NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Kia Spectra Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Kia Spectra has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 103 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 2005 Kia Spectra, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2005 Kia Spectra owner complaints

Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Kia Spectra, describing incidents dated February 8, 2005 to November 27, 2020.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 43 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 12 complaints
Electrical System 11 complaints
Steering 10 complaints
Power Train 7 complaints
Service Brakes 7 complaints

Of the 103 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 103 complaints, owners report 17 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11376926 · Filed November 29, 2020
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. CAR HAS NOT SUSTAINED DAMAGE. SEAT OR SENSOR MALFUNCTION MAY CAUSE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN CRASH.
ODI #11319671 · Filed March 29, 2020
VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY QUITS. ALSO DASH LIGHTS ON BINACLE. THEN WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A DAY OR SO, HAVE REPLACE WITH GENUINE KIA OEM PARTS BUT STILL HAPPENS. ALSO LOOKED ON FORUMS ONLINE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE.
ODI #11282377 · Filed November 25, 2019
BAD SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL AND SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT END. ONLY WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY

Read all 103 complaints

Owner-reported

2005 Kia Spectra mileage at failure

82 of the 103 complaints on file for the 2005 Kia Spectra give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Air Bags	Median 30,000 miles	Middle half 3,000–90,000 miles	Based on 30 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

FUEL TANK STRAPS

NHTSA #11V256000 · Fuel System, Other — Storage — Tank Assembly — Mounting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 25, 2011 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 58,322 vehicles

Kia campaign SC090 · Owners notified June 6, 2011 · Vehicles built November 7, 2003 – March 6, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 SPECTRA LD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 7, 2003, THROUGH MARCH 6, 2007, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH HOLD THE TANK MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY SEPARATE ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND POSSIBLY DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TANK.

Safety consequence

THE FUEL TANK CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIKE THE GROUND WHICH COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. LEAKING FUEL CAN CREATE A FIRE HAZARD.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE WITH NEW ZINC COATED PARTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA SAFETY RECALL NO. SC090.OWNERS 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

STEERING TIE ROD

NHTSA #05V183000 · Steering — Linkages — Tie Rod Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported April 28, 2005 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 368 vehicles

Kia campaign SC-047 · Owners notified May 20, 2005 · Vehicles built February 22, 2005 – March 28, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.

Safety consequence

IF THE ROD CRACKS OR FAILS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE TIE ROD COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON APRIL 8, 2005. AN ADDITIONAL LETTER WAS SENT TO OWNERS WHO HAD NOT TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. THIS LETTER WAS MAILED MAY 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC-047.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.

2005 Kia Spectra 4-DR w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

103 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Kia Spectra.

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11376926

Incident: November 27, 2020 · Filed: November 29, 2020

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. CAR HAS NOT SUSTAINED DAMAGE. SEAT OR SENSOR MALFUNCTION MAY CAUSE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN CRASH.

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11319671

Incident: March 28, 2020 · Filed: March 29, 2020

VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY QUITS. ALSO DASH LIGHTS ON BINACLE. THEN WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A DAY OR SO, HAVE REPLACE WITH GENUINE KIA OEM PARTS BUT STILL HAPPENS. ALSO LOOKED ON FORUMS ONLINE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE.

Steering; Suspension; Wheels

ODI #11282377

Crash

Incident: October 1, 2019 · Filed: November 25, 2019

BAD SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL AND SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT END. ONLY WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11185578

Incident: January 1, 2016 · Filed: March 9, 2019

UPON PURCHASE, BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN 2005, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WAS ALWAYS COMING ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING EVEN IF A PERSON WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHY OR HAD MONEY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PROBLEM. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC, THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY IT LOOKED NORMAL. WHEN I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ISSUE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH NEEDING A NEW SEAT. I HAVE HAD MY KIA SPECTRA EX FOR SOME TIME NOW, SO I HAD TO HAVE THEM SALVAGE THE SEAT FROM A SALVAGE YARD. LUCKILY, THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE AN OLD SEAT IN A WRECKED KIA AND IT LOOKS NICE IN MY CAR, AND THIS LIGHT SO FAR HAS NOT COME BACK ON. THE TOTAL COST WAS AROUND $2,000 AND IT WAS SAD TO PUT OUT THE CASH BECAUSE I'M A STUDENT. AFTER SEARCHING, I NOTICED ON OTHER SITES THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE.

