2005 Kia Spectra

Routine

Owners filed 103 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

84 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags22
908
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module11
000
Electrical System8
000
Vehicle Speed Control7
200
Steering7
301
Structure › Body3
101
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Parking Brake3
100
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000
Engine3
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting11V256000
Filed Apr 25, 201158,322 vehiclesKia Motors Corporation

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

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.

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly05V183000
Filed Apr 28, 2005368 vehiclesKia Motors America, Inc.

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

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

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Nov 29, 2020128,636 milesWA

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

Electrical System
Filed Mar 29, 202088,088 milesAZ

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.

SteeringCrash
Filed Nov 25, 2019160,000 milesIN

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

Air Bags
Filed Mar 9, 2019100 milesOR

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
Filed Nov 14, 2018127,089 milesCA

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
Filed Sep 27, 2018105,000 milesWA

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.

SteeringCrash
Filed Aug 15, 2018MO

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
Filed Nov 27, 2017CA

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
Filed Nov 3, 2017OK

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
Filed Nov 22, 201695,000 milesIN

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

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 9, 201687,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THEN IT WENT TO 25 MPH JUMPED TO 45 MPH. AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED AND THEN STARTED AGAIN, I WENT TO TURN LEFT AND IT LIST POWER FOR A SECOND ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE BUT REGAINED POWER AND MOVED ON. I WOULD PARK IN GARAGE AND NEXT DAY WORKING AGAIN. I WOULD PARK IN SUN AT WORK AFTER WORK SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK. NOW SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL I'M AFRAID OF GETTING A TICKET. I AM WORKING WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC THEY SCANNED IT NO CODES RELATING.

Structure › BodyCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 20, 201680,000 milesNC

MY SON WAS IN A COLLISION, HE REAR ENDED SOMEONE, THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE IN TOTALLY CAVED IN AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 18, 201642,000 milesIN

IN JANUARY 2016 THIS CAR WENT INTO A SUDDEN INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATION. FIRST TIME IN EXTREMELY COLD AND ICY WEATHER. TOOK TWO FEET ON BRAKE AND IT STILL MOVED INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN. SECOND AND THIRD TIMES, IN PARKING LOTS IN WARMER CONDITIONS, IT DID THE SAME SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL CAUSED EXTREMELY LOUD ROAR BEFORE IT SUDDENLY STOPPED. THESE ALL OCCURRED WHEN GOING FROM GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE. THESE WERE TERRIFYING. AND KIA DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SAID IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXTRA HEAVY BOOTS ON MY FEET OR MAYBE THE FLOOR MAT WEDGED UNDER PEDAL. THIS IS KIA LACK-OF-RESPONSIBILITY BULLSHIT!

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Dec 30, 2015200,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND A CRASH OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 14, 201592,000 milesTX

ANOTHER CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING, MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AS IT SHOULD WITH NO PROBLEM BUT MINE DIDN'T. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3-5 SECONDS LATE, THEN EXPLODED SENDING HOT SHRAPNEL THAT INJURED ME IN SEVERAL PLACES ON MY FACE, CHEST, SHOULDERS, STOMACH AND ARMS CAUSING CUTS, BURNS, SCRAPES AND BRUISES THAT MY HUSBAND TOOK PICTURES OF AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS EXTREMELY TRAMATIC & PAINFUL. I AM STILL NOT COMPLETELY HEALED.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 30, 201571,000 milesCA

MY AIR BAG IS OFF, I WENT TO KIA AND HAD IT REPLACE THEY SAID THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE MY CAR SEAT. MY CAR SEAT IS OKAY, WHAT I WAS COMPLAINING WHY MY AIR BAG IS OFF?

Steering
Filed Jun 9, 201549,900 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO PULL TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,900.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Apr 29, 2015104,000 milesTX

VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. MY SON RECEIVED A CONCUSSION AS A RESULT (HE WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT). KIA HAS INDICATED THAT AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 20, 2015122,312 milesGA

DROVE TO WORK THE OTHER MORNING AND NOTICE BY LUNCH TIME THAT WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE OUT OF DRIVEWAY IT WAS NOT SHOWING MILES I WAS TRAVELING. THIS HAD DONE IT TO ME BEFORE IN SC AND THE GOODYEAR SERVICE MAN COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. BUT IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN WHILE THEY HAD IT. HE STATED THAT HE'D HEARD THAT MY CAR WAS KNOWN TO DO THIS. BUT NOW FOR 3 DAYS I'M DRIVING BLIND ON THE FEEL. UNTIL I CAN GET SOME ONE TO LOOK AT IT. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 17, 2015149,909 milesNE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,909.

20 of 103 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2009114012Fatalities reported
2008121031Fatalities reported
2007152161Fatalities reported
2006100130Routine
2005 — this page103210Routine
200471111Fatalities reported
200390010Routine
200292021Fatalities reported
200140010Routine
200023000Routine

Compare every Spectra year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 25, 2011. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.