Kia · Spectra · 2005
2
Recalls
103
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Kia Spectra has 2 recalls and 103 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (31 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. CAR HAS NOT SUSTAINED DAMAGE. SEAT OR SENSOR MALFUNCTION MAY CAUSE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN CRASH.
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.
BAD SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL AND SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT END. ONLY WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
MY SON WAS IN A COLLISION, HE REAR ENDED SOMEONE, THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE IN TOTALLY CAVED IN AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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?
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR TOTAL RING HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,702.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2005 Kia Spectra has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 103 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Kia Spectra.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Kia Spectra.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Kia Spectra are air bags (31 reports), power train (7 reports), vehicle speed control (7 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2005 Kia Spectra. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.