2006 Kia Spectra Complaint Log

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND STAYED ON. PASSENGER AIR BAG MESSAGE ON DASH DOES NOT COME ON ANYMORE AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY GAVE CODE AS B1448 INTERNAL FAULT IN PASSENGER SEAT MAT. EST. REPAIR $1450. CALLED KIA CONSUMER NUMBER AND ASKED IF THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS KIA RIO RECALL. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE NHTSA DID NOT MAKE THEM RECALL ANY OTHER MODELS AND ONLY IF THEY WERE MADE BY NHTSA WOULD THERE BE A RECALL AND THEY WOULD CONTACT ME IF THERE EVER WAS A RECALL. SO AFTER SEEING OTHER COMPLAINTS I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO PLEASE INCLUDE ALL KIA MODELS IN THE RECALL. I HAVE 93500 MILES AND WAS GOING ON 7 YEARS OF TROUBLE FREE DRIVING WITH MY KIA UNTIL NOW. I CAN NOT AFFORD $1450 REPAIR SO IT WILL REMAIN AS IT IS. THANK YOU. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON, AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (ERROR CODE B1448 - OCS MAT DEFECTIVE), AND SAID THAT THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST OF $1,600). THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT FOR WHICH 06-08 KIA RIO'S WERE RECALLED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000). THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE SIMILAR MODEL YEAR KIA SPECTRAS - THERE ARE A SIMILAR NUMBER OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS REGARDING AIRBAGS FOR THE 06 KIA SPECTRA AS 06 KIA RIO. PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY REPLACING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH ONE FROM AN 04 KIA SPECTRA FROM AN AUTO SALVAGE YARD. *TR

THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK CAME LOSE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT FACTORY. THEY HAD A RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE STRAPS, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DUE WITH CORROSION. THIS IS POOR QUALITY CONTROL THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN THE CASE THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH BOARD WILL NOT GO OFF MOST TIMES, EVEN WHEN A 125 POUND PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. OCCASIONALLY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WILL NOT CHIME. HAD MECHANIC CHECK WIRING, HE REPLACED ALTERNATOR,BATTERY STILL THE SAME. KENWOOD STEREO WILL NOT TUNE IN FROM TIME TO TIME, EVEN WHEN IN MY SAME PARKING SPACE ALSO AS WE ARE DRIVING WITH SHIFTER LOCKED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CHANGE GEARS ON FLAT ROAD SURFACE AS IF IT IS IN 3RD GEAR THEN GOES INTO DRIVE. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO. ALREADY HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT THESE PROBLEMS. NO CODES ARE SHOWING UP, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT MAY NOT ALLOW PASSENGER AIR BAG TO DEPLOY OR DRIVER SEAT BELT TO ACTIVATE OR WHAT EVER ELSE IS CONTROLLED BY THE ELECTRICAL. ALSO HAVE A 2006 KIA WITH SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT CAR STEREO SHOP COULD NOT GET A NEW STEREO INSTALLED TO WORK PROPERLY. OTHER WISE CAR IF VERY AFFORDABLE,NOT SURE HOW SAFE IT IS. *TR

DEALER STATES ISSUE WITH AIRBAG SENSOR MAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SAME ISSUE AS RECALLED ON THE 2006 RIO. A SIMILAR SPEC SENSOR MAT IS INSTALLED ON THE SPECTRAS AS WELL AND THEREFORE A RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON THOSE MODELS AS WELL. FAILURE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BASED ON THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS OF VEHICLE IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE AIRBAGS WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS USED VEHICLE 4 MONTHS AGO. I WILL MAKE A COPY/PASTE OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. WITHOUT ANY REAL REASON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, EITHER ONE MAY DISPLAY THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A TRUST ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS SITUATION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 40 E APPROACHING EXIT 153 IN HEAVY RAINFALL. APPROXIMATELY 0.25 MILES FROM THE EXIT THE TRUCK ALREADY ON THE EXIT AHEAD OF ME BEGAN APPLYING ITS BRAKES. PRE-BRAKING MEASURES WERE TAKEN. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND FLEW FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN BRAKING THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT MY SEAT-BELT DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED BRUISING, SEVERE HEADACHES, AND MINOR CUTS AS A RESULT. INSURANCE DECLARED CAR AS TOTAL LOSS. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. SHOP SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH SENSOR UNDER SEAT WHICH IS PART OF THE RECALL IN THE RIO. COST ALMOST $2000 TO REPAIR AN KIA WON'T OVER IT. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY. THE SPECTRA SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. SUDDENLY WENT TO ZERO. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. UNABLE TO DETERMINE SPEED OF VEHICLE AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR

WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR USED EVERTHING WORKED LIKE IT SHOULD!!!! 1. FIRST THING WENT OUT WAS MY CLOCK ON DASHBOARD 2. BACK DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT REPLACING A NEW BULB EVERY WEEK 3.WINDOW ON REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT ROLL UP ON PASSENGER SIDE THE DRIVER HAS TO ROLL IT UP 4.CD PLAYER PLAYS WHEN IT WANTS TO , SOMETIMES I CANT GET CD OUT UNTIL ITS READY FOR IT TO COME OUT 5. DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS A LEAK SOMEWHERE CAUSE WHEN IT RAINS MY FLOOR GETS WET UNDER THE DOOR 6.AIRBAG - THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO ALSO 7. GAS TANK - MOST OF THE TIME YOU HAVE TO PULL UP ON THE HANDLE A FEW TIMES TO EVEN GET THE GAS TANK TO OPEN MY MAIN CONCERNS IS : BRAKE LIGHT NOT WORKING AIRBAGS WINDOW I HAVE CHILDERN THAT RIDE IN MY CAR AND I WANT IT TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) HOWEVER, THE RECALL ONLY PERTAINED TO THE RIO MODEL AND NOT THE SPECTRA MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FRACTURED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINE HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,763. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE IT'S PURCHASE IN 2006 BUT RECENTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND I REPLACED THE BULB AND A WEEK OR SO LATER MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT SO WHEN I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE BULB LIKE I DID WITH THE OTHER, I COULDN'T GET IT TO COME OUT, IT APPEARED TO BE FUSED TO THE PLASTIC CASING...WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT OUT AND REPLACED THE BULB I WENT TO TURN THE CAR ON TO CHECK THAT IT LIT UP I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT AND THE PASSENGERSIDE PARKING LIGHT...I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE BULBS AND ALL THE APPROPRIATE FUSES. I CAN NOT IMAGINE I AM THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS AIR BAGS, BEING T-BONED BY A SEMI TRUCK AT 30 MPH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES OF INTRUSION, AS WELL THE FRAME OF VEHICLE BETWEEN THE DOORS WAS TOUCHING THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT NONE OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS, OR PELVIC AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT STATED HIS CHILD APPLIED THE SAFETY LOCK TO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE SAFETY LOCK WAS APPLIED THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN ELECTRONICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

I WAS PUMPING GAS INTO MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA AND HEARD A METAL POP AND THOUGHT SOMEONE RAN OVER SOMETHING. AS I WAS DRIVING I WAS HEARING SOMETHING DRAG UNDER MY CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE GAS TANK STRAP WAS SUPER RUSTED AND HAD BUSTED. THE OTHER IS RUSTED TOO. SO I LOOK ONLINE TO FIND REPLACEMENT STRAPS AND FIND A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO : 11V256000) DETAILING THAT THE GAS TANK STRAPS ARE LIABLE TO RUST AND COME OFF IF THEY WERE IN ANY NORTHERN STATES WHICH USE HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROAD SALT. SO I CALL KIA AND THEY SAY MY MODEL THOUGH IT IS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I ASK FOR CASE TO BE OPENED. AFTER THEM TELLING ME TO GO GET A DIAGNOSTIC FROM DEALERSHIP AND 6 DAYS LATER THEY DECLINE ME FOR ANY MORE CONSIDERATION. SO I HAVE A CAR WITH ONE BROKEN GAS TANK STRAP AND OTHER IS JUST AS RUSTED AND THE GAS TANK COULD FALL OFF AND CATCH ON FIRE CAUSING ME AND/OR OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO CATCH FIRE. IF THIS ISN'T A SAFETY HAZARD I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. THE GAS TANK STRAPS SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN SO RUSTY FOR SUCH A NEW CAR. I'M IN TENNESSEE AND THE CAR HAD AN OWNER IN WISCONSIN WHO PUT THE MOST MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, HE HEARD A POPPING AND DRAGGING NOISE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,334.

