2004 Kia Spectra Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: March 24, 2022 · Filed: March 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Kia Spectra. The contact stated the cruise control feature was not operating properly. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving and approaching a traffic light, when depressing on the brake pedal the vehicle failed to stop and accelerated independently to 80 mph. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to stop the vehicle by using the emergency brakes and parked on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, they noticed the cruise cable was not in place was separate from the box. The contact also stated she saw the area was black/burned. The contact called local dealer and them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Incident: June 7, 2016 · Filed: August 18, 2017

ELECTRICAL - SPEEDOMETER / ODOMETER - FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO POSSIBLE SHORT IN WIRING

Incident: August 5, 2017 · Filed: August 6, 2017

TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BACK QUITE A BIT BUT YET MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

Incident: September 25, 2014 · Filed: January 29, 2016

METAL AROUND WHEEL WELLS ROTTING OUT.

Incident: March 19, 2015 · Filed: March 20, 2015

FRONT END COLLISION GOING AROUND 30MPH AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR IS TOTALED. *TR

Incident: December 3, 2014 · Filed: December 17, 2014

AFTER PARKING MY CAR I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE (LEFT FRONT) DOOR. THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER OPENS THE DOOR. I NOW HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN AN EMERGENCY I COULD BECOME TRAPPED INSIDE. THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS WON'T WORK UNLESS THE CAR IS RUNNING OR THE KEY IS IN THE "ON" POSITION. ALSO IT HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH A STICK SHIFT SO TRYING TO EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE REALLY IS NOT AN OPTION. *TR

Incident: November 7, 2012 · Filed: December 21, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED MONTHS LATER THE SEAT BELT SPRINGS FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE 143,000.

Incident: May 10, 2012 · Filed: July 20, 2012

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). *TR

Incident: June 20, 2011 · Filed: January 23, 2012

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. *TR

Incident: December 27, 2010 · Filed: December 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT A SIZZLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.