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11151617

Incident: July 20, 2018 · Filed: November 14, 2018

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER NOT WORKING WELL IT WORKS THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING WHEN I DRIVE AFTER I TURN CAR OFF AND GO TO DRIVE AGAIN IT WILL NOT WORK THE ENTIRE DAY. RECENTLY I HAVE MEET SOMEONE WITH EXACT MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE LITERALLY AS I DESCRIBED THE OTHER PERSON WHO I DID NOT TELL ABOUT THE PROBLEM WORD FOR WORD DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO WHEN SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO WILL NITWORK. I HAVE REPLACED INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR , WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH WIRES BACK UP TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NOTHING HAS FIXED THE ISSUE.

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11131858

Incident: September 26, 2018 · Filed: September 27, 2018

MY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS GONE BAD AND KIA IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE SENSOR MAT FOR 2005 KIA SPECTRAS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE AGREED TO REPLACE THE MAT FOR THE SAME MODEL CAR FROM 2007 TO 2009 SEE THE NHTSA PDF ABOUT THE 2007 MODEL YEAR RECALL: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/INV/2015/INOT-PE15031-63613.PDF PLEASE SPEAK WITH KIA. THIS RECALL AGREEMENT SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO 2005 MODEL SPECTRAS. THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE SENSOR MAT.

Steering; Air Bags; Service Brakes

ODI #11120161

Crash

Incident: July 31, 2018 · Filed: August 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED ONE STEERING RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V183000 (STEERING) AND ONE TSB FOR THE AIR BAGS, BUT THERE WERE NO BRAKE OR AIR BAG RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags

ODI #11048657

Incident: November 27, 2017 · Filed: November 27, 2017

TAKATA RECALL CONTACTED LOCAL KIA AND REFERRED TO NATIONAL PHONE 1-800-333-4542 WHERE A REPRESENTATIVE (JESSICA) STATED THAT KIA DOES NOT USE TAKATA AIRBAGS ON ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES; THEREFORE, NO NEED TO REPLACE. END OF CONVERSATION.

Air Bags

ODI #11042904

Incident: September 11, 2017 · Filed: November 3, 2017

THIS VEHICLE HAD AN AIR BAG RECALL AND WAS PERFORMED. OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT SENT THIS VEHICLE (WITH A AIR BAG LAMP ON) TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM FERGUSON KIA AT TULSA OK TOLD ME THAT THE SAME COMPONENTS THAT WAS USED FOR THE RECALL ARE NOW DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE AIR BAG LAMP TO COME ON. I CONTACTED KIA HOTLINE 1-800-333-4542 AND FILED A CASE (CASE NO. [XXX]).A KIA REPRESENTATIVE CALLED BACK AND TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPAIR OR PROVIDE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG. I REQUESTED FOR KIA TO RE-EVALUATE THIS CASE. KIA NEVER CALLED BACK. NOW THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS THREATEN TO HAUL THE VEHICLE AWAY OR FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO COME AND GET THIS VEHICLE. KIA SPECTRA 5 VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #10927363

Incident: May 1, 2014 · Filed: November 22, 2016

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON IN MY 2005 KIA SPECTRA EX. THE ERROR CODE SAVED INDICATES THE OCS SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THERE IS AN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (PE15031) FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND MODEL CAR BUT FOR LATER PRODUCTION YEARS. IT INDICATES THAT THE ISSUE WILL BE REPAIRED FOR UP TO 15 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHY DOES THIS NOT COVER THE 2005 YEAR AS WELL?...UPDATED 04/20/17 *BF

Other Kia Spectra model years

Check your 2005 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.

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