There are 4 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2006 Kia Spectrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
STEERING CONTINUALLY KNOCKED AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS I STILL HAD A KNOCK IN MY STEERING WHEEL DURING TURNS AND GOING AND AN AUDIBLE ONE OUTSIDE ALL AXLES AND SUSPENSION WAS DEEMED FINE. I ENDED UP SELLING THE CAR SINCE IT WAS AN ANNOYANCE. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY IT WOULD FLASH A LIGHT ON THE HUD FOR HOURS ONLY WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN IT. THE CAR ALSO HAD VERY LOOSE STEERING AND WAS VERY UNSAFE ON THE FREEWAY
2006 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION, STEERING AND VEHICLE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SHIFTING PANEL NEEDED TO REPLACED. *JB
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.
ON MARCH 10, 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 PM, MY WIFE AND I WITNESSED A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON RED BLUFF BETWEEN KIRBY AND BAY AREA BLVD IN PASADENA TEXAS. THE VEHICLE WAS WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL AND EVENTUALLY LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN A DITCH ON THE LEFT HAD SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER SAID THE CAR WENT "CRAZY." I EXAMINED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE LEFT TIE ROD END WAS SHEARED OFF WHERE IT ENTERS THE TIE ROD ITSELF. THE LEFT STRUT WAS ALSO RIPPED OUT OF THE BODY OF THE CAR. IT IS MY OPINION, THE ROD WAS SHEARED WHEN THE CAR HIT A POT HOLE OR THE LEFT CURB. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND WAS VERY LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITH BUMPS AND BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS A KIA. I DID NOT ASK THE YEAR OR MODEL, BUT I THINK IT WAS A SPECTRA. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026