CALLED THE DEALERSHIP OF WHERE I BOUGHT MY KIA AT, COULDNT GET A HOLD OF THEM TO SET AN APPOINTMENT TO GO INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE SERVICE DONE. I RECEIVED A LETTER ON JUNE 6TH, OF 2011, AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION, AND OR TO STILL TO TAKE IT IN? OR... IM NOT SURE ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. *TR

MY BROTHER WAS IN A AUTOMOTIVE ACCIDENT. HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE MEDIAN, HIS BRAKES STOP WORKING AND HIS AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THIS IS ALL STATED IN HIS POLICE REPORT. HE WAS AIR LIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE DOCTORS INFORM THE FAMILY HE BROKE BOTH HIS LEGS AND ARMS. HE HAD TO HAVE AN OPERATION IN HIS SKULL TO RELIEVE PRESSURE IN HIS BRAIN. AS OF NOW NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECT.

ABOUT THE END OF MARCH I NOTICED MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED BUT ITS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THING COULD'VE HAPPENED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON KIA SPECTRA FUEL SYSTEMS BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT ISN'T. *TR

I HAVE A KIA SPECTRA 2006 WHICH I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. THIS ISSUE BEGAN ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD OVER 100,000 MILES IN MY VEHICLE. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BURN SO OFTEN. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER VERY COLD WEATHER IN JANUARY 2011. WHEN WEATHER WARMED UP IN THE SPRING, THE LIGHT WENT OUT. JANUARY 2012 WHEN IT BECAME COLD AGAIN, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON 99% OF THE TIME. IT RARELY EVER GOES OUT. ... THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT IS COVERED BY THE KIA OPTIMA 2006-2008 RECALL 12V014000. *TR ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF

THE MOLDING AROUND WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR AND IS BEGINNING TO BULGE OUT FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARED OVERNIGHT. *TR

2006 KIA SPECTRA WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE GAS TANK STRAPS BROKE OFF AND LET THE GAS TANK FALL ON THE ROAD. THE STRAPS RUSTED OFF. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD.THE TANK HIT ON THE ROAD AND BROKE OPEN SPILLING GAS ON ROAD. CONTACTED KIA DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

2006 KIA SPECTRA...THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED AND/OR THE CRUISE IS TURNED OFF. *TR

I DROVE MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA TO WORK 8:45 AM PARKED. AT 6PM I GOT INTO MY CAR TO COME HOME AND AS I WAS PULLING OUT HEARD SCRAPING NOISE UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED BACK INTO PARKING SPACE & GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER MY CAR; BOTH METAL STRAPS THAT SECURE THE GAS TANK WERE RUSTED THROUGH AND SCRAPING ON THE GROUND. MY GAS TANK WAS HANGING TO THE SIDE NOTHING WAS HOLDING THE GAS TANK TO THE CAR AT THIS POINT BUT THE FUEL LINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE TIRE BRAND WAS KELLY CHARGER GT AND THE TIRE SIZE WAS P205/50/R16 (NA). THE DOT WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED PREMATURE WEAR ON THE TIRES AND TREAD SEPARATION. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,074. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GOODYEAR STATING THE TIRE FAILURES WERE DUE TO ROAD HAZARDS. UPDATED 08/31/11

WITHOUT ANY REAL REASON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, EITHER ONE MAY DISPLAY THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENGAGED (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE) WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. THIS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A DEALER. THE DEALERS CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT RELATED BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS. THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY CAN FIX IT. THEY WILL CHARGE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO FIX IT BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED. WE ASSUME IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE... POSSIBLY THAT CONTACTS ARE WORN OUT. IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT SHOULD BE HAPPENING TO OTHER SPECTRA OWNERS AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THESE OWNERS. *TR

I GOT A NEW CAR LAST WEEK.. HAD ALL THE BRAKES AND FLUIDS, ETC. CHECKED AND FIXED. PICKED IT UP FRIDAY. DROVE TO WORK THEN WAS LEAVING WORK WHEN MY FOOT GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE COULDN'T GET IT OUT WHEN I HIT A TRUCK IT CAME LOOSE. I VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE MARKS ON TOP AND THE SIDE OF MY FOOT. I REALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE THE BRAKE AND GAS ARE WAY TO CLOSE TOGETHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA 5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER FAILED TO COME TO A STOP WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS NT BEEN NOTIFIED SINCE THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE FRONT END MADE A POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT STRUTS. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE FRONT STRUT, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,896 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,426.

