Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Kia Spectra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Kia Spectra has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 100 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V256000 FUEL TANK STRAPS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 46 complaints
- Structure 9 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 7 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 7 complaints
- Power Train 7 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 7 complaints
Of the 100 complaints on file, 28 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 100 complaints, owners report 32 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Kia Spectra has a below-average rating due to a significant number of airbag-related complaints and a recall campaign targeting fuel system issues in certain states. The data indicates limited recall interventions and relatively high complaint numbers, suggesting potential reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Fuel system | Unknown | $300–$800 | occasional |
| Service brakes | Unknown | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Rotate and balance tires
- Replace air filter
- Inspect suspension components
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Fuel smells around car
- Brake pedal feels soft
- Transmission slipping
- Steering wheel vibrations
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Kia Spectra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.