2000 KIA SPECTRA

0 recalls — 30 complaints

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

30 total complaints 7 crashes 9 injuries

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
AIR BAGS4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STEERING:COLUMN1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Oct 4, 2005
Incident date: Jul 20, 2005
TRANSMISSION HOUSING EXPLODED,COMPANY REFUSES TO BACK WARRANTY. *NM
STEERING:COLUMN Jul 1, 2005
Incident date: Jun 23, 2005
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 KIA SPECTRA WHEN THE CLAM SHELL (STEERING COLUMN COVER) CAME APART WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THE TOP PIECE PULL A WIRE LOOSE CAUSING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO COME ON, AND IT ALSO PREVENTED HER FROM COMPLETING THE TURN THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE. SHE EVENTUALLY HAD ... Read more
PARKING BRAKE Aug 23, 2004
Incident date: Aug 14, 2000
BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND FEEL LOW, CAR TOOK TIME TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BRAKE AT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH .STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT NOISE AT THE MOMENT. ON AUGUST 2000 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE WEATHERSTRIP... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE Aug 23, 2004
Incident date: Jun 13, 2001
PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST AND MUFFLER. LOTS OF NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR.THEY REPLACED THE SILENCER THE FIRST TIME, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SILENNER,,GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, NUTS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN Aug 23, 2004
Incident date: Jun 17, 2003
ENGINE OVERHEATS A LOT.WHEN I START THE CAR AT TIME SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER NEAT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AC LINE FROZEN . COOLING FAN NOT WORKING. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED JUNCTION BLOCK, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,,,GASKET AND THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE RELAY....REPLACED COOLING FAN. ... Read more
1 injured
AIR BAGS Aug 23, 2004
Incident date: Aug 16, 2000
THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT'S THE CLOCK SPRING,SECOND TIME IT WAS THE AIR BAG MODULE ,THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CLOCKY SPRING MODULE AGAIN.*AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN Aug 23, 2004
Incident date: Jun 17, 2003
ENGINE OVERHEATS A LOT.WHEN I START THE CAR AT TIME SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER NEAT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AC LINE FROZEN . COOLING FAN NOT WORKING. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED JUNCTION BLOCK, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,,,GASKET AND THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE RELAY....REPLACED COOLING FAN. ... Read more
1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Apr 22, 2004
Incident date: Oct 15, 2003
THE OIL PAN PLUG FELL OFF OF THE OIL PAN AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT UNTIL I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 20 MILES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TO THE KIA DEALER, EVENTHOUGH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.(5 YRS OR 50,000 MILES) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT ... Read more
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE Mar 22, 2004
Incident date: Mar 10, 2004
SILENCER PIPE SPLIT WHICH IS NO CAUSE OR DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER, THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, MY CAR HAS MADE AN EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH AT FIRST WAS DIAGNOSISED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LATER TO DISCOVER FROM AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THE SILE... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR Mar 22, 2004
Incident date: Mar 10, 2004
SILENCER PIPE SPLIT WHICH IS NO CAUSE OR DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER, THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, MY CAR HAS MADE AN EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH AT FIRST WAS DIAGNOSISED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LATER TO DISCOVER FROM AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THE SILE... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Aug 7, 2003
Incident date: Aug 7, 2003
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH
AIR BAGS Nov 1, 2002
Incident date: Apr 11, 2002
I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I WAS INJURED AND WILL HAVE EFFECTS OF THIS FOR LIFE. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WERE CONTACTED AND RESPONDED TO THE COMPLAINT. THEY DID A INVESTIGATION ON WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY NOW THEY WILL NOT RETURN CALLS OR GIVE ANY INFORM... Read more
Crash 1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS Oct 2, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES. BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. NLM *JB
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK Oct 2, 2002
Incident date: Sep 2, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HATCH BACK DOOR WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN, NOW THE HATCH DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THER IS A RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACT DEALER. NLMCONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAL WAS NOT SEALED TIGHTLY FROM THE FACTORY. *JG
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Oct 2, 2002
Incident date: Sep 2, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STAY IN PLACE AND NOT MOVE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM
AIR BAGS Aug 9, 2002
Incident date: Jul 24, 2002
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Aug 7, 2002
Incident date: Aug 2, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS Jan 9, 2002
Incident date: Oct 25, 2000
BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL W... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH Jan 9, 2002
Incident date: Oct 25, 2000
BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL W... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Jan 9, 2002
Incident date: Oct 25, 2000
BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL W... Read more
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS Jan 9, 2002
Incident date: Oct 25, 2000
BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL W... Read more
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP Dec 17, 2001
Incident date: Dec 1, 2001
THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AT ALL TIMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED THIS VEHICLE 6 WEEKS AGO WHEN HE RETURNED HIS 1999, KIA, SEPHIA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. BAD WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSED EARLY BRAKE WEAR.*AK
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING Dec 17, 2001
Incident date: Dec 1, 2001
THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AT ALL TIMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED THIS VEHICLE 6 WEEKS AGO WHEN HE RETURNED HIS 1999, KIA, SEPHIA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. BAD WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSED EARLY BRAKE WEAR.*AK
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL May 31, 2001
Incident date: May 20, 2001
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH WHEN VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE, AND NONE OF FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
Crash
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW May 25, 2001
Incident date: Apr 12, 2001
BOTH THE SEATBELT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash 2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE May 25, 2001
Incident date: Apr 12, 2001
BOTH THE SEATBELT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash 2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL May 21, 2001
Incident date: Apr 12, 2001
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. SHE HIT OTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WERE INJURIES. *AK *JB
Crash 2 injured
AIR BAGS May 1, 2001
Incident date: Jan 2, 2001
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED AND WOULD REMAIN ON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS FOR REPAIRS. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE Feb 27, 2001
Incident date: Nov 9, 2000
VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH, IDLES VERY HIGH, AND HAS ODORS COMING FROM ENGINE INTO PASSENGER AREA. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL Feb 27, 2001
Incident date: Nov 9, 2000
VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH, IDLES VERY HIGH, AND HAS ODORS COMING FROM ENGINE INTO PASSENGER AREA. *AK

