 vehicles

Kia campaign SC-053 · Owners notified October 31, 2005 · Vehicles built December 11, 2003 – April 18, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG FEATURE, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT. THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.

Safety consequence

THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC-053.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Kia LD Spectra. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Kia LD Spectra.

Power Train

ODI #10559532

Incident: June 4, 2013 · Filed: January 12, 2014

I NOTICED THAT AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE ENGINE WOULD "REV" BUT NO MOVEMENT UNTIL 3-5 SECONDS LATER THEN THE CAR WOULD "LUNGE" INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE. I WOULD NOTICE THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING IN 2ND-3RD GEAR AND THERE WOULD BE NO ACCELERATION JUST "REVS" FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT WOULD JUMP BACK INTO GEAR AND GO. THIS INTERMITTENTLY STARTED HAPPENING AFTER I CHANGED THE RADIATOR THAT HAD A FAULTY TRANS-AXLE COUPLER ON IT, NOT SURE IF THAT COULD OF BEEN AN ISSUE WITH WHY THE AT IS ACTING LIKE IT IS. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10164141

Incident: June 15, 2006 · Filed: August 1, 2006

IN THE PAST 16 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEAD LIGHTS AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS A TOTAL OF 22 TIMES - I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE THIS YEAR AND BOTH TIMES HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM - THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH ONLY MY BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF AS I REFUSE TO REPLACE ANY MORE HEADLIGHTS - THEY CEASE WORKING IN 1 TO 12 DAYS. *JB

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10158101

Incident: May 15, 2006 · Filed: May 23, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASH BOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TURNED OFF. WHEN RESTARTED BOTH EXTERIOR AND DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Air Bags

ODI #10142853

Incident: October 21, 2004 · Filed: November 16, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY FLASHED. THE DEALER COMPLETED RECALL 05V431000 REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED EVEN AFTER RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. SHE MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SUGGESTED SHE RETURN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. *AK

Air Bags

ODI #10141471

Incident: October 30, 2005 · Filed: November 1, 2005

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS RECALL O5V431000, IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. SINCE THE REPAIRS THE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON IT ALERTED THE PASSENGER THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PASSENGERS WERE NOT SITTING IN THE SEATS PROPERLY. *AK

Other Kia LD Spectra model years

Check your 2004 Kia LD Spectra VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia LD Spectra at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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