Page 3 of 4 · complaints 101–150 of 152

2007 Kia Spectra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2007 record →

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 6, 201162,000 milesWA

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING RANDOMLY AFTER THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED. AFTER IT STALLS THE ENGINE WILL NOT START RIGHT WAY AND IT CAN STALL AGAIN UNTIL FUEL LEVEL DROPS . WHEN FILLING AT GAS STATION THE TANK ONLY GETS FILLED UNTIL GAS NOZZLE SELF STOPS IT DOES NOT CONTINUE TO GET FILLED. *TT

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 11, 201132,000 milesCA

THE RUBBER STRIPPING THAT HOLDS THE WINDSHIELD IN PLACE CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE RUBBER STRIP BROKE AWAY FROM THE GLASS AND BEGAN SLAPPING HARD AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAD TO TAPE THE RUBBER IN PLACE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED DOWN THE CENTER FROM THE RUBBER SLAPPING AGAINST THE GLASS AND/OR THE RATTLING OF THE GLASS. SINCE THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE - WE ARE REQUESTING THAT KIA TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE VEHICLE. *TT

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 30, 2011VA

2007 KIA SPECTRA'S ENGINE DIES AFTER I FILL IT UP WITH GAS, BUT WILL BE FINE AFTER I'VE USED SOME GAS. I DON'T TOP OFF MY GAS SO THAT CANNOT BE THE PROBLEM. I FIND IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WHEN IT DIES DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AFTER THEY RAN TESTS ON IT. MY SPECTRA WASN'T GIVING THE KIA DEALERSHIP MECHANIC ANY PROBLEMS SO AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR ALMOST 1 WEEK THEY GAVE IT BACK TO ME AND TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR BACK IN TO THEM IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SO I PLAN ON TAKING IT BACK IN TOMORROW MORNING ASAP! *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed May 17, 2011CA

MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA'S DOORS WILL RANDOMLY LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS HAS CAUSED GREAT CONCERN BOTH IN SITUATIONS WHERE I WOULD NEED TO GET INTO MY CAR QUICKLY - FOR EXAMPLE A MUGGING OR SNOWSTORM, AND WHERE I LEAVE MY CAR PARKED IN A PUBLIC LOCATION. RESEARCH ONLINE INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, YET KIA REFUSES TO FIX IT UNLESS THEY CAN REPLICATE THE ISSUE, AND INSTEAD TRY TO HINT THAT IT'S USER ERROR. I'VE FILMED THIS OCCURRENCE, AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE DOOR LOCKS "ARGUE" WITH THE FOB'S UNLOCK COMMAND. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY UNLESS THEY CAN REPLICATE IT AND TOLD ME "BRING IT BACK WHEN THE LOCKS FAIL ENTIRELY." IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE NOW. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK TO KIA AGAIN THIS WEEKEND. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 15, 20117,000 milesAZ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE IDLED WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. HE WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS BEING PUSHED FROM THE BACK AND THEN MOVED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WILL SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2011DC

2007 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER THE TANK IS FULL *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY TOPPING UP, WHICH THE CONSUMER CLAIMED NEVER HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Nov 16, 201021,000 milesAZ

IN MID-SEPT10 I EXPERIENCED 2 BRAKE FAILURES ON MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX. EACH TIME AFTER DRIVING APPROX 800 MILES TO & FROM NORTHERN CA. BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN EXITING OFF OF CA99 TO CA4 (ANGELS CAMP). WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR TO FAR RIGHT SHOULDER WHERE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS DEPLOYED. THEREBY NOT HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER 5 MINUTES WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE REMAINDER OF TRIP (40MILES). NEXT MORNING TOOK CAR TO LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY KEPT THE CAR 2DAYS/INSISTED THAT I CALL A REPORT INTO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS; WHICH DID. ACCORDING TO THEM CAR WAS "OPERATING ACCORDING TO SPECS"..IN OTHERWORDS, WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY...UPON RETURNING BACK HOME TO AZ. THE SAME THING HAPPENED, EXCEPT THIS TIME MY GARAGE DOOR WAS WHAT STOPPED MY CAR. BOTH TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED....AGAIN I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE...BUT I DAMAGED MY GD/MY BROTHERS NEW CAR THAT WAS PARKED ION THE OTHER SIDE AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR...THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA WERE IT WAS KEPT FOR 2WKS, WHILE CORPORATE DECIDED HOW TO PROCEED....AFTER THAT TIME MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME..AGAIN WITH (THIS TIME VERBALLY ONLY) THE EXPRESSION OF "WORKING ACCORDING TO SPECS" USED...I DEALT WITH KIA CA..I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION....OVERALL I WAS TREATED LIKE A I HAD DONE IT DELIBERATELY..I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 32YRS AND NEVER HAVE HAD AS MUCH AS A TICKET, MUCH LESS AN ACCIDENT....WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR A "WRITTEN" STATEMENT ABOUT TH

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Oct 30, 201057,623 milesNC

I HAVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA AND THE KEYLESS DOOR OPENER AND LOCK SYSTEM HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE LOCKS DON'T OPEN WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO AND LOCK WHEN THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO. I BROUGHT TO KIA DEALER BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE MY PROBLEM AND HINTED THAT I WAS NOT USING THE BUTTONS CORRECTLY. WELL AT AROUND 60,450 MILES I STARTED MY CAR TO GET THE HEAT ON, I TOOK OFF THE KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE AND CLOSED THE DOOR TO LET MY CAR WARM UP. I DID NOT LOCK THE DOOR USING THE BUTTON ON THE KEYLESS DEVICE, BUT THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY WITH MY CAR ON. NO WAY WOULD THAT KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE ALLOW ME TO GET BACK IN THE CAR. IT WAS 11:00 PM, COLD, LUCKILY SOME FRIENDS REMAINED WITH ME AND TRIED TO GET IN THE CAR WITH COAT HANGARS AND OTHER DEVICES TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH, TO GET IN WHICH COST $50, HOWEVER ALL THE TRYING TO GET IN DAMAGED BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR MECHANISMS SO NOW I HAVE THE EXPENSE OF GETTING THIS FIXED, WHICH KIA SHOULD HAVE FIXED BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. I TRIED FOR AN HOUR PRESSING THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYLESS ENTRY, THE DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN, THE TRUNK WOULDN'T OPEN, THE BATTERY WAS FINE IN THE KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE, THE LIGHT WORKED LIKE IT NORMALLY WORKS BUT IT WOULDN'T OPEN THE CAR! WHAT IF GOD FORBID I HAD JUST BUCKLED A CHILD IN THE BACKSEAT AND CLOSED THE BACK DOOR AND THEN TRIED TO OPEN MY DOOR TO GET IN AND THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF. OR IF THERE WERE SOME OTHER EMERGENCY AND I

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 25, 201030,000 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD BEGIN TO STALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 23, 20102,560 milesNY

IN 2008 I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5 SX , IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN MY AUTOS ENGINE STARTED TO REVVING AND MOVING FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD WITH MY FOOT , BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD, THE TIRES WERE SPINNING, I THEN PUT MY OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THAT STOPPED MOVING FORWARD, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED REVVING, I THEN WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. I LET THE CAR REMAIN OFF FOR ABOUT L5 SECONDS AND TURNED THE IGNITION ON AGAIN THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV AGAIN, I HAD TO TURN ENGINE OFF AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS I TURNED THE ENGINE ON AND IT WAS NORMAL SO I WENT HOME AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY SERVICE PROVIDER TO HAVE THE AUTO CHECKED OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND SPOKE TO CASE MANAGER (ALBERT) WHO SUGGESTED I GO TO ANOTHER KIA DEALER. I WENT TO KIA OF BAYSIDE IN GREAT NECK, N.Y. (THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS NOW). THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE BE DISCONNECTED, WHICH HE DID , AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND COME BACK TO THE SHOP. I RETURNED TO THE SHOP ON 1/20/09 ( I ORIGINALLY TOOK CAR TO BAYSIDE KIA ON 12/22/08) I TOLD THE TECH THAT NOTHING HAPPENED DURING THE 2 WEEK PERIOD. H

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Oct 12, 201036,000 milesWA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER IT WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK CANNISTER FLOODED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

Fuel System, Other
Filed Sep 26, 201065,000 milesNY

MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA STALLS OUT EVERY TIME I FILL THE TANK. IT STALLS DURING HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND DURING NORMAL LOW SPEED DRIVING. MY KIA IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON OTHER SITES IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACED THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH UNDER THE DASH. THE RECALL WAS WITH 5 KIA MODELS BUT NOT THE SPECTRA. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Sep 17, 2010KY

I DRIVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX, WITH 37,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE IT SUFFERS FROM A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE FUEL & EXHAUST SYSTEM MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. EVERY TIME I FILL THE GAS TANK COMPLETELY, THE CAR STALLS. THIS STALL USUALLY OCCURS WHILE IDLING AND WITHIN 10 MILES FROM MY FUELING. IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6 LANE 50MPH COMMUTER ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS A RESULT. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN REAR ENDED AND RUN OVER WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, 2 OF THE TIMES THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND 1 TIME THEY CHANGED A PURGE VALVE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Sep 3, 201086,800 milesMO

MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA EX HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE OVERFLOW TANK. WHEN I TAKE MY CAR TO THE GAS STATION I TURN MY CAR AND PUMP THE GAS. IF I FILL THE TANK UP (THE PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTTING OFF) MY CAR WILL DIE WHILE I AM DRIVING, PARKED, OR IDLING. WHEN I 'M DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY DIE AND LOSE POWER STEERING AND THEN START AGAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT MY CAR HAS DIED WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER AND IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE SHOP APPROXIMATELY TWO TIMES TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP WHEN IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE SERVICE WORKER SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECT WITH THE CHARCOAL TANK. *TR

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Aug 19, 201076,000 milesOH

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 30, 201053,752 milesMO

ON THREE OCCASIONS MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA'S ENGINE HAS RACED MADLY WHEN I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING WITH THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED. THE MOST RECENT DATE THAT IT HAPPENED WAS 7/27/2010. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT THE ENGINE WAS OK. AROUND XMAS 2009, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I TRIED MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK AND TURNING IT OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I FINALLY PUT IT IN DRIVE AND LET IT INCH FORWARD AND SUDDENLY THE RACING STOPPED. AT THAT TIME I REMOVED THE CAR MAT AND HAVE NOT USED THE MAT SINCE THEN. TODAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY CHECKED THE ERROR CODES IN MEMORY AND GAVE ME A LISTING OF THE CODES. THEY TELL ME NONE OF THE CODES RELATE TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED. THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR NOT LATCHING. I WOULD SLAM THE DOOR AND IT WOULD POP BACK OPEN AGAIN. I DEPRESSED THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTONS ON THE REMOTE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOOR WOULD LATCH. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 28, 2010WA

2007 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER AND PAD. THE CONSUMER THEN ASKED IF THE LEFT FRONT PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY STATED IT DID NOT. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE NEXT 1,000 MILES THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY; THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT AND SEVERAL TIMES THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO A NOSE DIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT THAT BOTH PADS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *JB

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 22, 201061,645 milesNC

I HAVE A 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND A WOMAN PULLED IN TO TELL ME I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD JUST GONE ON A TRIP WITH MY PARENTS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME SO IT HAD TO HAVE JUST GONE OUT. THE NEXT DAY MY HUSBAND CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BECAUSE THE SPECTRA WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. IT SEEMS THAT SINCE THE DEFECT IS OCCURRING EXACTLY LIKE OTHER MODELS. THERE ARE ALSO INSTANCES I HAVE FOUND ONLINE OF OTHER SPECTRAS DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 20, 201065,000 milesAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED OFF THEY CAUSED THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Fuel System, OtherCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 30, 201010,000 milesTX

I PURCHASED A KIA SPECTRA AND REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP SOUTHWEST KIA THAT MY GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING. I RE-INJURED MY RIGHT HAND. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. BUT THE PEDDLE KEPT STICKING. I ALSO PURCHASED A INSURANCE THAT WILL PAY YOUR CAR PAYMENTS WHEN YOU ARE UNABLE TO WORK DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION. I FILED A CLAIM AND IT DID NOT PAY MY CAR PAYMENTS. NEXT THING I WENT OUT AND MY CAR WAS GONE. THE DEALERSHIP ACCUSED ME OF MAKING A FALSE COMPLAINT. THIS ALL HAPPEN IN 2009 NOT LONG BEFORE YOU FOUND GAS PEDDLE STICKING. CAN YOU HELP ME ? *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Apr 21, 20107,000 milesMA

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM 5 TIMES SO FAR. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE NO CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTER. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE IS FINE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR MY WIFE TO BE A PASSENGER. THEY HAVE OFFERED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AFTER WE HAD THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE GET INVOLVED, BUT WE ARE 45 MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALER. THE LAST TIME THEY LOOKED AT IT THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. WE STILL HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 19, 201027,028 milesMO

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,028. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,050.

VisibilityCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 17, 2010TX

ON 04/12/2010 AT 09:00 A.M. A 2007 KIA SPECTRA OCCUPIED BY 4 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN WAS REAR ENDED BY A PICK UP TRUCK AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CORPUS CHRISTI POLICE INVESTIGATED THE CRASH AND CREATED CRASH REPORT [XXX] . IT APPEARS THAT THE REAR IMPACT FROM THE COLLISION CAUSED BOTH SUN VISOR COVERS TO BE SLUNG OFF THE RODS THAT ATTACH TO THE CEILING OF THE CAR. BOTH RODS WERE THEN EXPOSED AND HAD THE APPEARANCE OF SHARP TIPPED BAYONETTS. THE DRIVER OF THE KIA WAS GORED BY THE EXPOSED ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND SUFFERED A LIFE THREATENING HEAD WOUND. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Visibility
Filed Apr 6, 201045,000 milesVA

2007 KIA SPECTRA WINDSHIELD STRESS FRACTURE, 45,000 MILES. NO IMPACT. DEALER STATES NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, MUST GO TO INSURANCE COMPANY. CRACK IS FROM TOP DEAD CENTER AND EXTENDS ACROSS VISION FIELD OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER. FAILURE AT LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. "KOREA SAFETY GLASS". *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 12, 201040,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PATCH OF ICE ON THE ROAD CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HEAD WHEN SHE HIT IT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 17, 201012,662 milesCA

AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK TO THE FULL LINE. THE CAR OCCASIONALLY SPUTTERS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, AND WILL CUT OFF IF IDLING FOR THAN ONE MINUTE. THE PROBLEM STOP HAPPENING AFTER THE FUEL LEVEL HAS GONE BELOW THE FULL LINE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERS SAY THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 23, 20099,000 milesIL

GAS LINE/TANK/CANISTER ISSUES. MY SPECTRA HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 11 TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE GAS CANISTER REPLACED 4 TIMES AND ON MY LAST VISIT THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TANK. THE CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. WHEN IT STALLS YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE, BECAUSE THEY LOSE POWER. I HAVE STALLED MID-INTERSECTION, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AT STOP SIGNS/STOP LIGHTS, NO REASON WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT JUST STARTS SHAKING,SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY AND THEN STALLS. KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS WE ARE OVERFILLING AND THAT THEY RECOMMEND NOT USING CITGO GAS. WE DO NEITHER. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THE CANISTER VALVE DOES NOT STOP OVERFILLING, WHICH ALLOWS THAT GAS TO CONTAMINATE OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSES THE STALL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA HEADQUARTERS AND SPOKE WITH TOM MORALLES, THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS MGR. I ASKED HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE CAR NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THEY DEEM IT UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO BE FIXED. HE SAYS THEY NEVER DO, THEY WILL KEEP REPAIRING AND THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO TELL ME THAT THEY CAN FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. HE TOLD ME THAT IF I AM NOT HAPPY I SHOULD CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I DRIVE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND WHEN THE CAR STALLS AND I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES ABOUT TO SMASH INTO US, IT SCARES THEM AND IT SCARES ME. WHAT IS TO SAY WITH THIS GAS LEAK/CONTAMINATION THAT A COMMON FENDER BENDER AT ONE OF THESE STALL OUT TIMES WOULD NOT RESULT IN MY CAR EXPLODING SHOULD A SPARK IGNITE MY GAS LEAK? KIA KNOWS THAT THIS HAPP

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Oct 19, 200961,000 milesNJ

2007 KIA SPECTRA 5 BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TODAY (10/19/2009). SWITCH IS THE EXACT SAME ONE THAT WAS RECALLED ON SIMILAR HYUNDAI ELANTRA CARS. SINCE THAT RECALL DOES NOT COVER KIA'S, I WAS CHARGED $139 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Oct 14, 200910,000 milesAZ

PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK AND PURGE CANISTER SYSTEM. THE NORMAL OPERATION OF FUELING THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE PURGE SYSTEM TO BECOME FILLED WITH FUEL. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES ON THE ROAD; STOP LIGHTS, SLOWER MOVING IN TRAFFIC, IT HAS ALSO SEMI STALLED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY OR ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWO TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME IT WAS IN AND OUT FOR ABOUT A MONTH, IT WOULD STALL DRIVING IT OUT OF THE DEALER!! IT IS NOW IN FOR THE SECOND TIME, WITH NO END IN SIGHT. THE PURGE VALVE AND CANISTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THESE ACTIONS HOWEVER WILL NOT CORRECT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM , WHICH IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL EVAPORATION RECOVERY SYSTEM. I FULLY EXPECT THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE OR SECURE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT TRUST IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 5, 200959,000 milesFL

I AM VERY SHOCKED THAT THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 SPORTAGE STOP LIGHT BRAKE SWITCH BUT HAS NOT TAKEN KIA TO TASK FOR PRODUCING FAULTY STOP LIGHT BRAKE SWITCHES IN ALL ITS MODELS/YEARS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE STOP-LIGHT BRAKE SWITCHES IN 2005 AND 2007 KIA SPECTRA'S MULTIPLE TIMES. THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL OR THE LIGHT DOES NOT GO ON AT ALL UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES.. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT CHINA, A COUNTRY IMPORTING KIA MODELS, WAS QUICKER TO REACT TO RECALLS THAN YOU GUYS ARE. EVEN IF YOU TAKE YOUR CAR IN FOR A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH...LOTS OF LUCK...KIA DEALERS DON'T EVEN STOCK THE PARTS. WHEN ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO RECALL THE REST OF THE KIA LINE? THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YESTERDAY. INACTION RESULTS NOT ONLY IN POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS BUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FINES AND PENALTIES RAKED IN BY THE STATES IN WHICH KIA DOES BUSINESS. KIA IS ADDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE STATE AND CITY COFFERS THE RESULT OF FINES LEVIED AGAINST ITS USERS FOR FAULTY BRAKES.... *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Sep 17, 2009NJ

THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA WILL NOT REMAIN ANCHORED. ALTHOUGH I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT IN 2009, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE DOOR LOCKS (WHICH LOCK ON THEIR OWN IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU UNLOCK THEM) AND I BROUGHT MAT ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHILE THERE. THEY PROCEEDED TO PUSH THE MAT BACK INTO THE ANCHOR (LIKE I HAVEN'T TRIED THAT HUNDREDS OF TIMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS?), BUT IT WAS OUT AGAIN WITHIN A DAY - SO THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THIS NOR APPEAR TO WANT TO ADDRESS IT. I VIEW THIS AS AN UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY ISSUE AND AFTER SEEING A NEWS REPORT TONIGHT ABOUT A MAJOR FATAL ACCIDENT INVOLVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH A TOYOTA I AM DETERMINED TO GET THIS ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP! ON THE NOTE ABOUT THE DOOR LOCKS - I WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK FOR THE FOURTH TIME TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM NEXT WEEK. I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT, THAT I HAD A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY OLD 2000 KIA SEPHIA YEARS AGO WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WOULDN'T STAY LATCHED IF YOU JUST TUGGED ON THE BELT A LITTLE. THE DEALERSHIP (A DIFFERENT ONE) REFUSED TO REPLACE IT (BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED) AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I FILED A COMPLAINT AND THE USDOT HIGHWAY SAFETY DIVISION PAID TO REPLACE THEM AS LONG AS I SENT THE OLD COMPONENTS TO THEM SO THEY COULD TEST THE LATCH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE SEATBELTS TO BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE RECALLED A

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 12, 200914,500 milesMA

1. TWO PASSENGERS (FEMALE 64 YR DRIVER AND FEMALE 13 YR OLD PASSENGER) WERE PROCEEDING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD IN A 2007 KIA SPECTRA AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. HALFWAY DOWN THE ROAD, DRIVER BEGAN TO LIGHTLY APPLY THE BRAKE KNOWING THAT THE STOP SIGN WAS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. AT THIS MOMENT THE CAR REVVED AND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER SHOUTED OUT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE CAR BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. UNABLE TO STOP, THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND PROCEEDED ACROSS THE STREET TOWARDS A GUARD RAIL. DRIVER INSTINCTIVELY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT SO THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT HIT THE GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE GUARD RAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THROWING THE DRIVER INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHERE THE OTHER PASSENGER WAS SITTING. THE DRIVER HIT HER HEAD HARD ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW AND EXPERIENCED OTHER INJURIES AS A RESULT OF BEING THROWN FROM THE DRIVER SEAT. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CAR BOUNCED OFF THE GUARD RAIL AND PROCEEDED AT FULL SPEED ACROSS THE STREET AGAIN. THE CAR RAN OVER SOME SMALL HEDGES IN A RESIDENT'S YARD AND PROCEEDED UP A STEEP HILL BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE PASSENGER OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY DIALED 911 AND THE POLICE/AMBULANCE ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER. 2. THE CAR'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE IS BELIEVED TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS DEFECT RESULTS IN RANDOM EPISODES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. BECAUSE THE EP

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 10, 20094,500 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A REVVING NOISE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER. SHORTLY AFTER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ACROSS THE STREET. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO AVOID DRIVING INTO A DITCH. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THROUGH BUSHES AND UP A HILL. THE SPEED FINALLY BEGAN TO DECREASE AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, ONLY HEADACHES AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE BY THE POLICE, BUT WAS LATER TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS TOO UNSOPHISTICATED; THEREFORE, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AND SHE BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,500. UPDATED 6/19/10 *CN THE CONSUME STATED SHE PLACED HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. UPDATED 07/22/10*JB

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 29, 2009GA

ON MAY 26, 2008, I PURCHASED A 2007 KIA SPECTRA AT CARMAX, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 11335 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32225. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AT THE STOP LIGHT, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, OR AFTER MAKING TURNS. THESE OCCURRENCES HAVE PLACED MY LIFE, MY FAMILY MEMBERS; AS WELL AS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN DANGER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT IS CLEARLY UN-ROADWORTHY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BY 'SPECIALIZED KIA TECHNICIANS' TO NO AVAIL. WORK WAS PERFORMED BY TECHNICIANS FROM CAMDEN (GEORGIA), BRUNSWICK (GEORGIA), AND JACKSONVILLE (FLORIDA) KIA DEALERSHIPS THEY HAVE YET TO IDENTIFY OR SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR. I HAVE ALREADY ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY CONTACTING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE VIA TELEPHONE, CONTACTING THOMAS J. FOLLIARD, CEO OF CARMAX, VIA MAIL, CONTACTING KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN ADDITION TO CONTACTING KIA CORPORATE OFFICE VIA TELEPHONE. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL ADMINISTRATIVE AVENUES. I HAVE ENCLOSED COPIES OF MY RECORDS, RECEIPTS, IN ADDITION TO PERTINENT HISTORY AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOUR REVIEW. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEMS REMAIN UNRESOLVED. AS I AM SURE YOU CAN RELATE; I RELY ON MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPO

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jul 13, 200913,000 milesDE

WE OWN A 2007 SPECTRA WITH 13,000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW IN JULY 2007. WE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER JUNE 2009 AND IT BLEW HOT AIR. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD, " THE SCREWS AND BOLTS WHICH HOLDS THE A/C HOSE ON HAD COME LOOSE FROM HITTING BUMPS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DRIVE", SO THE FREON LEAKED OUT. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE, "EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PROBLEM WITH KIA'S THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE ANY PARTS". I CONTACTED THE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL FREE NUMBER WHO STOOD BY THE DEALER AND DISMISSED MY CONCERN. THEY TIGHTENED THE HOSE AND REPLACE THE FREON. WE WERE FORCED TO PAY EVEN REFUSING MY GRANDFATHER THE SENIOR DISCOUNT PROMISED TO HIM. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed May 27, 2009TN

2007 KIA SPECTRA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER 4 MONTHS OF COMPLAINING AND FINALLY CALLING CORPORATE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN SEPTEMBER 2008, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN. THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN DEC 2008, THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG RESURFACED AGAIN. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE FAULTY, THE WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE SPEAKER IN THE FRONT DOOR HAD BLOWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED SPORADICALLY. *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 25, 2009288 milesNC

I PURCHASED MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA BRAND NEW...IT ONLY HAD 55 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW WEEKS IT STARTED TO GRIND IN 2ND GEAR, I TOOK THE KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT SOME SCREWS HAD COME LOOSE AND THAT IS WHERE THE GRINDING WAS COMING FROM, I WAS DRIVING WITH SCREWS IN THE CLUTCH! THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL AND PUT THE SCREWS BACK IN THE CLUTCHING SYSTEM. I GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT DID GOOD FOR A WHILE AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, AGAIN THEY SAID SCREWS WERE LOOSE AGAIN! I QUESTIONED HOW THE SCREWS KEPT COMING LOOSE, THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME A RENTAL, I HAD TO GET MY OWN AND THEY HAD TO LEAVE WORK EARLY. GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT DID FINE FOR A SHORT WHILE AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM! I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS TIME IT WAS SOME PLASTIC PIECE THAT HAD COME LOOSE AND THAT WAS MAKING IT GRIND IN 2ND GEAR. AGAIN, I WAS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE AND AGAIN, NO RENTAL. GOT THE CAR BACK AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSIDERING HOW LONG THEY KEPT MY CAR EACH TIME AND HOW LONG I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE EACH TIME...I CALLED KIA AND TOLD THEM THE SAME PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT UP THERE AND THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT...I COULDN'T BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR THAT LONG AGAIN AND MISS WORK AGAIN AND FIND WAYS FOR MY CHILDREN TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL. THINKING IT WAS THE PLASTIC PIECE AGAIN, I JUST KEPT DRIVING IT BECAUS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 8, 200932,165 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A BYPASS HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED BECAUSE OIL LEAKED ALL OVER THE MOTOR. THE OIL WAS ALSO CHANGED. IN APRIL OF 2009, THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING AND WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO THE CONTACT'S LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND FAILURE TO CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY, SHE WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS BURNT UP AND WOULD COST $6,000 TO REPLACE. THE KIA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BASED ON THE DEALER'S INFORMATION, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,165.

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Mar 9, 200940,000 milesVA

ON FEB 25, 2009 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA SMELLED STRONG ODOR OF GAS PULLED CAR OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD OPENED HOOD AND THE MOTOR WAS ON FIRE CALLED 911. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS*TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Feb 25, 2009100 milesOK

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FOB OR DOOR BUTTON. WHEN USING THE FOB THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK AND THEN LOCK BACK INSTANTLY. I HAVE TO PLAY A 'CATCH ME IF YOU CAN' GAME, JUST TO GET INTO MY CAR. I CAN NOT EXIT THE CAR TO GET GAS WITHOUT IT LOCKING ON IT'S OWN. FIRST TIME I TURNED IT IN FOR SERVICE THE PROBLEM 'COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED'. TURNED IN SECOND TIME AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. WAITING ON PARTS. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jan 20, 200936,000 milesSC

I OWNED A 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5 SX THE CAR HAD AROUND 36,000 MILE ON IT. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OUT OF THE CAR THEN ON THE 10TH OF JAN 09 MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. HE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE CAR. WHEN WE CALLED KIA FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS AN INSURANCE MATTER AND WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL THEM. THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE OFFERED TO DO IS BUY THE CAR BACK FOR AROUND 7,000 DOLLARS WHICH IS LESS THAN MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS OFFERING AND NO WHERE NEAR WHAT THE LOAN PAY OFF IS ON THE CAR. THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. SO MUCH FOR MY 10,000 10 YEAR WARRANTY WHICH COVERED NOTHING. MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BUT LUCKILY ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. I REALLY DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOME ONE ELSE WITH A WORSE OUT COME. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 5, 200910,000 milesTN

PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK AND PURGE CANISTER SYSTEM. THE NORMAL OPERATION OF FUELING THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE PURGE SYSTEM TO BECOME FILLED WITH FUEL. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION BY ALLOWING FUEL TO BE EXPELLED OR LEAK OUT OF THE TANK OR WHAT THE DEALER CALLED OVERFLOW ONTO THE FLOOR IN MY GARAGE. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE DEALERS INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING TOPPING OFF AFTER THE INITIAL SHUTOFF OF THE GAS PUMP TO THE EXTENT OF NOT FILLING THE TANK TO CAPACITY YET THIS HAS NOT MADE ANY DIFFERENCE. NOT ONLY DOES IT PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FUEL LEAKING IN AN ENCLOSED AREA BUT IT ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES. THE PURGE VALVE AND CANISTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THESE ACTIONS HOWEVER WILL NOT CORRECT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM , WHICH IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL EVAPORATION RECOVERY SYSTEM. I FULLY EXPECT THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE PRESENT IN OTHER KIA MODELS AS WELL. *TR

Parking BrakeCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 22, 200835,000 milesVA

I WAS APPROX. 6 CAR LENGTHS FROM CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, NOTHING HAPPENED. I CONTINUED TO HIT THE BRAKES , FORCING THEM TO THE FLOOR AND STILL NOTHING. FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO VEER TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR BUT MY STEERING HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN, IT WOULD NOT LET ME TURN OR STOP. MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DID DEPLOY CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY WRIST AND ARM. BUT THE SCARY FEELING OF TRYING TO STOP WITH NO RESPONSE WAS SCARY. ROADS WERE A LITTLE WET BUT EVEN THEN WITH THE ABS I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. I AM GETTING THE REPAIR FACILITY TO CHECK THE BRAKES. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 4, 20087,000 milesTX

HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH MY VEHICLE, IN WHICH THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE SENSOR IN FRONT OF THE CAR DIDN'T OPEN THE FRONT AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. THANK GOD I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT, IT KEPT ME FROM CRASH HEAD ON THROUGH THE WIND SHIELD. I WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. WHEN I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPEN TO THE CAR AND THE DEFECT OF THE AIRBAGS NOT OPENING UP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER GOT VERY NASTY WITH ME, LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE PRODUCTS. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT AGAINST KIA. I COULD HAVE RECEIVE MORE SERIOUS INJURIES IN WHAT I HAVE OR WORSE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Oct 20, 20088,000 milesAZ

MY DAUGHTER WAS CRITICALLY INJURED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WITH MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE "SAFETY" RATINGS AND FELT SHE WOULD BE WELL PROTECTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AS WELL AS DASH AIRBAGS. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT. IN READING THE INFORMATION PACKET THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE I UNDERSTAND THE FRONT AIRBAGS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY IN A ROLLOVER, HOWEVER I BELIEVE THE SIDE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH (MECHANICS,ATTORNEYS ETC) AGREE. THIS VEHICLE WAS 8 MONTHS OLD AND HAD ONLY 8000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS A "TOTAL LOSS": *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Aug 18, 200817,000 milesAZ

WHILE FILLING UP WITH GAS, I HEARD A DISTINCT CLICK AND UPON LOOKING SAW THAT ALL OF THE CAR DOORS HAD LOCKED. MY KEYS WERE STILL IN THE IGNITION. I CALLED THE ROAD SERVICE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAR AND THEY HAD IT OPEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FOR ME. THE DOORS HAVE LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY A FEW MORE TIMES SINCE THEN WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE: 17,000. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jun 18, 200812,769 milesMS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE DOOR WITH THE KEYS STILL IN THE IGNITION. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, ALL OF THE DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY WITH HER 11 MONTH OLD CHILD STILL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S FATHER USED A SLIM JIM TO OPEN THE DOOR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,769. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. UPDATED 09/16/08.*JB

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jun 2, 2008NY

2007 KIA SPECTRA WITH DEFECTIVE AUTO-OFF HEADLAMPS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE AND HIM TO NEED A JUMPSTART. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON PERIODICALLY AND WILL SOMETIMES STAY ON. *KB THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH FAILED, AS WELL AS THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *JB

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Sep 29, 2007NC

I HAD A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING TO WASHINGTON TO HELP HER HUSBAND FIX UP AN APARTMENT FOR THEM TO MOVE IN. I SUGGESTED TO MY DAUGHTER THAT SHE COULD TAKE MY CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW AND MORE RELIABLE. I RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT 12:30 AM. SHE TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF HER AND SHE VEERED TO KEEP FROM HITTING HER. SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE DID SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE CAR AND SHE LOST CONTROL. SHE ENDED GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SANDWICHING THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE. I MIGHT WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS HUMAN ERROR ON HER PART. BUT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY. THIS TELLS ME THAT SOMETHING WAS HORRIBLY WRONG WITH MY CAR AND MY DAUGHTER WAS BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING SALVAGEABLE FROM THIS CAR. I TOLD HIM THAT I FELT THAT IT WAS STRANGE THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CAR WAS CRUSHED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS TELLS ME SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG. CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Aug 23, 2007TX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT HER VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE OWNER'S MANUAL MENTIONED THAT HER VEHICLE HAS CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,692.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2007 Kia Spectra → · Every Spectra year → · How the figures are calculated →