NHTSA Safety Investigations — KIA SPECTRA

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE15031 Opened: Sep 1, 2015 — Closed: Feb 11, 2016
PE — Closed — Model Year: 2008
Occupant Classification System
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embe... Read more
PE04065 Opened: Sep 21, 2004 — Closed: Feb 8, 2005
PE — Closed — Model Year: 2002
REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY KIA?S EARLY WARNING REPORT TO THE AGENCY FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004, WHICH CONTAINED A ... Read more
EA04004 Opened: Feb 3, 2004 — Closed: Jul 29, 2004
EA — Closed — Model Year: 2001
REFUELING SPIT BACK
BASED ON THE LOW RATE OF FUEL SPIT-BACK INCEDENTS (14.3 INCIDENTS PER 100,000 VEHICLES SOLD), A LOW WARRANTY CLAIMS RATE OF 0.02 PERCENT, AND THE LACK OF ENGINEERING INFORMATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE PRESENCE OF AN ENGINEERING DEFECT, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHE... Read more
EA02016 Opened: Aug 6, 2002 — Closed: Oct 7, 2003
EA — Closed — Model Year: 2000
NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ODI GATHERED FIRE DATA FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND INSPECTED SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND FREQUENCY OF NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES CAUSED BY STARTER CABLE CHAFING.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT MOST OF THE SUSPECT FIRES OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD RECEIVED SERVICE REPAIRS IN THE AREA O... Read more

KIA SPECTRA — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the KIA SPECTRA across all model years (2004–2007).

5 Total Recalls
1,218 Total Complaints
4 Investigations
261 Reported Crashes
23 Reported Fires
7 Reported Deaths

KIA SPECTRA — Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year Recalls Complaints
2009 0 152 View
2008 0 162 View
2007 1 206 View
2006 1 129 View
2005 2 130 View
2004 1 92 View
2003 0 132 View
2002 0 121 View
2001 0 56 View
2000 (current) 0 30

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