TL*THE DRIVER OWNED A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HIT A GUARD RAIL, ROLLED OVER INTO DRAINAGE DITCH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND EXPIRED IN THE HOSPITAL TWO DAYS LATER FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACTS LAWYER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A FORENSIC ENGINEER WHO LATER DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. BOTH THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/22/10 *BF RECEIVED PICTURES. UPDATED 09/13/10

MY CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 36000 MILES. I HADN'T THOUGHT ANYTHING ABOUT IT AT FIRST, THINKING IT WAS MY IMAGINATION AS I HAD THE CAR ONLY 3 YEARS. (2006 KIA SPECTRA5. I PURCHASED IT AT THE END OF NOVEMBER 2006 WITH 7 MILES ON IT.). WELL, 4000 MILES LATER I AM TOLD IT NEEDS THE ENTIRE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL REPLACED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL CARS FOR YEARS. THE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT ($1300) EVEN THOUGH IT IS 10 YR/100000 MILES AS THEY CONSIDER THE CLUTCH "A WEAR ITEM". I TRIED TO ARGUE WITH THE DEALER THAT IT WASN'T WEAR AFTER JUST 3 YEARS. I TRIED TO COMPLAIN TO CORPORATE BUT THE NUMBER IS BOGUS (800-333-4541). I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES TWICE IN 3 YEARS. GOOD YEAR EAGLES AND THE BRAKES TWICE. IT IS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A ROCK. ONLY THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE CRASH WAS REPORTED TO HER INSURANCE AGENCY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES AND CUTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 01-26-09 *BF UPDATED 01/26/09. 8JB

I HAD A NEAR-FRONTAL CRASH IN MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA IN WHICH THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SPEED AT TIME OF CRASH IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 40-50 MPH. THE FRONT-LEFT PART OF MY HOOD WAS STRUCK BY A TURNING VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DID DEPLOY. *TR

THE ALTERNATOR ON MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA EX WENT OUT WITH WARNING AND THE CALL STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. MY COUSIN AND I WERE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 3.5 HOURS BEFORE HELP ARRIVED. BOTH OF US WERE SUNBURNED AND I AM A HEART PATIENT, WHO SUFFERED FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION AND DEHYDRATION ON THIS DAY. KIA DID NOT HONOR THE 10 YEAR OR 100,000 WARRANTY. MY CAR ONLY HAVE 76,000 MILES. PAID NEARLY $400 FOR A REBUILT ALTERNATOR. CAUSED GREAT HARDSHIP AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OVER THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WITHOUT INCIDENT. SINCE IT STARTED WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THAN THE FUSE BOX WAS CHANGED. EACH TIME SO FAR THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THIS LAST TIME I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IS THE BAG OPERATIONAL? HE SAID NO AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT A REAL CONCERN FOR THE SITUATION. THAT SERVICE DEPT. HAS BEEN ATTENTIVE TO MY SITUATION BUT TO NO AVAIL ITS STILL A PROBLEM. THE ONE CONSEQUENCE AT THIS TIME IS OUR TRUST IN THIS VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. KIA WAS CONTACTED MONDAY 2/22/10 AND TODAY IS WED 2/24/10. I MENTIONED TO MANAGER ABOUT MY CONCERN FOR MY WIFE'S SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE AND SAID HE MENTIONED IT IN HIS REPORT TO KIA. *TR

THEIR IS STANDING WATER INSIDE THE DASH I BELIEVE. YOU CAN SMELL STAGNATE WATER . ON WARM DAYS CAR WILL STEAM UP ON INSIDE OF WINDOWS. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR IT MOVING AROUND. SEEMS TO BE QUITE A BIT OF WATER. *TR

PASSAGE SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON,TOOK IT TO KIA DEALER THEY CHECKED CONNECTIONS LIGHT WHEN OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS,CAME BACK ON HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN DEALER TELLS ME THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT,BUT THAT THE KIA SPECTRA WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL. THE RIO AND SEPHIA WERE, THE SPECTRA TOOK THE PLACE OF THE SEPHIA, SO WHY WAS THIS NOT RECALLED. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR CHANGING THE NAME DID NOT FIX THE AIR BAG SENSOR PROBLEM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN HIS 125 POUND SPOUSE IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KIA ISSUE AND IS BEING CORRECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ

MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA HATCHBACK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE E-BRAKE ON, BOTH FRONT DOORS WERE OPEN AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING, I SAT IN THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE SEAT AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF, HITTING ME. I CONTACTED KIA IMMEDIATELY TO FILE A COMPLAINT, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KIA WHERE THEY EXAMINED IT. I TOLD KIA I WANTED THE CAR REPLACED, WE JUST BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR IS TORN UP INSIDE FROM THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AND I'M AFRAID THE SYSTEM WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. ON 11/12/07 THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT THE COMPUTER REGISTERED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A COLLISION AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND DOES NOT HAVE A DENT ON IT PLUS I HAVE A WITNESS THAT WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE OPENED PASSENGER DOOR WHEN IT HAPPENED. I'M AFRAID TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE OTHER AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND INJURE OR KILL THEM. THIS HAS AFFECTED MY HEARING AND MY NECK HAS BEEN HURTING, KIA HASN'T EVEN CALLED TO SEE IF I WAS OK. I'M CALLING A LAWYER TOMORROW MORNING BUT SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AND RUN SOME TESTS WHILE CLOSING THE DOORS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARDOUS DEFECTS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE RAPIDLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. SHE HAD TO CONTINUALLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY STOP. OCCASIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, IT WOULD DRIFT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ECU. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,000.

2006 KIA SPECTRA WITH STALLING PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CAR STALLING**CC THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 7, 2007 THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MAINTENANCE. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE MAINTENANCE THE CONSUMER STATED A VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LANE CHANGE THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEEL FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH THE FREEWAY DIVIDER AND SUFFERED INJURIES AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WOULD LIKE THIS EVENT INVESTIGATED. THE CONSUMER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, THERE WERE SEVERAL LIGHTS THAT APPEARED ON THE DASH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE RAINY AND MUDDY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES ALONG WITH CUTS AND SCRATCHES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED IN THE FRONT BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING ABOUT 65 MPH BOTH TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE, AND WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHOWED UP IT TOOK HIM A GOOD 15 MINUTES TO GET THE BRAKES UNSTUCK. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNDER THE SPEED OF 26 MPH. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS NOT AN UPDATED VERSION WHO ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD WITHOUT THE UPDATED SOFTWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER STATED ON FOUR TO FIVE OCCASIONS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO STATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED AND DID NOT PROVIDE AN INVOICE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES TO WEAR AT 10,000 MILES. THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FIVE THIRTY SECONDS OF TREAD REMAINING ON THE TIRES. THE NORMAL MILEAGE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE BEFORE 40,000 MILES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE ROTATED AT 7,500 MILES. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FUEL TYPE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,550.

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM DEALER IN 2/06, BROUGHT REGULARLY TO DEALER FOR ANY AND ALL WARRANTY/MAINTENANCE WORK. THIS YEAR VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER BECAUSE AT TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND SOUNDED AS IF THE GAS WAS BEING APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER ASSURED THIS WAS THE ABS KICKING IN , AND ALL WAS WELL. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF OURS WAS HIT, AND ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PAINT WAS COMING OFF THE CAR BELOW BOTH REAR DOORS ON BOTH SIDES, WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO SALT AND SAND. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE EFFECTED, AND WE SAW THAT ON THE 2007 SPECTRA THERE HAS BEEN A GUARD ADDED TO ENSURE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE 2007 SPECTRA. HOWEVER WE WERE TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY BECAUSE WE LIVED IN A SALT AND SAND STATE. THEREFORE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS WASHED WEEKLY, IN LESS THAN A YEAR ,IT WILL SIMPLY CONTINUE TO RUST AND WE HAVE NO RECOURSE.*AK

I WAS DRIVING A LOANER CAR 2006 KIA SPECTRA WHEN SOMEONE WAS DRIVING AN OLDER MODEL GRAND MARQUIS TURNED INFRONT OF ME AND I HIT HER SMACK DAB INT HE MIDDLE OF HER PASSENGER SIDE DOORS AND OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK