NHTSA vehicle safety data

2000 Kia Spectra Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2000 Kia Spectra right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 23 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2000 Kia Spectra.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2000 Kia Spectra owner complaints

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Kia Spectra, describing incidents dated August 14, 2000 to July 20, 2005.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 9 complaints
Engine 7 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint

Of the 23 complaints on file, 6 report a crash; across all 23 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10138590 · Filed October 4, 2005
TRANSMISSION HOUSING EXPLODED,COMPANY REFUSES TO BACK WARRANTY. *NM
ODI #10127262 · Filed July 1, 2005
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 KIA SPECTRA WHEN THE CLAM SHELL (STEERING COLUMN COVER) CAME APART WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THE TOP PIECE PULL A WIRE LOOSE CAUSING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO COME ON, AND IT ALSO PREVENTED HER FROM COMPLETING THE TURN THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE. SHE EVENTUALLY HAD TO…
ODI #10088429 · Filed August 23, 2004
BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND FEEL LOW, CAR TOOK TIME TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BRAKE AT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH .STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT NOISE AT THE MOMENT. ON AUGUST 2000 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE WEATHERSTRIP…

Read all 23 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2000 Kia Spectra in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA04-004: REFUELING SPIT BACK
Closed July 29, 2004
Engineering Analysis EA04-007: SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION
Closed July 26, 2004
Engineering Analysis EA02-016: NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Closed October 7, 2003

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2000 Kia Spectra right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2000 Kia Spectra. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

23 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Kia Spectra.

Power Train

ODI #10138590

Incident: July 20, 2005 · Filed: October 4, 2005

TRANSMISSION HOUSING EXPLODED,COMPANY REFUSES TO BACK WARRANTY. *NM

Steering

ODI #10127262

Incident: June 23, 2005 · Filed: July 1, 2005

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 KIA SPECTRA WHEN THE CLAM SHELL (STEERING COLUMN COVER) CAME APART WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THE TOP PIECE PULL A WIRE LOOSE CAUSING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO COME ON, AND IT ALSO PREVENTED HER FROM COMPLETING THE TURN THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE. SHE EVENTUALLY HAD TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WE HAD JUST PICKED UP THE CAR THAT SAME DAY FROM HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SERVICED AND THE RADIO REPLACED (2ND TIME FOR THE RADIO), AND THEN THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TECH CAME OUT TO OUR HOUSE AFTER MY WIFE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE IN THE DAY SO THEY CAME OVER AND DROVE IT BACK THEMSELVES. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRENTEE WHICH WAS STILL IN FORCE AT THE TIME. I ALSO RENTED A CAR FOR THE 3 DAYS THAT THEY HAD OUR CAR, AND THAT TOO WAS NOT TO BE COVERED. HE SAID THAT I COULD TAPE IT UP AND IT SHOULD BE FINE IF I DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO SAID THAT MOST AUTOMOBILES HAD THIS PART ATTACHED WITH SCREWS HOLDING THE 2 PIECES TOGETHER, BUT THIS ONE HAD ONLY PUSH TABS AND THE SAME PROBLEM COULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN WITH THE REPLACED PART. THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND TO ME IS POOR WORKMANSHIP, AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAPE UP MY CAR AND OR PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT. ALSO, IF THIS HAPPENED TO MY CAR, IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE OTHERS AS WELL, AT LEAST THE OTHER 2000 KIA SPECTRAS. RIGHT NOW, I DO HAVE TAPE HOLDING IT TOGETHER, AND I INTEND ON GETTING IT REPLACED, BUT ACTUALLY I DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME THING IS IT COULD OCCUR AGAIN. (I'VE HAD THE CAR EXACTLY 5 YEARS WITH 50,000 MILE ON IT.)

Parking Brake

ODI #10088429

Incident: August 14, 2000 · Filed: August 23, 2004

BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND FEEL LOW, CAR TOOK TIME TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BRAKE AT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH .STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT NOISE AT THE MOMENT. ON AUGUST 2000 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE WEATHERSTRIP JUST FEW INSIDE THE CAR AND IT LOOKS JUST LI A SNAKE AND I ALMOST CRASH. THE CAR HAD 1729 MILEAGE.FOLOWING WEEK THE REAR DOOR WINDSHIELD TRIM CAME OFF.THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WON'T WORK BECAUSE OF A CUT WIRE.EVERYTHING IN THIS CAR IS FALLING APART.I DIDN'T EXPECT A NEW CAR TO BE LIKE THAT.I FEEL SO UNSAFE IN THIS CAR SPECIALLY THE SMOKE THAT COMING FROM UNDER MY STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES.PLEAS HELP ME BEFOE I GET KILLED IN THIS UNSAFE CAR.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10088426

Incident: June 13, 2001 · Filed: August 23, 2004

PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST AND MUFFLER. LOTS OF NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR.THEY REPLACED THE SILENCER THE FIRST TIME, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SILENNER,,GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, NUTS

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10088423

1 injury

Incident: June 17, 2003 · Filed: August 23, 2004

ENGINE OVERHEATS A LOT.WHEN I START THE CAR AT TIME SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER NEAT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AC LINE FROZEN . COOLING FAN NOT WORKING. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED JUNCTION BLOCK, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,,,GASKET AND THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE RELAY....REPLACED COOLING FAN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10088421

1 injury

Incident: June 17, 2003 · Filed: August 23, 2004

Air Bags

ODI #10088414

Incident: August 16, 2000 · Filed: August 23, 2004

THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT'S THE CLOCK SPRING,SECOND TIME IT WAS THE AIR BAG MODULE ,THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CLOCKY SPRING MODULE AGAIN.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10071094

Incident: October 15, 2003 · Filed: January 15, 2004

THE OIL PAN PLUG FELL OFF OF THE OIL PAN AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT UNTIL I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 20 MILES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TO THE KIA DEALER, EVENTHOUGH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.(5 YRS OR 50,000 MILES) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT STILL LEAKING OIL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DID BUY THE VEHICLE USED THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.

Engine and Engine Cooling; Air Bags

ODI #10063642

Incident: March 10, 2004 · Filed: March 22, 2004

SILENCER PIPE SPLIT WHICH IS NO CAUSE OR DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER, THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, MY CAR HAS MADE AN EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH AT FIRST WAS DIAGNOSISED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LATER TO DISCOVER FROM AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THE SILENCER PIPE HAD SPLIT DUE TO POOR PRODUCTION. THIS I BELIEVE IN TURN ALSO HAS AFFECTED MY PERFORMANCE OF MY CAR AND CAUSED THE PURGE VALVE THAT I MUST ALSO REPLACE TO HAVE FAILED LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WHEN REGISTERATION COMES DUE MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG. I HAVE HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. EVERYONE CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THEIR OUTRAGEOUS CHARGES BUT I HAD TO BREAKDOWN AND GO TO PAY 82.00 FOR A DIAGNOSIS FOR AT LEAST 420.00 WORTH OF SERVICE THAT I MUST PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED 315.00 TO REPLACE SILENCER PIPE THAT WAS ALREADY DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER AND 90.00 FOR THE PURGE VALVE THESE CHARGES ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP INCLUDE LABOR. ALREADY LOSING THE 82.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. MY CAR HAS ONLY 57493 MILES WITHIN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE HAD IT. I HAVE HAD TO ALSO HAD THE AIR BAG MODULE CONTROL REPLACED THAT HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER ON 6/21/01 AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THUS I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE ISSUE FROM KIA, WHICH WAS OF NO CHARGE THE FIRST TIME BUT USED MY WARRANTY?*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10032430

Incident: August 7, 2003 · Filed: August 7, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH

Other Kia Spectra model years

Check your 2000 Kia Spectra VIN

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

Check a Kia VIN